Here are Make and Gisu, two talented young men who form a rap duo of the same name. Over the past two years, they have released numerous singles, an EP, and most recently an LP, and I have been involved throughout the entire journey, offering my expertise. This includes designing the logo, taking photos, directing, shooting and editing videos, creating covers for releases, and other promotional materials.
The collaboration has gone astonishingly well. I provide my skills and vision, while they offer their world, mood, and art. We have been able to discuss everything, and undoubtedly the most valuable aspect has been the joint planning and creation process, which has given everyone a lot of new ideas and valuable experience.
Single covers
The journey began with their second single cover. While their first single featured a simple image taken with a mobile phone camera, the duo sought something more sophisticated for their next release. They approached me to inquire if I might be interested in creating it. My first single cover! Naturally, I was thrilled at the opportunity!
This is where it began. I was asked to draw a cover for their second single "Nyt" (= Now) with computer. So I asked, what they wanted and took my time with it.
With this one, called "Bounce" it took a while to get it the way the guys wanted. The sense of movement, sparks, smoke and if you look very carefully, you can actually see real people inside the toy cars.
This was my last major project with the group. We still collaborate, but it's awesome to see how they, with their experience and newly gained confidence, are now taking many things into their own hands.
Promo shoots
Over the years, we have conducted several photoshoots, including those prearranged in a pop-up studio and ones set up during live performances.
From the first photoshoot in the late 2021. It was easy to capture the vibe of the suburb but one needed to be creative with the lighting.
Our second photoshoot in the spring of 2022.
In early 2023 we gathered all the gear and built a pop-up studio with fore planned theme, flashlights and softboxes.
In the autumn of 2023 I was invited to see their gig on the local pub and just could not leave my camera home.
EP and LP
In the spring of 2022, they released their first EP, and in the autumn of 2023, they finally released their first LP. In both cases, I was fortunate to be their go-to guy. For the EP, I was given free rein and the license to go wild, but by the time we worked on the album cover, they had their style and ideas pretty much nailed down, and all they needed was someone to bring them to life.
I consider it crucial for a designer to have the ability to sense when a client needs me to come up with something they can't yet articulate or visualize, and when to just listen, perform, and deliver.
I haven't been able to do this with everyone, but when the relationship with a client works that well, it's golden.
Cover of the EP "AIkoi" 2022.
Back cover of the EP "AIkoi" 2022.
Cover of the album "Elämää" 2023.
Back cover of the album "Elämää" 2023.
Music video's
In late 2021, the boys were searching for someone to shoot and direct their first music video, titled 'Huominen' (which translates to 'Tomorrow'). They were novices in this field with no real budget. At that time, I had accumulated experience creating promotional videos for various businesses, but I hadn't ventured into music video production. Seeing this as a great opportunity, I eagerly accepted the challenge.
By 2023, my portfolio had expanded to include three music videos that I had shot and directed. Additionally, I played a significant role in other projects, either as a cameraman or in the brainstorming phase. The most recent video I worked on, 'Mestarillinen' (meaning 'Like a Champ'), was presented to a live audience at the Filmifonia 23 event in Lappeenranta in the spring of 2023.