Illustrated Tapes

A fortnightly mixtape series exploring the relationship between music and visual art.

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 027: Prom Curated by Emily Salinas 22 March 2019

➔ spoti.fi/2UOJrbB Listening in order recommended

Emily is a multi-disciplinary designer and drummer based in Liverpool.

What’s up Emily! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

My playlist “Prom” is inspired by a number of my favourite American cult teen TV series and films, including The Virgin Suicides, My So-Called Life, Napoleon Dynamite, Perks of Being a Wallflower and 13 Reasons Why.

Perhaps “Prom” is a misnomer as I’m always more interested in the stories of the underdogs and social outcasts. I’ve always loved cult American teen shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Freaks and Geeks. As a teen myself watching My So Called Life was hugely influential and important, seeing someone I could relate to having their story told. I was so enraptured I immediately dyed my hair red like Angela’s! 

Being a teenager is such a unique time in your life; at times super intense, discovering who you are as a person, falling in love/lust for the first time, all that stuff. So I wanted to put together a playlist that basically reflects being a teenager through the lens of these cultural reference points.

The playlist is mostly comprised of dreampop and synthy 80s vibes with some grungier vibes thrown in. I took one or two of the songs directly from the films/series that inspired the playlist but mostly these are original picks.

How did you go about the artwork?

Both the music and the artwork were inspired by the dreamy visuals of The Virgin Suicides. I knew I wanted to combine collage with some hand drawn elements as I felt that aesthetic fit with the music. I love using images from vintage storybooks, such as the image of the girl and boy used here, as they have this magical nostalgic quality.

What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?

I love this cover so much I bought it on vinyl despite not owning a record player just so I could display it as a piece of art in my room. The photo is so iconic, it encapsulates everything amazing and inspiring about Bowie. It’s simple and stripped back but still infinitely captivating.

I love most of M.I.A.’s artwork (Kala and Maya also have awesome album artwork), it was ahead of it’s time with its “ugly” design aesthetic. It captures her edginess, her contemporary take on traditional influences.

What did you listen to growing up?

At school I would alternate between Led Zeppelin and Spice Girls. Zeppelin because I raided my mum’s cassette collection and Spice Girls cos I wanted all of Geri’s dresses and cos they were girls with as much attitude as Oasis. I was also a proud member of the Queen fanclub and would spend any money I got at record fairs buying every bit of Queen merch I could get my hands on!

After Queen came Radiohead and early Manic Street Preachers before discovering metal when I hit 16, getting hugely into Deftones, Slipknot and Korn. Towards the end of college I discovered the Wu Tang Clan which was a game changer and got me quite heavily into hiphop for a couple of years. I’ve always had a soft spot for (decent) pop music though throughout my life and this playlist taps into that.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

I’m actually taking this year off from briefs to improve my technical skills in sign painting and refine my style a bit more as I’ve tended to be quite stylistically fluid in the past! This is done on the weekends as I work as a graphic designer for a company in the week. I am hoping to add to my positive sign project though, having previously made a positive sign for women’s charity “Whisc” on Bold St Liverpool.

The idea behind the series is I wanted to contribute to balancing out all the negative messaging we receive on a regular basis from advertising and the media. I wanted people to be able to see positive messages around the city, and since sign painting is a method I use I decided to go with that! My next positive sign will be for News From Nowhere, an independent radical bookstore, also based on Bold Street Liverpool.

Where can we find you?

emilysalinas.co.uk instagram.com/emilysalinas_ twitter.com/Emily_Salinas_

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes ✕ International Women’s Day Curated by Jade Moore 8 March 2019

➔ spoti.fi/2EIqhNS Listening in order recommended

Jade is an illustrator and printmaker based between Cheltenham and South London.

Hey Jade! Thanks so much for putting together our IWD tape. How did this theme inform your musical choices?

A playlist for International Women’s Day has to be representative and celebratory of all women, so I made a conscious effort to create a playlist that was inclusive of a range of female voices and musical styles. 

I wanted this playlist to feel empowering and inspiring so I chose artists whose creativity, originality and confidence inspire me, and no doubt countless other women across the world. I tried to pick a balance of songs that expressed some different experiences of what it is to be a woman as well as songs that make you feel like an independent, defiant and confident woman.

What does IWD mean to you?

It’s an opportunity to honour those women who through history have fought for gender equality, and to celebrate and elevate those who continue to fight today, particularly those whose voices are marginalised in society. 

International Women’s Day is a day of celebration of women and womanhood but it’s also important to remember and understand that every woman has a different story and a different day-to-day experience. IWD is an important day to recognise that being a woman is not the same experience for a white woman as it is to a black woman, an asian woman, a Latina, a disabled woman, a trans woman or a muslim woman. IWD serves as a reminder that we have to acknowledge these experiences and understand that women need each other in order for us to all be equals in society. 

Can you tell us a little bit about your artwork for the tape?

A lot of my favourite albums by female artists feature the artist centre stage (for example, A Seat at the Table by Solange, Blood by Lianne La Havas, CrazySexyCool by TLC and Blue by Joni Mitchell to name a few). I’ve always loved these types of album covers where the woman is the sole figure, standing proud and defiant, so my artwork was an homage to this. 

I chose to do a lino print for the powerful boldness, the immediacy and striking effect of the medium, which I feel reflects a lot of the songs in the playlist.

Who are some of your fave women in visual art?

Currently my favourite female illustrators/printmakers include Malika Favre, Helen Li, Laura Callaghan, Chiara Ghigliazza, Charlot Kristensen, Kat Flint, Sara Andreasson, Manjit Thapp, Marylou Faure, Gizem Vural, Núria Tamarit... honestly I could go on for ages. A great way to find new artists is searching through #visiblewomen on twitter and Instagram and looking at womenwhodraw.com. I’ve found so many artists I love looking at those pages, and seeing how many talented women there are making art always makes me so happy and inspired.

Some of my favourite female painters, whose striking depictions of women have always stayed with me, are Tamara de Lempicka, Frida Kahlo and Lotte Laserstein. When I was a kid my mum had a book about Lempicka and I remember flicking through it and being so in awe of the women she painted, and she’s been one of my favourite artists ever since.

And how about from world of music?

Other than those previously mentioned, there are so many female musicians I’ve listened to growing up as well, as young up-and-coming female artists I’ve discovered more recently (most of whom feature in this playlist). Some of my favourites include Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, Laura Marling, First Aid Kit, Janelle Monae, Sade, Kehlani, Syd, Kali Uchis, Jamila Woods, Charlotte Dos Santos, Joy Crookes, Little Simz, Sampa the Great, Erykah Badu, Nadia Rose, Noname and Nao. Recently I’ve been listening to Biig Piig, Ray BLK, Mahalia, King Princess, JONES, Rosalía and Cleo Sol.

