Music

I am on occasion asked to design CD and album covers. I find it can be a tricky business, since it's much like that old saw 'dancing about architecture.'

The Toronto band Don Vail band got their name from an old teacher of theirs and they play a kind of dark, yet sweet, and complicated indie rock. So, I wanted to represent the art and science behind their sound. The clear tray with abstract-expressionistic colour bursts is visible behind the chalkboard sleeve.



Admittedly, it's a bit academic. In the end, this is another design for the remainder bin. It was rejected by the band (who ended up rejecting the label offer as well) but it did result in this comment from the label rep:

"...the band feels it doesn’t really say “Don Vail” (how ironic since in fact that is exactly what it says)"

which made me laugh out loud.

Here's the latest sketch I sent through just this morning. It's the eyes following the heavenly glare on the vinyl that do it for me. When I find the time today, I'll try a version with Mary holding a microphone.