Photobook (3/3)

 AESTHETICS INFLUENCED BY MUSIC

    As I shoot and edit photos for my sequence photobook, a pervasive pattern for me when I work on a piece of art is the influence of music and how it affects the aesthetics--or the vibes--of my artwork. This time, a mix of jazz hip-hop, symphonic rock, and alternative metal had possessed my photobook. 

Take a listen to these three albums!

Release of an Oath -- The Electric Prunes

Release of an Oath is a symphonic rock album released in 1968. It caught my eye with its album cover. Like Muybridge's "The Horse in Motion", the cover art of this album mimics a streamlined composition that I thought was relevant to my photobook. Although the music itself doesn't have as much of an influence on my photobook compared to the other two albums, I think the ghostly nature of the album is an element I will be considering.

The Low End Theory -- A Tribe Called Quest

The Low End Theory was released in 1991. It is a jazz hip-hop album that celebrates black culture and comments on social injustice. Songs in this album produce a smooth and jazzy sound, with twisting lyrics that flow fluidly throughout the songs. Hip hop culture has influenced my work in that the flow of the music reflects the flow of movement in my images. I wanted to capture an old school "cool" feeling with some of the photographs. 
In fact, I took the title of the second song of this album and used it as my own title for my book since I thought "Buggin' Out" fit with the seemingly glitchy and unconventional aesthetic of the photos.

Fallen -- Evanescence

Fallen is an alternative metal album, released in 2003, that massively influenced alternative and underground culture in the 21st century. This particular album is currently inspiring the editing for my front and back covers! I love the aggressive tone of the music and translating that aggression into my cover. Although I am aware of the tonal whiplash from the cover to the first pages, I find it charming.