What did you listen to growing up?

I’ve always had pretty varied tastes; growing up in South London I was so lucky to live in an area that exposed me to so many different kinds of music. I used to spend hours watching MTV channels (mostly MTV Rocks and MTV Base) when I was a kid, so I mostly listened to rock, indie and R&B. I also went through a pretty intense emo phase for a few years, but I won’t go there. My dad has always really been into music and he works as a mastering engineer so I’ve been introduced to a lot of old rock, folk, pop and soul music by him throughout my life.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

At the start of the year I left my home in London and relocated to Cheltenham, so at the moment I’m just keeping myself busy with personal work and developing my portfolio, whilst looking into what collaborative and creative opportunities the area has to offer. I’ve really been having fun drawing and making things that I enjoy, planning future projects and trying to identify my ‘style’ in my work. I’m always open to commissions or collaborations though, or just a friendly chat, so feel free to get in touch!

Where can we find you?

instagram.com/jade.moore.illustration twitter.com/jademooreillo facebook.com/Jade.moore.illustration

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 026: 65 Degrees Curated by Ry Macarayan 4 March 2019

➔ spoti.fi/2TskVQ2 Listening in order recommended

Ry is a designer and illustrator based in Minneapolis.

Aloha Ry! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

The songs I chose are usually the first ones I go to when the weather is finally nice out. It’s a mix of some cheery pop-punk and some chiller tracks.  When I think about the music I want to listen to once it’s spring, it’s usually poppy and fun; stuff I want to listen to with my car windows cracked down or when I go on the first long walk of the season.

How did you go about the artwork?

I wanted to capture that feeling of the first few days of spring when the air is crisp and any ice or snow on the ground is beginning to melt.  Winters are so long up here in Minnesota that the moment you can wear sneakers again or just a denim jacket definitely warrants a walk around the city with your earbuds in.

What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?

I’m a really big fan of Bomb the Music Industry! and Jeff Rosenstock, and love that every cover is entirely DIY’d by Jeff or the band. They use a lot of hand stencilling or collaged elements and most of the photography are of friends or taken while on tour. It reminds me of making mix CDs in high school and creating my own covers just for fun.

So I don’t own this vinyl because I don’t have a record player, but I think all the time about just biting the bullet and having it on hand because it looks awesome. Katamari Damacy is my favourite video game, and everything about it is pleasing from the aesthetics to the game play to the music. It’s fantastic.

What did you listen to growing up?

The early 2000s was definitely when I was starting to have a music taste of my own, so of course I listened to a lot of pop-punk and alternative indie stuff from the decade. So like Fall Out Boy and Motion City Soundtrack for sure, but also LCD Soundsystem, Modest Mouse, Bloc Party, and The Strokes definitely give me bouts of nostalgia.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

I’ll have a new print at a local show here in Minneapolis called Printerstellar run by the folks at Burlesque Design, which will be pretty fun!  Otherwise, outside of general freelance projects here and there, I work on print and pattern for kids clothing at Target, so you can probably find a graphic tee I’ve worked on at your local store, haha (are there Targets in the UK????)

Where can we find you?

www.rymakes.com instagram.com/rymakes twitter.com/rymakes

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 025: Big Feelings Curated by Molley May 21 February 2019

➔ spoti.fi/2U3DKX2 Listening in order recommended

Molley is an illustrator based in London.

Hi Molley! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

This playlist is a selection of songs that evoke a strong sense of ‘feeling’ in me often via the storytelling within the lyrics. I enjoy music that sparks something in your core emotionally and fills you with that big soaring sensation that can be happy and sad. I’ve called it Big Feelings because that’s how they can feel, like you’re full up with thoughts and emotions and this big old song is playing, it’s overwhelming and very human.

How did you go about the artwork?

I wanted to try and draw something that literally represented the sensation of being full up with emotion, I did lots of scribbles of a person forcing a heart into someone’s mouth but felt like this drawing had the gentler, more ambiguous, tone that matched the music more accurately. I wanted both the drawing and the playlist to be able to be read as happy or sad depending on how you’re feeling.

What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?

I really like the album cover for Undertow by Drenge, the colours on it are excellent, it feels so atmospheric and really well matched to the album.

I love the photograph used on Trouble Will Find Me by The National, I think it’s weird and lovely and kind of gloomy, a bit like them.

What did you listen to growing up?

I feel lucky in the sense that my mum is a real music head so we always had good stuff around the house, she was always playing Nick Cave or The Cure. She was a goth in the 80s so she has this excellent record collection with loads of The Cult and Alien Sex Fiend. She’s still really in to music and was the person that introduced me to Slaves which I think is hilarious. My dad would always play the Nirvana Unplugged CD in the car, or Oasis, or sometimes if he was feeling ‘poppy’ the Scissor Sisters. It was a good mix and made me very interested in music early on.  

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

I’m working on my longest comic to date, I can’t share anything yet as I want to finish it before putting it out in the world. Obviously it’s about emotions and heartbreak and ageing, I mean, what else am I ever interested in?

Where can we find you?

molleymay.com instagram.com/molley.may

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 024: Home Curated by Harry Irons 11 February 2019

➔ spoti.fi/2I6pqLD Listening in order recommended

Harry is a designer and illustrator based in Bristol and Buckinghamshire, UK, and art director of @altmag_

Heya Harry! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

The tape I’ve made is a mix of songs centred around the word ‘home’. I’m quite a homesick person so my initial idea was to put together a bunch of songs that remind me of that, but they’re mainly tied to what I favoured most growing up. I’d consider it a playlist for a car journey, but one I’d avoid if you need something to work to.

How did you go about the artwork?

Near the end of my garden I have this old telegraph pole, probably from the 40s/50s, and it’s one of the first things I notice when I wake up. Growing up, we moved house quite a few times so I wanted to find the best way to communicate that without opting for the obvious image of a house.

What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?

I’ve always loved anything that Hipgnosis did, as cliché as that is; their work always intrigued, and more often than not it’s filled with subliminal messages.

What did you listen to growing up?

When I was really young, my Dad literally glued me in front of Kerrang TV, so I was raised on bands like Linkin Park, Staind and Limp Bizkit. My Mum on the other hand was into George Michael and Queen.

My parents used to play this one mixtape on every car journey and never got sick of it, and quite a few of those songs feature in the playlist - namely Champagne Supernova by Oasis and Perfect Day by Lou Reed. 

