The Creative Journey of Selecting Band Album Art
Bands undergo a collaborative and multi-step process when choosing their album art. This process involves discussions, brainstorming, sketches, and feedback. Each step ensures that the visual representation aligns with the band's identity, themes, and messages. Let's delve into the key aspects of this artistic journey.
Concept Development
The album art creation process begins with concept development. Bands start by discussing the themes, emotions, and messages they wish to convey through their music. This discussion helps guide the visual representation of their album. For example, the mood of the music, the lyrics, and the overall message provide a strong foundation for the imagery.
Collaboration with Artists
Many bands work with graphic designers or visual artists who specialize in album art. These artists often have a unique style that aligns with the band's vision. By collaborating with such artists, bands can bring their conceptual ideas to life. Artists who have worked with bands in the past are often preferred as they understand the band's aesthetic and style.
Brainstorming and Sketching
The process of brainstorming and sketching begins with the artist presenting initial concepts. These sketches are based on the band's ideas and allow for feedback and refinement. This stage is crucial as it ensures that the final design accurately captures the band's vision.
Inspiration Sources
Bands often draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including personal experiences, art movements, cultural references, and existing visual art. This eclectic mix of influences can lead to unique and meaningful designs. For instance, personal experiences can provide a deeply personal touch to the album art, while cultural references can make it resonate with a broader audience.
Finalization and Marketing Considerations
Once the initial design is chosen, it undergoes final adjustments to fit the band's branding and aesthetic. This may include color adjustments, typography, and layout considerations. The band also considers how the art will look in different formats, ensuring it remains eye-catching and memorable.
Fan Input
In some cases, bands involve their fan base by sharing concepts or seeking opinions through social media. This can help gauge reactions before the final release. Fan input can provide valuable insights and make the artwork resonate even more with the audience.
Notable Examples of Album Art Collaboration
Bands often choose artists who can best represent their vision. Sometimes, the artist becomes a long-term collaborator, creating a strong bond with the band and its fans. An example of such an ongoing relationship is Gerald S. Isaacs, who created album art for Pink Floyd.
Other bands hire artists or agencies. In some instances, the artist may be a band member, such as with Voivod and Baroness. However, sometimes art and concepts are presented to the band for discussion. For instance, the cover for the Yes album “Tormato” featured a splattered tomato on a monochrome photo, courtesy of keyboard player Rick Wakeman. Given his disdain for the artwork, he threw a tomato from the lunch table at it. A photo of that incident became the new cover art and changed the album’s title.
Occasionally, record labels may assign someone to be in charge of the artwork. However, these decisions can sometimes be embarrassing. An example is the Scorpions’ album Virgin Killer, which used a photo of a naked prepubescent girl on the cover. The band was unaware of the label’s choice until after the jacket was printed. In many countries, an alternate cover showing the band was used instead. Similarly, Black Sabbath’s Born Again album cover depicted a red devil baby on an indigo background, which the band members were not pleased with.
At times, artwork is presented to a band but they may pass it over. The cover of Rainbow’s Difficult to Cure was first presented to Black Sabbath for their Never Say Die album but a different photo was chosen. Consequently, a couple of years later, Rainbow used the rejected design. A similar situation occurred with Budgie’s debut album cover art. The cover was originally presented to Uriah Heep, but they rejected it and eventually used it, asking the rider to be changed to a Budgie.
Ultimately, the album art serves as an extension of the band’s identity and plays a crucial role in how their music is perceived. Proper collaboration and attention to detail can result in memorable and meaningful album art that resonates with fans and fans alike.