Wax Poetics magazine is a publication that explores the music trailblazers, cultures and stories that shape the sounds of yesterday, today, and beyond. From hip-hop, to funk, techno, Caribbean, jazz, and beyond; they set out to shine a light on the deepest stories in music. Wax Poetics developed cult status with collectors, artists, DJs, and just about anyone who wanted to uncover more about the music.
Music is my sanctuary. Music has served as a lifeblood for me throughout my entire life and career. Whatever was funky, obscure and eclectic always caught my attention. These melodies, basslines and lyrics have always provided me with a wealth of inspiration which would fuel my creative endeavors.
I was asked to design graphics for the Wax Poetics merch collection. As I contemplated how to approach this, many questions arose. How do I create an image that encapsulates the sound and movement of these artists and their stories? How do I avoid the pitfalls of image and likeness trademark law infringement? How do I avoid the cliches that had been used already all across the streetwear landscape? There is a standard of integrity that had to be considered for the consumer and for Wax Poetics.
So I rolled up my sleeves and went to the NYC Public Library Picture Collection. I researched dynamic, compelling images of musicians and dancers. I took these images back to the lab, scanned them up and proceeded to orchestrate a digital collage - visual “sampling” you could say (to use a beat making analogy). I felt strongly about the idea of the overall shape being reminiscent of the Rorschach Test as an homage to the psychology of the Stans, vinyl collectors and aficionados.