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

Currently I work as a freelance graphic designer, but i’m committed also to working on my brother and I’s project, ALT. - an online and print mag aimed at recognising art within music, and exploring the connection between the two.  

Where can we find you?

instagram.com/harryirons_ harryirons.com

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes ✕ Shake Bristol Curated by Max Kemp 1 February 2019

➔ spoti.fi/2S0fnwd Listening in order recommended

Shake Bristol is some kinda ‘art fair’ and magazine based in... well you guessed it, Bristol! We linked up with head honcho and illustrator Max Kemp in our first special edition.

What’s up Max! At the end of last year we asked you to put together a mixtape using tracks selected by each of December’s Shake exhibitors -  how’d you get on?

I’ve loved it! It was a bit tougher than the usual playlist as I asked each of the December event’s artists to put forward a few songs each, which i then trawled through, choose one from everyone and then put together a playlist. The eclectic mix represents Shake well i think!

What’s the story behind Shake?

I grew up in Cornwall, but i don’t drink and I’m not hugely into the very British idea of getting drunk to make friends and meet people (there’s not much to do in Cornwall during winter). So i decided to try and make a platform for people like me, that wanted to be creative and make things. The kind of people who tend to spend a lot of time at their desks, in their rooms or studios. Basically a way to get all kinds of likeminded creative people together in person. The result was the Baby Teeth: Art Fair & Gathering, which ran for like two years, and built a good community with a solid local following. But when i moved to Bristol back in 2013 i decided i wanted to work on a better version, and make something which was entirely illustration based with a focus on community, accessibility and personality, and not just some people sitting behind tables in a room selling things. After being in Bristol for a year I made a list of all of the southwest illustrators I knew and reached out, explaining the idea. The first Shake happened in July 2014 above the Stag & Hounds pub in a small function room using whatever tables we had. Lize from Sad Ghost Club was a part of Shake at the beginning too, so it was a result of us both putting our heads together. It went down well, we did a few more together, but Sad Ghost Club picked up and turned into a full time job for her! 

Since then I’ve tried to create exciting events and projects with Shake, as well as using it to try to nurture the creative scene and help out people as best I can! I really like community, and consider everyone involved with every event or publication to be a part of Shake.

What’s the creative scene like on the westside?

A huge part of why i moved is due to Bristol was that it’s an exciting and inspiring place for creativity. The fact that it’s location is pretty central, it has an airport with good connections and has a great university with really good creative courses is a saving grace for constant change and new creative people constantly coming through. I’m constantly finding artists that inspire me through Shake, both local and from further afield.

Shake seems to have a great community vibe and is very organic and down-to-earth, which isn’t the case for all art fairs, do you think the location has a part to play in that?

I think you’re right! I Try my very best to make sure everything is thought of and everyone is ok in the build-up, during and after the event. But I think the main reason it’s like this is due to the general good vibe from most Bristol creatives. There’s a huge student population, and a whole lot of lovely humble people that i’m constantly grateful for being surrounded by. 

Be it stalling, helping me with posters, doing a social media post, coming along on the day and spending their last tenner, or even just liking a picture on Instagram. I like to try and get stallers who will be fun and get what Shake’s about, and I even go as far as to carefully sit people next to each other who i think might get along! But what I think has made shake what it is, is the southwests attitude, comfort, respect, and community.

Do you have any plans for 2019?

For 2019 there’s the February 10th and April 7th illustration fairs at Rough Trade, and April’s will be the last until October. But there’ll hopefully be a collaboration event in may with BRICKS magazine also. I also really want to start putting on the ‘Shake Social’ again, which is a drink and draw event. Basically it’s Shake without the tables, so everyone can just meet and do some drawing together.

I might start working on the next issue of the magazine later in the year too! The last one was so much work for me and my friend matt (he helps with the mag layout and graphic design side) that I decided to give it a while before the next. Also the Shaketober stuff went down well, so I’ll be doing that again for sure.

I might even work on some kind of online Shake drawing club kinda thing as after Shaketober - I kept getting requests to make it more regular. I’d like to do some more events outside of bristol again sometime too!

And do you have any idea about where you want to Shake to go long term? Or are you playing it by ear?

I’ve got a bunch of ideas, but it’s all about natural progression for me. I like to plan the events and then slowly work on all of the other little ideas and projects in the gaps.

Bristol seems to have a great music scene as well. Do you find a lot of overlap between the two communities?

There tends to be a lot of musicians, promoters, and venue staff that stall or come down to Shake! Adrian from Rough Trade and Spectres has always been a huge help and always super encouraging too, so shout out to him!

We love the illustrations you produce for the Shake branding. How did you go about the artwork for the mixtape?

Thanks - stoked you’re into it! For this piece I was freakin’ out, as I find it easy to work with commissions or the random Shake stuff, but with this I was like “ITS GOTTA BE SHAKE, BUT SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT!” I guess in a similar way to when I work on each event poster, it has to be obviously Shake but then I dont want any poster to be too similar! So I’ve kinda done it like a comic strip panel with a close up of a guy wired from drawing, haha. Side note: I was listening to the playlist as I worked on this!

What’s your favourite arty spot in Bristol?

I mostly watch movies, skate and draw at home when I’m not working either job or doing Shake stuff, so most spots I go to are dark rooms or concrete areas haha, so this is a tough one to be honest! Bristol’s a place covered in graffiti, and I like looking out for solid colour and type. A few people I keep my eyes open for are: Mr Penfold, RICHT, 45RPM and Kid Crayon. So yeah, My favourite arty spot is just a few underpasses and some walls here and there.

Favourite place to hang out? In the cinema with my phone turned off!

And your favourite Bristol munchies?

Oowee Vegan for their Cluckin Fries, Marling for the vegan Chinese, Fi Real for Caribbean food and Dangun for Korean food. I like to eat basically.

What’s happening in your own creative world at the moment?

I do posters for shows at The Hope & Ruin, Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar in Brighton and Elsewhere in Margate. Most of my creative energy and time goes into making all of the shake branding and planning but I’m trying to work on my sketchbook most days too to keep it going. I grew up doing show posters so that’s the thing I mostly love to do! Oh I just did a tee for BRIGHTR recently too, he’s great and we’ve worked together for a while now on his merch and record covers.

Thanks Max, looking forward to more Shakey stuff in 2019!

Cheers for chattin to me, this has been a fun little project and I like what you’re doing! P.S. thanks to all of the artists who put in songs for the playlist!

