Let's Get Graphic

Half the battle of putting out a single or an album as a music artist is creating the “cover page” of your art – or you can just call it cover art. It is a statement piece that coincides with the tone of an artists’ release. Consumers of music want the full package: an great hook, relatable lyrics, and a connection to the artist; all bundled up into one big pretty package.

Some may argue that cover art has grown to be less important as digital has arisen now that the days of CD collection have come to an end. However, the sale of vinyl records has increased and the existence of cover art on your Spotify playlists or Apple download is just as prominent.

Cover art is the gateway into the story of music and a fan’s first interaction to the artist.

As of recently, my favorite cover art has been that of Lady Gaga’s “Joanne” album. Probably the most notable song that you may recognize on the album is “Million Reasons”. The art piece is considerably a change from her old meat-wearing days. It is simplistic; featuring her facial profile, pale pink hat (a country-ish vibe), and a blue backdrop. Her person resembles minimal makeup and a natural hairstyle.

The audience doesn’t even have to hear a song on the record before knowing that the tracks will be substantially different from the earlier Lady Gaga days. This is one of the most obvious examples out there today of how an artist sets the tone of their musical work with graphic design.