Gut gesagt, Andi
Album-Diskussion: "Foot of the mountain" 2009
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Tastengretl -
27. Oktober 2008 um 10:03 -
Erledigt
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Martin Kvamme on the new a-ha cover designs
Martin talks with a-ha.com about inspiration and working with a-ha.
What made you chose this job? How did you start as a designer?
I started as an art director's assistant when I was 18 years old. At that time I had almost no education so I guess I was lucky to get a job After a couple of years I got more and more into graphic design, mainly because of music and cultural projects. I had a couple of friends that were musicians (like the Norwegian artist Magnet/Even Johansen among others) who had me do their packaging, and that got the ball rolling. Have been working with quite different artists like Fantômas, Tomahawk and Peeping Tom (Faith no More singer, Mike Patton's projects), Satyricon and Darkthrone (Black metal), Turbonegro, Gluecifer, a-ha, Bertine Zetlitz, Kurt Nilsen and Silje Nergaard (Pop/rock) to classic and contemporary music. So I’m familiar with quite different genres
What's the artwork you're most proud of and why?
Well, it's a little difficult to pick just one, but the Tomahawk «Mit Gas» packaging came out quite special (at its time). But I'm really happy with both my two a-ha designs as well
You created the 'Analogue' era a-ha logo, as well as the new logo. What caused the change in the first place? Is the idea to have a new logo with each album release?
Why do people buy new cloths and shoes? 'Coz you want to refresh yourself. If you don't think of a-ha as a contemporary pop band, you could just quit. I think it's OK with a band like a-ha which has such a short/strong name to change the "logo" now and then. It's not like they are Iron Maiden Then we would have had to keep up with a logo (and same expression) for 30+ years.
The hyphen in the a-ha logo is back! Where did it go, and is it back for good?
It was on the two previous logos as well, only a little more subtle (connected to the first "a"). But, I guess the hyphen is back for good, now!
Why no picture of the guys on the cover? Was that the band's choice or yours?
Well, we tried out different things on the front (also with the band on it) but this is what we ended up with. There will be a picture of the band on the back of the CD (and also inside) so they are still there
Paul said in an online interview in 2007 that you include birds in all of your designs. What is the story behind this bird design element?
That is more a joke I tell but it's somehow true. I have used birds quite a lot in my designs. I guess it's because it gives it an “airy feeling” (I don't know if this is the right description), and that it works well with music.
What do you think of the feedback from fans about the new a-ha covers? Are people for the most part 'getting' the message in the design?
Well, I think it is good that people have meanings about it. Good or bad. I wanted (and it probably is) a different expression than the previous a-ha covers. The band, the management, the record label and I think it suits the music, but of course, there are probably a million other ways to do it. But I think this (together with the rest of the design inside the booklet) will work quite well. There are other things we need to be concerned about when we design an album cover, than if this is something a fan would put up on the wall in his/her living room. Like if it's going be visible in the record store, on iTunes and as a small jpeg in an online article etc. etc. But if they get the message? Some get it, some don't. Some bring up new meanings (that we had not thought about) and some are way off I don't think it is fun if you explain every little detail, but some keywords could be Norwegian nature, epic, rose painting, collage, and the four elements.
Some fans have said that the 'Foot of the Mountain' album cover is "the best cover since 'Scoundrel Days'." What do you think of this comparison?
Then I just have to say thanks! I really like the 'Scoundrel Days' cover (and lots of other covers that they have made) but I think it's important to try out new directions sometimes.
Apart from your own album covers for a-ha, which a-ha covers do you like the best?
Like I said, 'Scoundrel Days' is nice, I also really like the 'Lifelines' and 'Hunting High and Low' covers.
How do you create the artwork for CD covers? Do you take the inspiration from the title(s), the lyrics or do you work on a subject suggested by the artist?
