Exclusive: Photographer Joshua Black Wilkins Shares Intimate Look at the Late Justin Townes Earle with Previously Unpublished Photos

A new collection is showcasing a never-before-encountered side of singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle.

Titled ALL IN: Unreleased & Rarities (The New West Years), the 2-LP release features a dozen previously unreleased recordings and six never-before-heard songs written and recorded before the 'Harlem River Blues' artist's untimely death in 2020.

The 19-track collection is packaged with a 52-page hardbound book featuring liner notes written by the late artist's wife, Jenn Marie Earle, reminisces from ALL IN co-producers Adam Bednarik and Kim Buie, as well as words and unpublished images by Earle's longtime photographer, Joshua Black Wilkins.

As Earle's photographer and friend over the course of his career, all the way back to his Yuma days, Black Wilkins covered every photo shoot for every recording the artist released. From years worth of photographs, he personally selected his favorites and most meaningful ones to include in ALL IN.

“Had I not befriended and photographed Justin in 2006, I would not have a photography career,” Black Wilkins explained of their relationship in a statement. “Nearly every music-related photoshoot I’ve done can be traced back to the 14-year body of work I was entrusted to make. I hope you can see in his eyes and body language the openness he gave to my camera—and to me. I’ve said many times, and to many people, that I got on the ‘JTE train’ in December of 2006 and never got off. I’m honored daily to be able to share what that looked like.”

Black Wilkins also recently used footage of the late star, piecing together clips of Earle working and touring through New York City, Asheville, NC, and Nashville, TN, to create a visual for the artist's haunting cover of Fleetwood Mac’s 'Dreams', a never-before-heard offering that appears on ALL IN.

Released on Friday (August 9), ALL IN: Unreleased & Rarities (The New West Years) is available across digital platforms, on CD and vinyl.

In honor of the collection's release, Joshua Black Wilkins and New West shared with Holler a handful of unreleased photographs of Earle. The photographer took a moment to discuss the artist and who he was, both in front of and away from the lens.

"From a career spanning optic, the 'diner' photo might be one of the most iconic photos I’ve ever made. It was also very organically made. We’d traveled all night the day before from Vancouver to Nevada and stayed in a roadside hotel. They had a diner in the parking lot and we’d gotten breakfast before hitting the road for Sierra Nevada. He and I both knew how perfect the location was and he so naturally played into the scene for me. I shot one roll of BW film (16 frames). I knew that minute that those photos would be career defining for me, though they had hardly ever been seen until after his passing".

"His trust and openness to me when we took photos. Whether they were personal shots or packaging/press shoots, he surrendered any ego he had and helped give me his visual personal".

"Although he always presented confidence in the musical projects (and fashion eras) of his career, he became much less noticeably aware of my camera in the recording studio. I was treated like a band member and it became much easier to document the creation of his album making process over the years. Again, he was aware of how important the visual aspects were and trusted my approach. No pomp. I knew when to talk to him, and when to just be a fly on the wall".

"He was just as he appeared! Laser focused when it counted, and naturally at ease when it was time to relax. He always knew I was there with a camera, but I never felt the need to call ”action". I knew when to put the camera down, as well".

"I certainly hope folks see the human that he was. Not just as an artist but as someone who loved his privacy, cared deeply for his friends and chosen family and knew that what he did on earth would not only be impactful but remembered for all the right reasons".

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