Pastel - Bone-Weary EP Artwork, Cassettes, Zine
Bone-Weary was an EP I released in 2016 via Houston-based independent label Very Jazzed. The release consisted of elegant, minimal R&B songs addressing themes of queerness, loss, and intimacy. The backbone of the imagery I created for the EP was inspired by artist Félix González-Torres's work, particularly his empty bed billboards that asked for a moment of stillness from busy New Yorkers to consider the absence of bodies in a bed during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Félix González-Torres's "Untitled" billboards.
Bone-Weary EP artwork used for web and streaming services.
Since much of the EP's content had to do with internal, singular turmoil rather than the intertwined loss apparent in the billboards, I chose to photograph a single pillow. To reflect the skeletal, poetic music of the EP, I centered the image in a wide, neutral gray frame to draw attention directly to the image and give the eye ample space to sit with it without distraction.
J-card template – outside.
For the cassette, I chose to use a thin, sans-serif font to again reflect the style of the music. I also wanted the text to be present, but not overbearing, as a means to highlight the melancholy laden image.
J-card template – inside.
The inner image of the J-card was full bleed, acting moreso as a texture onto which thanks and credits were placed. I chose to place these on the inner side of J-card to maintain the space of the outer side.
Cassette label - side A.
The labels for the cassette functioned much as the inner side of the J-card, featuring the same full bleed image with text.
Cassette label - side B.
The final product:
I also created a small run of zines to sell as a limited edition bundle with the cassette. The zine functioned as a poetry book of sorts, featuring handwritten bits of text taken from song lyrics heard on the EP and photos I had taken to match the atmosphere and content of the music.
Select pages from the zine.
The Bone-Weary EP cassettes are a limited edition run of 100. Cassettes and zines are still available to order here.
