Album Artwork Research - Kirsty McQue.
Album Review on Vibe
In an industry boasting a wealth of talent, music is becoming increasingly dominated by vociferous vocalists who grapple for the media spotlight with outrageous publicity stunts. It might be entertaining for a while, but genuine talent is often overshadowed beneath an outlandish façade. It is always refreshing to discover an artist whose enthusiasm for music remains unscathed and Leeds-based singer Kirsty McQue is the breath of fresh air that I so desperately needed.
Originally from London, the 21-year-old is set to release Silhouettes, her debut EP, on Friday, June 06. The record is based around the idea of a divided heart and the different stages of a relationship. It also explores the concept of six degrees of separation – the theory that everybody is interconnected by six or fewer steps through friendships and relationships.
McQue cites London Grammar, Delilah and James Blake as influences and with her song-writing revolving around an ambient style it is easy to see why. She has collaborated with a range of producers on the EP and the outcome is sublime. Spread across five tracks, it is a delicious slice of serenity with the added zest of electronic vibes. Her entrancing vocals and contagious charm intrigue throughout with her velvet voice oozing sophistication beyond her years.
The echoes, intermittent electrical pulses and delicate piano play of first track Nightfall shroud the opening of the EP in mystery. McQue worked with Manchester/Leeds-based producer myk. on the song which reflects on finding comfort in a person you barely know. An image of a silent yet sleepless night materialises in my mind, maintained by the opening lyrics “scratching in my sleep, I can’t stand the night, it’s you who comforts me”. The effortless rises and falls of McQue’s voice mesmerise throughout while a skittering drum beat gives the song a little texture. It’s a simple soundscape but one that is thoroughly satisfying.
A dysfunctional romance is at the centre of second track You and I. It is minimalistic with repeated lyrics, ethereal guitar play and a single beat punctuating the verses, similarities that exude a striking resemblance to the style of London trio The xx, but the blissful narration of disagreement in a relationship is compelling.
RESEARCH
6 Degrees of separation:
Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy in 1929 and popularized by a 1990 play written by John Guare.Several studies, such as Milgram's small world experiment, have been conducted to empirically measure this connectedness. The phrase "six degrees of separation" is often used as a synonym for the idea of the "small world" phenomenon.
Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy in 1929 and popularized by a 1990 play written by John Guare.Several studies, such as Milgram's small world experiment, have been conducted to empirically measure this connectedness. The phrase "six degrees of separation" is often used as a synonym for the idea of the "small world" phenomenon.
KEYWORDS: CONNECTEDNESS, SMALL WORLD, SEPERATION, BOUND.
Feathers:
Symbol meaning of feathers deal with ascension and spiritual evolution to a higher plane. Feathers were worn by Native American Chiefs to symbolize their communication with Spirit, and to express their celestial wisdom. Also in the Native American Indian culture, feathers represented the power of the thunder gods, along with the power of air and wind.
Symbol meaning of feathers deal with ascension and spiritual evolution to a higher plane. Feathers were worn by Native American Chiefs to symbolize their communication with Spirit, and to express their celestial wisdom. Also in the Native American Indian culture, feathers represented the power of the thunder gods, along with the power of air and wind.
Gradients/Bright colour textures:
Album Art from artists who are similar and who inspire Kirsty McQue:
I am really pleased that theres a similar element running through all of the album art I've looked at who inspires kirsty.. I found that album art that uses the artists face/body is slightly distorted and not a photography image. Also where its purely just design its very creative and theres a lot going on.
Especially as Kirsty mentioned she loved feathers i feel like producing something inspired by the submission orchestra (paisley album cover) would work perfectly for her with the feathers combined in the design.
Especially as Kirsty mentioned she loved feathers i feel like producing something inspired by the submission orchestra (paisley album cover) would work perfectly for her with the feathers combined in the design.
NEW EP LYRICS.
Kirsty recently gave Jamie and i lyrics to a new song off her new EP so our next point is to look at these lyrics and see how we can recreate them into artwork.
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