Art of Sound

25 Jun

There’s no denying the connection between music and art, both creatives and scientists acknowledge that engaging in artistic activities while listening to music directly influences the outcomes.

Jackson Pollock created his artworks while immersed in the sounds of Dizzy Gillespie, street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work is closely associated with the emergence of hip-hop culture, and of course Andy Warhol managed and produced Velvet Underground and created many pieces of art for their album covers.

So with the weekend of Glastonbury upon us, it's the perfect time to explore visually captivating music. From mesmerising music videos to arresting album covers.

Little Simz - Gorilla

Directed by David Meyers, the legendary music video for Little Simz's "Gorilla" is a visual masterpiece reminiscent of Meyers' previous work on Kendrick Lamar's "Humble." Utilising AI technology, "Gorilla" provides viewers with a personalised experience, transforming colours, effects, and more with each viewing. This innovative approach adds a fresh, interactive dimension to the video.

Pharrell - Cash in Cash Out

In the Cash in Cash Out music video, director François Rousselet collaborated with VFX company Electric Theatre Collective to create a CG zoetrope model. While resembling a complex traditional stop motion puppetry piece, this mesmerizing video incorporates the nostalgic animation technique of zoetropes.

Dating back to 1834, zoetropes are cylindrical spinning tops lined with sequential images that create the illusion of movement when rotated. Cash in Cash Out intentionally introduced imperfections to the CG zoetrope, such as added jitter and computer-generated fingerprints on the clay models of Pharrell, 21 Savage, and Tyler the Creator.

Roisin Murphy - Hit Parade

The creative powerhouse that is Roisin Murphy, is yet again at the forefront when it comes to her latest album cover design. Working with Canadian born artist Beth Fray and graphic designer Bráulio Amado, they embrace all of the weird joy that AI can bring to art and design to create this cover that grabs you by the inflatables and makes you look.

`©Roisin Murphy, Beth Fray & Bráulio Amado`

Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy

Young Fathers, formed in Edinburgh in 2008, consistently emphasizes the importance of strong visual output to complement their music. With each release, their confidence in pushing visual boundaries has grown.

Their latest album, Heavy Heavy, continues this trend with its confident and captivating art direction. Collaborating once again with designer and creative director Tom Hingston, who previously worked on their album Cocoa Sugar, and photographer Jordan Hemingway, the cover art features a character inspired by the African figure Nkisi. Nkisi is believed to possess powerful spiritual capabilities, capable of dispelling evil and bringing good fortune to the community.

Young Fathers takes pride in their commitment to creating art that encompasses both musical and visual elements.

`© Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy. AD Tom Hingston, Photography Jordan Hemingway`

Kesha - Gag Order

Kesha has endured significant personal and professional hardships, including a highly publicised legal battle against her former producer and the former head of Kemosabe Records.

Her latest album, Gag Order, marks her return following a settlement agreement and signifies a departure from her familiar pop party sound. Instead, it explores themes such as depression and overcoming trauma. Creative Director Brian Roettinger aimed to capture the essence of these uncomfortable subjects through the album's art direction carrying across the photography and typography.

Teaming up with photographer Vincent Haycock, they developed a collection of portraits that evoke uneasiness and sometimes claustrophobic feelings, each representing a different emotion described by Kesha. Inspired by the works of artists like Andy Warhol's Screen Tests and Cindy Sherman's portraits, they crafted a visual aesthetic that complements the album's introspective nature.