Music Album/Cover work Research

Music album/covers research 

For typical electropop album covers, they usually have lots of simple, minimalistic designs. Some that are notable are Lady Gaga’s, ‘The Fame’ (2008) album cover, which quintessentially paved the way for the entrance of electropop into the mainstream. Other more well-known examples of this would be The Weeknd’s, ‘Starboy’ (2016) album cover, which features himself under the large title, posing straight at the camera.

However, I’ve also looked at more album covers existing within various genre’s, such as Pop, Rap/Hip-hop, R&B, etc. These album covers are not only memorable, but they also have very simple designs which work well. 

Below are the album covers I looked at within the other genre’s: 

1. Drake’s ‘Scorpion’ (2018) 

The album cover design is simplistic, with a B&W portrait of Drake, with his signature, as though he’s showing his authenticity of the album, and perhaps how personal it could be to him. Moreover, the black/grey border/frame also works well in this instance, and particularly places more emphasis on Drake in the cover. The album works of Drake are usually very well-known, but this coverwork is a statement, almost an art piece of the artist's work. 

2. Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ (2014) 

Similarly, Taylor Swift’s especially famous album work, possibly her best, is her iconic signed polaroid. The polaroid features a mid-shot of Taylor with a long-sleeve outfit (typical of the year, 2014) and bright red lipstick, which is usually worn by Swift. The custom signature by Swift only enhances the authenticity of the album, and also adds originality to her work. Her album cover is in a way, similar to Drake's. Swift's '1989' album cover has become one of the most recognised albums worldwide, due to its creativity simplicity. 

3. Nicki Minaj's 'Pinkprint' (2014)

The rap icon's album cover is arguably one of her most recognised and well-known designs, particularly because of its creativity. The use of a simple white background, contrasts well with the tainted pink colour, which features a fingerprint, right in the centre. Thus, linking to originality and identity as well, as it provides more authenticity to her album, almost as a clear, definite claim that this work of hers is personal and relates to her own identity. Although the work is incredibly simple, it's minimalism amplifies the album, hence making it one that's become easily recognisable. 

Some of their work from the albums:

                                                                                                                                                                    

 

Artist's reknowned for their cover work:

For the Electropop genre, album covers are usually fitting of its theme. Lady Gaga's 'The Fame' (2008), a well-known album cover features Gaga posing with her iconic sunglasses alongside bright colours. 

The album work features a close-up of Lady Gaga, with her glasses, alongside a small hand-written 'The Fame', on the shades, which complement Gaga, as she's often known to wear dark black glasses, especially during her post-debut era. The colours are also low in saturation, with high exposure. Formal, prestigious typography is used to display Lady Gaga's name at the bottom. The simplistic approach to this cover work is admirable, as Gaga was able to pose for a close-up shot of her face, with her iconic glasses, alongside a very small written album title, which has grown to become one of her more famous album covers from her debut.

Artist's like The Weeknd are also often reknowned for his cover work, more especially with his legendary, 'Starboy' (2016) album work, which features The Weeknd posing for a mid-shot, with a sleek leather jacket and the word, 'Starboy' above his head. The Weeknd is also wearing a cross, which is perhaps symbolism to his religion/faith/beliefs. These are all a statement piece, and are also worn in his music video for his main song, 'Starboy'. The colours on the cover, being red, blue lighting and the dim-yellow colour of the album title fit well together but are also possibly hinting at his own emotions and possibly how this album is to make one feel as: just like The Weeknd.

 

Furthermore, the album cover has got grain, and appears to have the effect rough/scratched paper, which enhances the album work to make it seem as though this album perhaps has lots of layers too it or there's various emotions portrayed and expressed through the songs, and hence it'll leave one feeling different.

Artists explored outside of the electropop genre

Whilst researching, I decided to go outside of my genre, and instead venture to the album works that I quite like or think has value to it. 

1. Khalid's 'Free Spirit' (2019)

Khalid is a well-known name within the R&B industry, particularly shining through with this album (2019) of his, which has interesting cover work. Khalid is shown standing on top of a truck, which has the album title etched into it, whilst he stands, free on top of the car, in the middle of vast desertness, but with mostly clear skies and either dask or dawn upon him. The album work is as literal as the album title is, "Free Spirit", as Khalid stands there, looking free spirited in the open, with the album title drawn on in large informal typography, which only helps to provide the album with more authenticity. Khalid's name is printed at the bottom but evenly spaced out, and fits in beautifully with the rest of the work. 

Khalid may be paying homage to his upbringings of Texas, with the rural setting in the background, and therefore accentuates the album and possibly the feelings expressed throughout. The album work is very clear in terms of the album title and all the colours and tones blend in well.

2. Ariana Grande's 'thank u, next' (2019)

Ariana Grande is yet another artist (like The Weeknd) who is seemingly able to have famous album cover work, especially with one of her best albums. Grande is pictured in a polaroid (or polaroid formatting) sleeping upside down, with her facial expressions and body language, more than clearly expressing the feels and tone of the album: a whole load of pain. The repetition in her prior cover work is not something to skim past, especially since Ariana is known to be 'sleeping' in her album works (which usually hints that the album to follow is bound to be good), as well as linking to her previous album, 'Sweetner' which featured Ariana upside down again, whilst her neck is covered with "thank u next" written in ink. The simplicity of the album is well done, with her being the main centre piece, with the dull pink shade in the background, which is almost a statement piece of the artist herself. 

Analysis 

Ideas for my own album cover: 

For my own album cover, I'm thinking of keeping it simple and authentic, through using signed polaroids as my cover.

The polaroids are also quite minimalistic, and would therefore fit well for my song.