Where can we find you?

shakebristol.co.uk instagram.com/shakebristol twitter.com/shakebristol facebook.com/shakebristol maxkdesign.co.uk instagram.com/maxkdesign 

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 023: Ex Libris Curated by Sprankenstein Studio 24 January 2019

➔ spoti.fi/2SaP9GQ Listening in order recommended

Sprankenstein Studio is a design, illustration, and animation studio headed up by Jade Spranklen, working between London and Margate.

Hey Jade! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

I was sketching in a coffee shop, using a book called ‘Death’ I found at the Wellcome Collection as inspiration and noticed at the beginning of the book there was a label that said ‘Ex Libris’, and that pretty much guided my choices for the tape! ‘Ex Libris’ is a bookplate inscribed to show the name of the book owner. My tape is a selection is split into three parts - a beginning, middle and end - much like a book, or a lifescape. Start with hope, then a little bit of pleasure/pain/loss, and then it slows down a bit…

How did you go about the artwork for the tape?

I created the artwork digitally using a mixture of coding and after effects. The background was made up of various code I’d written that creates and animated for as long as you run it. It just goes on and on, and overlaps to create different densities and colours. So I let the code do it’s thing for a bit, then grabbed a moment and created the neon type on top playing around using After Effects.

What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?

I am a big fan of Sufjan Stevens and I especially love the album artwork for The Age of Adz as it was made by Royal Robertson, who Sufjan wrote the whole album about. It’s about Roberston’s life, and his delusions which then lead to the destruction of that life. He was a self-proclaimed prophet and a recluse who prophesied about the ‘End of Days’ and aliens sending warnings to him through the use of complex numerology. You can see the loss of his mentality through his drawings and sketches as it all took hold of his life.

What did you listen to growing up?

It was always a mixture of what my mum played in the house, and it was always on as loud as possible. Mostly reggae, ska and motown. And Tina Turner - Mum used to dance to ‘Nutbush City Limits’ for us all the time in the living room when I was a kid.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

At the moment I’m working on a few projects, but mainly I’m just experimenting with creating digital art through code. I have a few animated projects coming out soon to keep an eye out for (I just can’t tell you exactly what they are yet without getting in trouuuuble). Where to find Sprankenstein Studio:

instagram.com/sprankensteinstudio sprankensteinstudio.com

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 022: Play Curated by Conor Jatter 10 January 2019

➔ spoti.fi/2QCCirY Listening in order recommended

Conor is a designer and illustrator based in London.

Happy New Year, Conor! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

Thank you! My tape is inspired by a sense of playfulness and fun. I’m working on several projects at the moment, one of which is a course on clowning and improvised comedy, and those two words keep popping up the most. For me, it’s important to keep a sense of playfulness in everything I create.

So this selection is of songs that have recently inspired me to be playful, or have a sense of play about them, or that I’ve been having a lot of fun playing out when DJing.

How did you go about the artwork for the tape?

Like most of my artwork, I created it quickly, trying not to care too much about what I was creating, just doing it for the fun of it and drawing in time with the music. I love drawing and animating to music, and often set myself the challenge of creating something during the duration of one track which I often post on my Instagram. 

I drew a few illustrations while listening to my selections and the one I ended up choosing was made in 9.30, while listening to Hafi Deo, halfway through the tape.

What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?

I’m a huge fan of the label Awesome Tapes From Africa and the accompanying artwork. They so often have such a great sense of movement, gorgeous (and sometimes wonderfully clashing!) colour palettes and most importantly, they’re fun! You can see a great example of all that in Obaa Sima by Ata Kak which is on the tape.

There was a far more eloquent and interesting article covering Awesome Tapes From Africa’s artwork on It’s Nice That recently, should you be so inclined.

I’m also a huge fan of Gaurab Thakali’s work, which can be seen on the equally fantastic We Out Here compilation on Brownswood.

What did you listen to growing up?

I grew up listening to a wide range of music my folks would put on. I guess the artists I remember most vividly are my dad playing Frank Zappa and my mum playing Kate Bush. They also both loved Tom Waits, and the album Mule Variations also has incredible artwork, with Tom looking like a character in one of his own songs.

I think Zappa is definitely one reason I’m into both comedy and music. His work ticks so many boxes - incredibly technical and serious at one end, and stupid and playful at the other. Sometimes all of that at once. Amazing sleeves too! Them Or Us, Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch and We’re Only In It For The Money stand out in memory.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

I head up design over at the brilliant Soho Theatre, and outside of that plenty of comedy and playing records at weird bars. I guess the biggest event coming up is my comedy group, The RH Experience turning 10 years old on the 1st February, and we’re throwing a big party to celebrate. We’ve got some of our favourite comedians supporting, a big show from us and myself and other DJs to close. Come along and laugh and dance with us! Where to find Conor:

instagram.com/MrJattski twitter.com/MrJattski

[illustratedtapes]

Welcome to Illustrated Tape’s favourite releases of 2018 that sounded and looked good, chosen by this year’s contributors. We’ve put together a playlist featuring one track from each of the releases featured so you can check out the sounds we were digging this year. Happy listening! 

➔ spoti.fi/2LCgrQp Listening in order recommended

Delta Sleep - Ghost City Big Scary Monsters, 10 August  Artwork: Owen Findley at Or8 Design Selected by Megan Reddi // IT014

This is my favourite music/artwork combo of 2018! The whole album is just amazing - it is beautifully arranged and has this lovely dreamy quality to it, with repeated musical motifs woven throughout to really pull the whole album together. Not only is Ghost City musically fantastic, but the artwork is beautiful and so fitting for the album. It is designed and screen printed by Owen Findley and the warm colours, imagery and textures are just spot on.

Definitely my favourite release of 2018. It is my go-to driving album and I will be blasting it while we’re driving around this Christmas!

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 014: Nautical Dusk by Megan Reddi

Okay Kaya - Both Heavy Body, 1 June  Artwork/design: Kaya Wilkins, Aaron Maine, Phillip Wong

Selected by Hannah Buckman // IT016

Okay Kaya’s Both as an album that came out this year which I enjoyed, and which I feel has a strong visual component to it. To me the album feels sickly (in a good way), gloomy but still pop. I think the mood is conveyed really well through the Adinah Dancyger directed music vids and the album art. 

I liked finding out more about Kaya’s thinking behind the project, like how the twin in the videos is like a physical manifestation of trauma... it’s something that once I read I couldn’t stop thinking about. The idea of something traumatic inducing this birth of a second self, a kind of split off part that is still attached in some way to the whole, but there being a kind of safety in acknowledging what might be a darker part of yourself, from a distance. Also the album art kind of conveys the idea of duality and how that relates to race/sexuality, but I didn’t feel like that was really explored as much. I think I like this album ‘cos it kind of ties in with things (mentioned above) I’m currently interested in, but maybe it feels a bit surface-y at times.

