Record cover artwork for Vampire Weekend's song 'Harmony Hall'. As part of the charity initiative secret 7" the artwork helped raised money for Choose Love refugee charity. The song is a criticism of hypocrisy, bigotry & deceit & represents intolerance in all its ugly forms.
My design is inspired by the lyrics of the song & their possible meaning, especially the themes of strong walls/powerful halls & wicked snakes as symbols of duplicity in modern times that I’ve used as the main focus in the design.
‘every time a problem ends another one begins’
‘the stone walls of harmony hall bear witness’
‘Anybody with a worried mind could never forgive the sight of wicked snakes inside a place you thought was dignified’
‘within the halls of power lies a nervous heart that beats’
‘I don’t wanna live like this but I don’t wanna die’
A criticism of hypocrisy, bigotry & deceit in current times “Harmony Hall” is a protest against intolerance & all its ugly forms. The lyrics express the dangers of dogmatism and propaganda. Prejudice & division are a natural bi-product when people are fed distorted coverage that affirms or reinforces pre-existing biases. The chorus could be seen as a rebuke to all institutions that put “success” over humanity and wealth over morality & to those individuals who let hatred and bigotry run uncontrolled.
We all have our own Harmony Hall: A space we once thought sacred, that is sacred no more.
Secret 7” is a charity initiative that mixes music & art by getting artists, illustrators & designers to interpret one of 7 selected tracks from 7 music artists. They then press each one 100 times to 7” vinyl. The 700 unique sleeves are exhibited before being auctioned for charity. You don’t know who created the sleeve, or even which song it’s for, until you buy it hence the secret! This years proceeds raised money for ‘Choose Love’ charity which helps & supports refugees.
Allan Deas • Illustration • Graphic Design • Art Direction
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