EP Art Work Development

Over the past few days I have been working closely with Ayem Beats developing and discussing ideas for my EP artwork. I have been throwing ideas at him to try and make it easier for him to create my vision of what I want the design to look like.

As the EP's called "8:00 AM" I'm going along with a digital time theme for the cover. I'm going to have a modern sleek digital alarm clock design with "8:00 AM" on the clock face. I want the design to have an ambient touch to it as this will reflect on the whole vibe and feel of the EP.
We have both been sending each other pictures of digital clocks so we can base the overall design on a specific look and shape.

Email from Ayem Beats

"I'm really feeling the whole concept/theme you've come up with, I love making those types of covers.

I have attached some images I dug up as well. I didn't have much luck finding stainless steel clocks aside from the first one, but I was able to find some sleek looking ones. I also found some retro looking ones that reminded me of old school music production equipment/synthesizers, but you asked for a modern sleek look so its up to you. If you find any of them interesting let me know.

As far as payment, I usually don't start work on a project until I receive half up front, but since you seem like an honest dude we will worry about the money once everything is said and done.

Let me know what you think and I'll get started on a draft asap.

Regards
Ayem"

Some Designs we've been looking at:

Ball Rolling For The EP Artwork

After receiving an email from Ayem Beats about the EP artwork I sent him an email back about a few ideas for the artwork and how we could possibly develop them and achieve my vision for the EP cover.

Email to Ayem Beats:

"Yeah its Mazzie from Louis Den!
I was holding out and hoping you'd reply and you did! I think I'm only going to need a front cover done. Its going to be a free download project and wont be put out as a physical CD so I don't think I will need the back done.

The EP's going to be called "8:00 AM" the reason why is because I have been getting up at that time for the past 6 months doing University work which is how the name came about.

Title of the EP: "Mazzie - 8:00 AM"

I'm personally not going to be on the cover, but I thought of an idea of having a sleek stainless steel digital alarm clock design with "8:00 AM" in green writing on the clock. Have my name at the top of the cover not on the clock itself tho.

Maybe give the whole design itself an ambient feel and touch to it as the music is quite ambient based itself.

I can give more info and suggest other stuff as we develop ideas

I've attached a few photo's of some clocks that you could maybe base a design on?

Let me know if your down and we can sort payment out etc...

Thanks again man

- Mazzie"

Email From Ayem Beats (Album Art)

I received an email back from Ayem Beats about the album art for my EP.

Email from Ayem Beats:

"Mazzie from Louis Den yeah? Sorry for not getting back to you for a while, I keep forgetting to check this old e-mail.

Don't worry I'm still fairly new to this too. Alright so here's how it goes, send me your ideas on what you want on the artwork, including the title for the EP, photos you may want me to use (in hi resolution if possible), etc. It helps if you go into details as it will help me achieve your vision.

As far as prices, if you're just looking to get the front done it will be somewhere around $50 (£30 I believe) it could be more or less depending on the project, and around $65 (£40) for a front and back.

You probably might have already got another designer since I took so long to reply, but if you're still interested, could you do me a favor and reply at allaemo@gmail.com since I hardly use this one.

Regards
Ayem"

Mazzie - 8:00 AM Album Art

This week I have been sorting out the album art for my forthcoming EP "8:00 AM". As the EP is going to be released free digitally and not put out as a physical CD I'm only going to get the artwork for the front cover done. I've got a graphic designer called 'Ayem Beats' from America working on the artwork at the moment. Fellow UK artists who I know put me onto his work as he has done numerous project for similar artists in the industry.

Email to Ayem Beats:

"Hi there,
I'm a good friend of Wizards, he put me onto you about designing some album art! The stuff you did for his album was great and I'm looking to get something done for my EP if possible? I'm bringing out a 3 track EP at the end of april and will be released as a free download. I was wondering if its possible to get something done and maybe discuss some ideas with you?

This is my first release so I've never really done this sort of thing before. If you could let me know about prices etc it would be much appreciated.

Regards
Mazzie"

Some artwork his has done for a fellow producer:

Filming For The Documentary

It was the first day of filming for the documentary. The group from Chester University turned up a couple hours early before the studio session so we could discuss in detail what would be happening and how the day would pan out. It was very professional, the group had industry standard cameras and top of the range lighting, it all looked very impressive.

They first filmed a section about me for the documentary, I had to explain what the project was about and what goals did I want to achieve from creating the EP. They then filmed me and Nick Gozem in the studio working together and discussing ideas. They also filmed a section on Nick asking him a number of questions about why he liked working with me and what did he like about working with different genres of music.

The first filming session went really well, the group were easy to work with and the material captured for the documentary looked very impressive. I have high hopes for the finished product.

Final Recording Session With Nick Gozem

Today I had my final recording session with Nick Gozem in the SSL. We've managed to record the final bits of material for the EP and everything's sounding great.The tracks themselves are pretty much finished all I need to do now is record the vocals which I will be doing later on this week. Throughout the course of the EP I've been lucky enough to have Nick Gozem available to come into the studio and record material for the EP. He's been a big influence throughout the making of this EP and with the material I have managed to gather from the sessions I've been able to create and construct substantial pieces of work at a professional standard.

Dr Syntax Studio Session On The 30th Of March

On the 30th of March I will be in the SSL studio recording with Dr Syntax for one of the tracks off my EP. The track itself is pretty much finished I just need to add some extra instrumentation once the vocals have been recorded.