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 016: Protect Your Extremities by Hannah Buckman

Quavo - Quavo Huncho Capitol / Mowtown / Quality Control, 12 October  Artwork: Mihailo Andic 

Selected by Conner Perry // IT020

I think my favourite music/design combo of this year has to be Quavo’s Quavo Huncho. Not only is it full of bangers, the cover by Mihailo Andic is just brilliant. It really sets itself apart from the Migo’s visuals and changes the way you listen to the record. Definitely check out the rest of his work, especially the stuff for Lil’ Yachty. 

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 020: Nice one bruva by Conner Perry

Parquet Courts - Wide Awake! Rough Trade, 18 May  Artwork: A. Savage

Selected by Holly St Clair // IT021

I was really late to the Parquet Courts party, but actually both of my initial encounters with their two recent releases have been solid arguments for the importance of decent album artwork. For both Wide Awake! and Human Performance I ran into - literally - the artwork before the music. Twice, two years apart, whilst wandering around London I turned a corner and came face to face with Adam Savage’s superb cover work. He smacked me in the face with poppy colours and amorphous dancing forms and I loved every moment. Add in an anarchic use of type and you’ve got me shouting, “Oh shit! A new Parquet Courts album!” to no one in particular outside an old meat market in Shoreditch.

A. Savage is both front man and painter and that adds a special flavour to the whole affair. Album marketing can be a laboured, commercially driven affair, there’s something authentic - a little DIY flavour - about this relationship between artwork and music. It’s a nice parallel to the musical throwbacks typical of the bands style. Wide Awake! dropped earlier this year and it’s fab. (Although, I love the artwork so much even if it was god awful I’d still buy the record and hang it on my wall.)

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 021: To: You, Love: Me by Holly St Clair

D.A.L.I - When Haro Met Sally Burning Witches, 23 May  Artwork: Luke Insect

Selected by Thomas Hedger // IT017

According to my recently played, I’ve been stuck on a pre-'90s loop. I've crept slowly into 2018's releases picking out albums like books - by their covers - and it really paid off! I don’t often delve into electronic but I love this album, it’s a perfect blend of hopping on your bike and hitting the tracks, nailing the look of how the album feels in all its haze. A solid sunny day good time.

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 017: Sink by Thomas Hedger

Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar Ninja Tune, 9 March  Artwork: Tom Hingston

Selected by Katie Chandler // IT003

This cover was immediately striking and memorable to me. Upon listening to the album, I found that the artwork resonated with this feeling of odd, unrestricted expression. It's a little unsettling, ultimately bold and intriguing. Much like the music, it feels hot and cool all at once, like a burst of energy that leaves you in a sweat. It's the exhilarating soundtrack to your runner's high, and you're not really sure why you're running or what you're running from.

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 003: Porch Light by Katie Chandler

Gesu no Kiwami Otome (ゲスの極み乙女。) - Suki Nara Towanai (好きなら問わない) Taco Records, 29 August  Selected by Greg Stasiw // IT009

Although it’s not the ambient and electronic fare I usually enjoy, Suki Nara Towanai (好きなら問わない) by Gesu no Kiwami Otome. (ゲスの極み乙女。) is a hoot. The artwork features a stylized neon pachinko machine. Or maybe it’s a console in a rad indie pop spaceship, which would also make sense for this funky fresh group! It feels somehow familiar, somehow alien, and altogether really, really cool.

The neon suggests something retro, and there are some retro leanings in their funkier tracks, but it's definitely neon as seen in 2018. Modern pop (and J-Pop) tropes emerge, but infectious basslines, tight drumming, and smart keys make this album something special. Some math rock even surfaces at times, and the remix included proves that this group goes for whatever feels fresh. One look at the artwork reminds me that this is one of the funnest albums I've listened to in a while. “Funnest” is definitely a word when you’re talking about this band!

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 009: Atmospheres by Greg Stasiw

Aphex Twin - Collapse EP Warp, 14 September Artwork: Weirdcore

Selected by Alex Vissaridis // IT002

2018 was a great year if you grew up listening to the music I was into. Some of my all-time favourite artists released new stuff this year, and they didn’t disappoint. The artwork was pretty excellent too, but nothing grabbed my attention like the world created around Aphex Twin’s Collapse EP. Album art doesn’t seem to mean as much as it once did, so it’s always exciting when it appears outside of the little square on your screen in unexpected ways. 

This year, Aphex Twin logos appeared all over the world, from Elephant & Castle tube station to the side of a record store in Tokyo, designed in a way that made it look like the logo was collapsing into the environment around it. I’m a sucker for stuff like this; random cryptic messages that send internet detectives into a frenzy. It was eventually announced as marketing for the Collapse EP, but they kept the ‘collapsing logo’ visual going on the EP artwork, in the music video for the track ‘T69 collapse’, and even through to projection-mapped videos around London (again announced in typical smoke-and-mirrors fashion) and a collaboration with Crack magazine. Way more than just a collection of pixels.

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 002: Tape Fuzz by Alex Vissaridis

Flohio - Wild Yout EP Alpha, 2 November Selected by Rachel Maughan // IT012

I got into Flohio after I saw her on COLORS in January with 'Band'. She's fucking explosive on that track, you can feel her spitting straight into your chest. She's been savvy with her producers and killed her work with God Colony - 'SE16' was my most played track of the year. Her 2018 EP, Wild Yout is a cocktail of perfection. 

Mashing up genres it's a high energy listen with punchy, grimey hip-hop that is uniquely South London. The artwork is beautiful simplicity - her achingly slick androgynous aesthetic, the clean photographic composition, with a flowing chain to bring it tightly back to SE. Gorgeous.

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 012: High Rise by Rachel Maughan

Sudan Archives - Sink EP Stones Throw, 25 May Photography: Jack McKain Design: Jeff Jank

Selected By Tom J Newell // IT004

Sink submerges the listener in flowing loops and beats, with splashes of violin and vocals floating above the sunken monolith, which stands tall on the deep blue cover art. The composition is reminiscent of two of Jank’s other iconic Stones Throw sleeves, Donuts and Madvillainy and continues his striking yet varied art direction for the label.

Check out the ‘Nont For Sale’ video from the EP too, which adds powerful choreography and styling to create another successful visual accompaniment to the music. Much love to Sudan Archives and hats off to Jeff Jank. I painted a tribute to the cover art on a 12x12” piece of wood.

