The members of the Leeds band Insatellites commissioned me to illustrate them a cover for their first released EP "No Wave" and also design an image for their CD.

I conceived an idea of using old, archive photographs from a collection of books I have amassed from visits to thrift stores, charity shops, vintage stores among other places.

The band's sound is one that mixes analogue and digital, spinning their own twist on a common set up (computer effects combined with drums, guitar and singer). This idea was something that stayed with me throughout the implementation and I wanted it to be represented in the imagery on the CD. I settled for a 1920s image of a young boy riding an old tortoise (new and old) and then added my own cartoon illustration over the top. I also loved the idea of the band as outliers or rebels, and so the image of an upper class, noble child choosing to ride atop a rare and exotic old creature seemed bizarrely fitting, whilst also ridiculing the ridiculous pastimes of a privileged, exploitative elite.

In conclusion, I presented Three alternative versions of the cover and then a few tidbits used for the physical CD design.

Insattelites, although no longer performing, were a solid group of musicians and their shared love for creating intimate and moving art was a notion I could relate to. I was warmed by their outreach to include me in their creative pilgrimage, and I’ve included a link to one of my favourite recordings of theirs: a sensational little cover of “Teardrop” by Massive Attack.