I don’t particularly love drama in the relational sense, however I do love the Chicago-based duo, DRAMA. I felt fortunate to be randomly assigned a music act I genuinely enjoy and actively listen to. Their disco beats and lush R&B vocals, paired with their lyrics discussing, you guessed it, relational drama, hooked me immediately. Through the design, I wanted to capture the feeling of being on a busy dance floor, engulfed in the warm sounds of DRAMA, the maternal lights of the club gently flashing as you sway to the beats, melody, and lyrics.
I wanted to feature the band name, DRAMA as the main focal point, in massive bold font that feels timeless. Could it be from the future or from the age of disco? It doesn’t actually matter, because drama is a timeless experience among humankind. I play with scale as well, since the experience of drama can feel all-encompassing, as well as hearing a live set at a venue, the sounds engross you. I use a limited, warm color palette to help recreate the above scene and to create a bit of a tension between the idea of drama and the actual sounds and feelings a disco club can provide, ones of joy and liberation, of being embraced. I also used a gradient and a few light flashes, adding a subtle feeling of shimmery club lights. Lastly, I incorporated two lines of lyrics from DRAMA’s discography, set above and below the band name, in a news-ticker style, giving the static poster a bit of a digital vibe. To me, this fit the band’s more produced/digital sound.
Listen to 3 AM by Drama, on YouTube.