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 004: FEAR. by Tom J Newell

Drinks - Hippo Lite Drag City, 20 April Selected by Molly Fairhurst // IT015

Hazy, dazed, an album I hold dearly to 2018 (and many strangely lit walks in a then new, unknown city).

A collaboration between Cate Le Bon and White Fence’s Tim Presley, the pair took an (isolated) retreat to St Hippolyte-Du-Fort in the south of France to record, frankly, crudely, seemingly, whatever the fuck they wanted to. Hippo Lite is born, a joyful, playful, sometimes quiet, sometimes screaming object.

What senses like an eavesdrop through closed doors rightly has a cover that can’t be quite understood- a narrow column of, at the glance of the reader, ‘nonsense’ notes, which flank photos of Le Bon and Presley. Both are snapshots of an absurd holiday we have been invited along to, so long as we sit across the table. A tender and private piece.

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 015: The Wilder Woman by Molly Fairhurst

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - King of Cowards Rocket, 28 September Artwork: Sophy Hollington

Selected by Drew Milward // IT010

First off, this album is wall to wall, solid gold bangers. Kind of like the lovechild of The Fall and Black Sabbath, who has been cautioned by the police for possession of a massive bag of skunk, a bong in the shape of a skull and a copy of ‘The Holy Mountain’ on DVD. 

Aside from the fact it’s a full on riff-o-rama, the artwork by Sophy Hollington is absolutely incredible. It summons up the sound of the band, via folk horror infused wildness. It really captures the sonic landscape of the album, yet completely avoids any of the cliched imagery that could so easily have taken its place. It really is the whole package.

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 010: BE GONE, YOU CREATIVE GREMLINS! by Drew Milward

Djrum - Portrait With Firewood R&S, 17 August Artwork: Michael Mitsas

Selected by Sam Ailey // IT001

Portrait With Firewood is one of those rare gems within the electronic genre - a true ‘album’. With holistic production, emotional range, and a captivating narrative, this really is a stunning listening experience from start to finish. Felix Manuel combines electronic and acoustic sounds seamlessly on this intimate record, with exceptional attention to detail in his sampling and tender piano sections played by Felix himself.

Michael Mistas’s cover art is a real departure from the typical design aesthetic of electronic albums and caught my attention straight away. I love its composition and rough, imperfect execution. To me these feels reflective of the range and depth of emotional states explored across the album, and the feeling that some things are easier to express through your craft than with words. Plus I’m a sucker for pink things.

➔ Listen to Illustrated Tapes 001: Quiet by Sam Ailey

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Illustrated Tapes 021: To: You, Love: Me Curated by Holly St Clair 10 December 2018

➔ https://spoti.fi/2G6Om4Q Listening in order recommended

Holly is an illustrator based in London.

Hi Holly! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

This is a tape of songs that feel weirdly Christmassy (that was the working title of the playlist actually!). I don’t really love actual Christmas songs - except for the singular example in this mix. These are all tracks I listen to getting ready for Christmas parties, they get me in the mood without beating me over the head with Michael Bublé. They jingle, there’s an occasional sleigh bell, and if you have Winter blues some of them are actually about Summer.

How did you go about the artwork for the tape?

I wanted the cover to feel kind of simple and tender. A lot of the music I enjoy - and therefore the songs in the playlist - have really direct lyrics. It definitely translates with my work, visual metaphors and complex symbolism are... not my thing at all. I’d rather just be straightforward!

Do you have any favourite album covers, or any that you think have a great combo of music and artwork? Solange’s release True is just a big red cover and I love that energy. It also happens to be one of my favourite all time EPs.

Solange - True (EP) Terrible, 2012

On a totally different note, this Sister Nancy cover is like the opposite equal to True. Everything from her eyebrows to the typefaces, it’s all so great.

Sister Nancy - One, Two Techniques, 1982

What did you listen to growing up?

My parents aren’t big into music, we only had two tapes in our car growing up - an Elton John Best Of and the Lion King soundtrack. I had an inevitable pop-punk/emo phase and the questionable musical choices that came with that - but I also became completely obsessed with The Beatles at the same time. It’s a big mixed bag of goods, and my taste is still very scattered.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

A lot! I’m slowly winding down from a very busy couple of months. I’ve just finished a ➔ window for DIY Art Shop London, it came out so nice and I’m really proud of this project.

Slow Down Studio also recently launched our collaboration, it’s ➔ a baby blanket! I’m so stoked to have been able to work with them. There’s a few more things launching soon (I hope!), but apart from that I’m mostly focusing on Christmas markets - I've just wrapped up from DIY Art Market on Saturday! Where to find Holly:

➔ hollystclair.com ➔ instagram.com/hollidaystclair ➔ twitter.com/hollidaystclair

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 020: Nice one bruva Curated by Conner Perry 21 November 2018

➔ https://spoti.fi/2G6Om4Q Listening in order recommended

Conner is an illustrator and printmaker based in Norwich.

Hey Conner! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

My tape is a condensed collection of some of my favourite UK Garage tracks. It’s a bit of a mix of songs that I’d hear around the house as a kid, as well as some stuff I’ve discovered after deep diving into the genre as a grown up.

How did you go about the artwork for the tape?

Garage is such a British sound, more specifically a London sound. I wanted to capture that within the artwork so I decided to draw a London scene of sorts. I tend to steer clear of drawing architecture but I really enjoyed breaking down some of the cities blocky and brutalist style buildings into simple shapes.

Do you have any favourite album covers, or any that you think have a great combo of music and artwork? I used to be obsessed with Pharrell’s Bape style artwork for his solo album. It’s super noughties looking back at it, but it pairs with music and the artist perfectly.

Pharrell - In My Mind Star Trak / Interscope, 2006 Artwork: Nigo

I also really love the art direction for De La Soul’s debut album. I’ve read that they absolutely hate it now, but the colours are great, although they themselves disagree I think it pairs with the album really nicely.

De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising Tommy Boy / Warner Bros., 1989 Artwork: Grey Organisation 

What did you listen to growing up?

Other than garage, I was exposed to a lot of R&B/Hip-hop of the 2000’s. Plenty of Ashanti, Ja Rule and anything produced by The Neptunes, especially Kelis. My sister is super into dancehall to so that was played a lot. I was surrounded by a lot of indie/emo kids in my teenage years but I still bumped T-Pain on the down low.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

I recently took part in a group show called ➔Octobercup, which involved designing a coffee cup with an October theme. That was good fun to make! I also designed a t-shirt with ➔Everpress which came out nicely! A few other things will be popping up soon if I get my ass in gear.