In this case we could use the title quite a lot. I know that this is a somehow poetic quote and that they are not necessarily talking about a mountain, but we wanted something majestic and simple. That's also why we made it quite abstract. It's a picture of the mountain Kyrkja (the church) in Jotunheimen/Norway. Inside we have more images of Norwegian nature (in a collage style). But in general I guess the inspiration comes from the overall idea (production and songwriting/lyrics), rather than the the album title.
What is it like working with a-ha? Do they want you to have your own creative process or do they prefer to be involved very closely?
They are really nice guys. Good humor and easy to talk to. This time they put a couple of ideas on the table, and I put some of mine, and we ended up with something from both worlds. At least I am happy with the process and the result, hopefully they are too. -
Interessantes Interview. Danke
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Na da freu ich mich schon aufs Booklet.
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Ja, soviel ich verstanden habe, sehr interessant! Danke! Ich bin gespannt aufs Album
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Interessantes Interview.
Find ich auch.
Ich mag den... -
Ich hab mal auf amazon in die Songs reingehört und bin begeistert!! Hätt ich nicht machen sollen, weil ich es jetzt nicht abwarten kann. Eins hab ich zu bemängeln! Nur 10 Songs?? Hätten schon zwei mehr sein können.
Wann kommt der neue Clip?? -
Danke solli, ich wusste gar nicht das man auf Amazon schon in alle Songs reinhören kann, wahnsiiiiiiinn! Was ich da gehört habe ist ein Traum und haut mich total vom Hocker, jeder Song hat einen Beat, das ist das beste Popalbum der letzten Jahre, das beste a-ha Album aller Zeiten, Hammer, mir gehn die Superlative aus, ich glaub das einfach nicht, was für ein Sound.
Sehe ich richtig das man es digital bereits am 12. Juni runterladen kann?
Ich bin völlig aus dem Häuschen.Bleibt nur die Frage warum sie den "schlechtesten" Song als erstes ausgekoppelt haben.:-P
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wo kann man da in die lieder reinhören? ich seh nichts oder bin ich total blind grade...
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Da kann man auch reinhören!http://bit.ly/NTDSk
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- Offizieller Beitrag
nicht nur du, Gover. Ich auch
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Sehe ich richtig das man es digital bereits am 12. Juni runterladen kann?
Ich bin völlig aus dem Häuschen.
Ja, ich denke mal! Aber ich will das Album! Am liebsten gleich! -
ich habs dann doch gefunden...
http://www.amazon.de/Foot-Of-The-Mo…43511198&sr=8-2
tatsächlich sehr 80s und back to the roots. für den sommer schön frisch und zum mitsingen
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Ja, ich denke mal! Aber ich will das Album! Am liebsten gleich!
Ich wills auch gleich, keine Frage, man wenn sie diese Songs auf der Tour live bringen, ich flipp aus.......
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Wann kommt der neue Clip??
Das wäre auch interessant zu wissen oder ist der nur auf dem Album drauf?? -
- Offizieller Beitrag
Gerade live via Skype mit meinem Bruder (23) gehört.
Bruder meintSunny Mystery
What there is
The Bandstandwären sehr gut. (er kritisiert a-ha gerne...."warum muss der Morten immer so langsam singen" - lol )
Er meinte: klingt wie Coldplay.
Synthesizer findet er top.
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Der Clip hat wohl bald auf Pro7 Premiere, auf dem Album ist er höchstens wenn´s ne Special Edition geben sollte.
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- Offizieller Beitrag
edit:
bitte vom Album runternehmen: Mother nature goes to heaven lt. meinem Bruder (Titel klingt aber auch lustig)
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ich habs dann doch gefunden...
http://www.amazon.de/Foot-Of-The-Mo…43511198&sr=8-2
tatsächlich sehr 80s und back to the roots. für den sommer schön frisch und zum mitsingen
Danke, Helga...
Nr.1, 2, 3, 4, 9 gefallen mir so auf ´s erste Hinhören..
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p.s. es sind nur kleine snippets, aber ich vermisse analogue...
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