World Go Blue Album Art

HAPPY NEW YEARS everyone!  It's 2013, and I know that it will be an epic year.  Technically 3 years into the business of illustration and graphic design, yet again 2013 will be a HUGE transition year for jayemmsee studios.  

World Go Blue Album Art
Photography by Garrick Fujii

Meet Alfa, I've blogged about her before (Alfa Music Splash Page) , but this ones extra special.  SHE IS FINALLY RELEASING  HER 5th album!!! Due out on January 31st, 2012.  available at

Upcoming gig: Alfa @ Bar Lubistch and Kawehi LIVE LOOPING!! (Kawehi's awesome too!)
Tuesday January 15th, 2013, 9 PM at Bar Lubitsch.  Cover is $8.00 if you guys would like a taste of World Go Blue. RSVP here: event page

THE CONCEPT behind WORLD GO BLUE

In the beginning of 2012, it was just a thought and she mentioned "would you create my album cover?" Midway through the year, it became a reality with the Kickstarter Splash Page project and again I  was very humbled that she would ask me to be her album artist as the dream was coming to reality.  It was quite something putting our knoggin's together to create the album art for World Go Blue.

This album is truly special in a sense that the concept came from how Alfa has grown as a singer/songwriter in the last 2 years, in character, and in her integrity.  I feel like the songs represent how she has been breathing the ins and outs of life, passion, and love.  It's amazing how someone can translate the meaning of life into melodies, harmonies, and musical notes.  I've been fortunate to be part of the journey, watching, and even traveling with Alfa.  It has definitely been an adventure.

That being said, the concept of the album art: attains the sense of traveling and going places you've never seen before, yet getting familiar with the nuances of life through those very moment, capturing it into a memory.  Sometimes its not only about the happy go lucky moments, but the darker sinister moments, that create the richness and values of life.  We journey together, soar together, and enjoy together, through whatever it may be that we are tangled in.  In a sense we get wrapped up and carried away in the different moments of life, love, and struggles.  That phrase sometimes goes like this, "Oh that tangled web we weave.".

literally used string.

So with all those thoughts, I tried to create something that would  illustrate what Alfa was communicating and processing to me.  For many weeks I had creative block, but one day it just clicked, just as she is with her music, I took what I was good at doing: drawing, and creating with strings and things away from the computer to create a title that would stand out more than others.  Then I used the Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to enhance what was already there.  Thank you Garrick Fujii for being an awesome photographer for the shoot back in August.  It made the entire project so much easier because the photos were already amazing.

Most of this album was about choice typography, layout design, color, photo, art direction, branding, and just puzzling it all together into one wallet sized package.

Congratulations Alfa and thanks for having me along the creative journey!!!!

LIVE LINKS:
Alfa's Webpage:  www.Alfa-music.com
Kawehi Webpage: http://www.kawehi.com/
Garrik Fujii Photography Webpage:  http://garrickfujii.com
Bar Lubitsch:  On YELP!