Where to find Conner:

➔ connerperry.com ➔ instagram.com/connerperry94 ➔ twitter.com/connerperry01

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 019: Bad Influence Curated by Kraggy 6 November 2018

➔ spoti.fi/2Op2EN2 Listening in order recommended

Kraggy is a designer and artist based in London.

What’s up Kraggy! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

It’s gig season! Nights are getting colder, no more day festivals, we’re moving inside to the dark mood lighting and confined space of a venue; I love it. I Listen to loads of different genres, mainly more chill electro / hop stuff most of the year, but something about it getting darker makes me go see actual bands more. Proper fuzz, high energy, improv, raw sound, maybe even… a pit?

It seems like a lot of the bands I see with mates around this time are Aussie or from West Coast and I think this brings a different enthusiasm than local artists, something the audience picks up on, I hope this comes through in the playlist. Essentially what I’m trying to curate here is ‘The Gig’; fast openers, followed by long jams, slower songs, then bringing the pace back up at the end and maybe a fun encore. [finishing with the last two tracks for after the gig]… Perhaps a taster of the bands I’ve seen recently and some I’m yet to.

How did you go about the artwork for the tape?

I guess the obvious inspiration is the gig paste ups all around us; I knew I wanted to incorporate the ‘tearing down’ element as a canvas after walking passed some accidental poster layering the other night. From there I also wanted to convey some of the shapes and textures that I’d picked up from seeing Khruangbin last week, like the smoke clipped into bold spotlights from above and below. 

I play a lot with type and vector drawings in my own work, and wanted to add a rough texture to this, taking influence from decaying posters. 

Do you have any favourite album covers, or any that you think have a great combo of music and artwork?

Ergh so many… too many. All in different genres. I’m still in awe of anything Leif Podhajský makes (The Horrors special edition vinyl he made is permanently on my desk). Yeah too many… so I’m going to narrow it down to ‘from bands on the playlist only’ to help me.

DZ Deathrays - “Shred for Summer” [single] I Oh You, 2017  Tasty little illustration there.

Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy Self-released, 2011

:)

Fidlar - FIDLAR Mom + Pop Music, 2013

Great raw type.

Violent Soho - Hungry Ghost I Oh You, 2013 Artwork: Sam Dunn

I never make anything like this, so I really respect this style. What did you listen to growing up?

Nu Metal. You know it. We all know it. No Shame. And yes I still have those sessions.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

Recently I’ve finished quite a few apparel and merch designs for brands. The best I’m still yet to post but will soon, but was given a lot of freedom which is always great. 

After that I’m still continuing to make apparel graphics and some single covers for artists, alongside starting a new personal project exploring mental health and expectations. For this I’m going right back to re-looking at how I work and rediscovering my own visual experimentation.


Where to find Kraggy:

➔ instagram.com/kraggy ➔ twitter.com/kraggy ➔ kraggy.co.uk (photo collage work)

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 018: Me Playlist Curated by Alex Gamsu Jenkins 24 October 2018

➔ spoti.fi/2Apws8C

Alex is a freelance illustrator based in London.

Hi Alex, can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

Hello! Yes! It’s pretty much a selection of things I have been listening to recently and a few favorites too. There is no specific theme and they are a bit of a jumble in genre, but enjoyable to draw to also.

How did you go about the artwork for the tape?

I pretty much went with the first idea that came to my head. Hopefully there was some inspiration from the playlist.

Do you have any fave album covers, or any records that nail the music/artwork combo?

Rich LaPenna - Heavy On The Drums Self-published, 2003

I’d have to go with Rich LaPenna’s Heavy On The Drums. It looks like it was made on Microsoft Paint but there is something very endearing about it.

What did you listen to growing up?

I think my first album i bought was Oxide and Neutrino’s Execute. I also remember thinking I was buying More Fire Crew tapes off of the other school kids and when I got home to play them, it would just be static. So basically i was ripped off.  

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

Just plowing on with illustration and attempting to make a living off of it. No real plans as yet but it can be exciting not knowing what kind of job might come next.

Where to find Alex alexgamsujenkins.com instagram.com/alexgamsujenkins twitter.com/AlexJenkinsArt

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 017: Sink Curated by Thomas Hedger 9 October 2018

➔ spoti.fi/2NyFbbM Thomas is an artist and illustrator based in London.

Hi Thomas, can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

The tape is full of songs I think you can draw to - tunes you can relax and sink in to but occasionally have a sing along to as well - mellow but not moody.

How did you go about the artwork for the tape?

The tone of the playlist is something I’m pretty familiar with, I like to melt away into songs as I’m drawing - the kind where you don’t realise your doing both. The artwork just had to have progressional sinking and this is where it ended up.

Do you have any fave album covers, or any records that nail the music/artwork combo?

Josef K - It's Kinda Funny Les Disques Du Crépuscule, 2016 Artwork: Jean-François Octave

Blur - Parklife Food, 1994 Design: Chris Thompson / Stylorouge

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses Silvertone, 1989 Artwork: John Squire

The Stone Roses - “I Wanna Be Adored” [single] Silvertone, 1989 Artwork: John Squire

The Stone Roses - "Fools Gold" / "What the World Is Waiting For" [single] Silvertone, 1989 Artwork: John Squire

Stone Roses have undeniably nailed the music/artwork combo.

What did you listen to growing up?

I followed a pretty faithful britpop - indie timeline of music, growing up in the 90s offered up a few gems, plus, anything that was played on Skins.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

It’s been a year of a few changes - I joined agency Grand Matter back in July and have been working on some really great briefs with them and alongside this I’ve just started on a masters at the Royal College - I’m looking forward to seeing where these new ventures take my work.

Where to find Thomas thomashedger.co.uk instagram.com/hedgerart twitter.com/thomashedger

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 015: Protect Your Extremities Curated by Hannah Buckman ➔ spoti.fi/2Q1gEOf 25 September 2018

Hannah is a freelance illustrator based in London.

Hi Hannah! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

Hey Sam! 

Yea so I wanted to do something downtempo, warm and a bit ambient. I work from home a lot now and wanted the playlist to be something you can just have on at home while relaxing and maybe be turned up quite loud but still not be too much of a distraction. I think it helps me get in the ‘making stuff’ flow listening to things that are less wordy. A working from home playlist? A feeling at home playlist? I’d like to do a quick shout out to Jessie for introducing me to Beverly Glenn-Copeland recently!

How did you go about the artwork for the tape?

I found this very tiny doodle in my larger stash of doodles and abandoned projects of the people in the foreground - just very basic outlines and very unfinished and suddenly felt compelled to finish it. I think I have this romanticised idea of American diners being the cosiest place to be, second only to your actual house... I don’t know, was thinking about being really tired in a 24hr diner somewhere isolated but feeling really safe still cos you’re with someone you trust, happy to be sitting in silence or not. Yeah so i found the doodle and then just got on Photoshop.

