Childo Tomás: Messengers
Album Cover

Role
Art Direction, Design

Year
2018

Childo Tomás is a Jazz bassist hailing from Mozambique, an artist deeply influenced by the rich tapestry of his homeland's culture and traditions. His latest album serves as a musical autobiography, capturing the essence of his life journey as well as the diverse landscapes and sounds of Mozambique. Drawing from a variety of influences, from traditional African rhythms to modern Jazz improvisations, the album weaves a complex narrative that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

Through his bass guitar, Childo Tomás explores themes of identity, belonging, and the nuances of the human experience, all set against the backdrop of Mozambique's social and cultural milieu. Each track is a sonic portrait, encapsulating facets of his life and his profound connection to his home country. Whether it's a soulful melody that evokes the bustling markets of Maputo or a poignant ballad that reflects on the nation's history, the album is a heartfelt tribute to the land and people that have shaped him as an artist.

For the album art, I took creative inspiration from the aesthetic of newspaper cutouts, aiming to evoke a sense of nostalgia and authenticity. The design features text and imagery arranged in a collage-like fashion, mimicking the look of paragraphs pieced together from old, weathered newspaper clippings. This choice not only lends the artwork a vintage appeal but also alludes to the storytelling aspect of the album, as if each cut-out is a fragment of Childo Tomás's life and musical journey.

The color palette and typography are heavily influenced by the vibrant, hand-painted signs and advertisements commonly seen across various African locales. Rich, bold colors are utilized to capture the spirit and energy of these signs, creating a visual link to the album's cultural roots. The typography itself mimics the hand-painted quality of African signage, incorporating distinctive letterforms that bring a touch of artisanal craftsmanship to the overall design.

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