Do you have any fave album covers, or any records that nail the music/artwork combo?

Vivian Girls - Share the Joy Polyvinyl Record Co., 2011 Artwork: Cassie Ramone

I like anything that looks a bit naive or DIY.. Or like, it was something quick and natural feeling. Still like Cassie Ramone’s drawings for Vivian Girls albums like the Share the Joy artwork, I love how simple it is, a great image with cute trees.

Beat Happening - Jamboree K / Rough Trade, 1988

Also love Beat Happening artwork like Jamboree. My friend Tracy also does really great artwork for her songs, I especially like the art for Okay and Yeah it’s alright :~)

What did you listen to growing up?

I went through many phases!!! I guess my musical tastes were influenced first by those I would hang out with in high school (that very dark early teen nu-metal phase lol), then by heavy internet use (‘chillwave’, the moment I realised My Bloody Valentine and Bullet for my Valentine were two very different things) and blog friends (indie pop and 60s girl groups).

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

I’m focusing quite a bit on commissions right now and maybe kinda neglecting my personal work. I recently got to do a thing in the window at WAH Nails which was really fun and new for me, working big and working backwards. Today I carried home a kind of large and flat piece of wood so fingers and toes crossed I can make the time to do something on that soon!!!

Where to find Hannah hannahbuckman.co instagram.com/texchures

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 015: The Wilder Woman Curated by Molly Fairhurst ➔ spoti.fi/2QjU2cw 11 September 2018

Molly is an artist and illustrator based in Bristol, UK.

Hi Molly! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

Hi Sam! I love a weirdo, and I love listening to them. I feel particularly connected when it’s coming from a woman’s mouth, and this is a handful of the women I look (up) to in this way. I want to have that, whether it’s just a sense of it in my work. Or maybe my attitude. These are all artists I feel really tend to their own unique visions and they all punch me in my guts.

Because I had to streamline this to a small handful, I selected a particular vibe to go off. This is quite outdoorsy in my mind. A bit windswept, though going through the motions of the electronic, the dance-y, the quiet and the contemplative. I think you could listen to any of these in the woods and have a good time. I would anyway.

How did you go about the artwork for the tape?

I just kept drawing.

Do you have any fave album covers, or any records that nail the music/artwork combo?

I really like it when a musician also designs their own artwork. I can’t articulate why that feels more valuable, maybe it just makes them “cooler”. Big fan of A. Savage’s work for Parquet Courts (Human Performance and Monastic Living particularly) and what Tim Presley has made for White Fence and Drinks. I’m jealous of both in two fields- visually and sonically- how unfair! 

OMD and Echo and The Bunnymen have had consistently great artwork, The Pastels too. I LOVE something scruffy. Otherwise, I don’t think the cover is everything, and I think a bad cover can still be well loved and feel better because it’s attached to a good album. I also guess I can’t not mention Peter Saville’s work with Factory Records. The man knows a brand. Here’s some others I love off the top of my head ->

Cate Le Bon - Crab Day Drag City, 2018 Photography: Ivana Kličković

John Foxx - Metamatic Virgin, 1980 Artwork: Malcolm Garrett

The Knife - Deep Cuts Rabid, 2003 Artwork: The Knife

Kraftwerk - Computerwerlt Kling Klang / Warner Bros., 1981 Design: Emil Schult

Metronomy - The English Riviera Because, 2011 Artwork: John Gorham

Sugababes - Angels With Dirty Faces Island, 2002 Photography: Corinne Day

What did you listen to growing up?

As a teen my focuses were nu-rave, 2007-ish indie and odd electronic women (see: The Knife, iamamiwhoami). Whatever it was, I would have been too shy to talk about them.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

At the minute I’ve had my head to client work and I don’t think I can show any yet that I’ve been working on over the last couple of months. I’m having fun though, and working in contexts I hadn’t quite predicted, but being able to apply myself in the way I want to and that still feels me. I have a slice of mind on working on personal stuff, but currently haven’t had the time or ideas. But that’s ok. I keep churning drawing out regardless just for me! Ideas will come. I want to get back into painting, but haven’t sussed the way I want to work yet.

Where to find Molly mollyfairhurst.com instagram.com/molly.fairhurst

[illustratedtapes]

Illustrated Tapes 014: Nautical Dusk Curated by Megan Reddi ➔ spoti.fi/2MBTTmI 29 August 2018

Megan is a freelance illustrator based in Birmingham, UK.

What’s up Megan! Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

Helloo, thanks for having me! I wanted my tape to capture the feeling of those long, sticky evenings you get towards the end of summer - where you’re outside as the sun starts coming down, there’s a little breeze, everything feels so carefree and chilled out. I love those sorts of evenings and I wanted to make a tape that tried to recreate that.

How did you go about the artwork for the tape?

It happened quite naturally, actually! I started off with the music and once I had that sorted, I listened to the playlist a few times and the imagery just sort of fell out onto the page. Once I’d got the idea sketched out on paper I then moved onto my iPad and put everything together on Procreate. It was a really nice process, it felt very effortless (for once!).

Do you have any fave album covers, or any records that nail the music/artwork combo?

Talking Heads - Remain In Light 1980, Sire Design Concept: Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz. Design Direction: Tibor Kalman, M&Co Computer images: HCL, JPT, DDD, Walter GP, Paul, C/T

Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues 1983, Sire Design: David Byrne

So many, that’s such a hard question! I love a lot of the Talking Heads album covers - they’re all super graphic and playful which I think what I like most in an image. 

David Bowie - Heroes 1977, RCA Photography: Masayoshi Sukita

In terms of nailing the music/artwork combo - the cover for ‘Heroes’ by Bowie is just 110% perfect for that album.

What did you listen to growing up?

A big mix of stuff! My parents were huge music lovers and my dad was a guitarist so there was always music playing when I was growing up - lots of David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Suzanne Vega and Paul Simon. My parents were also massively into mixtapes and had one for every possible occasion so I also grew up listening to a lot of eclectic mixes that my parents had put together.

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

Ooh lots of fun stuff! I’ve just finished up some illustrations for a kids book and now I’m working on some illustrations for a children’s book that i’ve written. I’m also taking part in an Autumn-themed group show with Drip For Drip editions and my pals over at The Pretty Picture Club, which should be really fun!

Where to find Megan meganmakesillustrations.co.uk instagram.com/meganmakesillustrations twitter.com/meganmakesillos behance.net/MeganMakesIllos