Mixcloud / Spotify
Nicole is an illustrator and designer based in Columbus, Ohio.
What’s up Nicole, can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?
Hi Sam! It’s 20 songs for people who are awkward, shy, or socially-anxious. A playlist for wallflowers to unwind to after a long day filled with overthinking everything and attempting to blend in at parties. It includes a good variety of artists, starting with Daniel Johnston and ending with Shel Silverstein. Some of the songs are sad like “Ryan’s Song” by Joe Jack Talcum, but a good few of them have a comforting tone like “I’ll Be Your Mirror” by The Velvet Underground.
How did you go about the artwork for the tape?
I drew a guy who’s blushing because he got a little crazy with the scissors and cut off the middle section of his hair. He probably cut a piece too short by mistake and kept unsuccessfully trying to fix it till there was nothing but two strands left. Similar to what my bangs looked like in kindergarten after my dad accidentally cut them extremely crooked :^ )
What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?
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Sesame Street - Bert & Ernie Sing-Along
1975, Children’s Television Workshop
Is there even a question as to why?! They are the most beautifully elegant singing duos in music history. But seriously the color and typography of this cover is what makes it one of my favs.
Nicole is an illustrator and designer based in Columbus, Ohio.
What’s up Nicole, can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?
Hi Sam! It’s 20 songs for people who are awkward, shy, or socially-anxious. A playlist for wallflowers to unwind to after a long day filled with overthinking everything and attempting to blend in at parties. It includes a good variety of artists, starting with Daniel Johnston and ending with Shel Silverstein. Some of the songs are sad like “Ryan’s Song” by Joe Jack Talcum, but a good few of them have a comforting tone like “I’ll Be Your Mirror” by The Velvet Underground.
How did you go about the artwork for the tape?
I drew a guy who’s blushing because he got a little crazy with the scissors and cut off the middle section of his hair. He probably cut a piece too short by mistake and kept unsuccessfully trying to fix it till there was nothing but two strands left. Similar to what my bangs looked like in kindergarten after my dad accidentally cut them extremely crooked :^ )
What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?
Sesame Street - Bert & Ernie Sing-Along
1975, Children’s Television Workshop
Pandemonium Shadow Show – Nisson
1967, RCA Victor
Artwork [montage]: Donald Burgess
Photography: Jeff Gold
‘Woman’ [single, from Double Fantasy] – John Lennon
1981, Geffen
Photography: Jack Mitchell
It Overtakes Me [EP] – The Flaming Lips
2006, Warner Bros.
Artwork: Wayne Coyne
Design: George Salisbury
2006, Warner Bros.
Artwork: Wayne Coyne
Design: George Salisbury
All of the Lips album covers are beauties but I chose this one because of the mind-blowing lettering.
What did you listen to growing up?
I started with a lot of motown and Tiny Tim. I loved my grandma and that’s what was always on in her old Cadillac. Her car had this amazing scent of cigarettes and perfume so anytime I smell either of those things I think of Frankie Valli haha.
What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?
I’m in a studio called Pretty Picture Club, so I’m usually working on a monthly theme piece or scheduling Q&A’s with other illustrators for our blog. Right now we are all preparing for our first group show together called Octobercup. Our buddy Wijtze Valkema of Drip for Drip is organising it and we are super excited to be designing our own coffee cups!
Where to find Nicole:
︎ nicolecmar.com
︎ nicole_cmar
︎ @nicolecmar
TRACKLIST
Daniel Johnston - Grievances / The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - I Won't Hurt You / Belle & Sebastian - Expectations / Moses Campbell - Wallflower / Cat Stevens - Don't Be Shy / AJJ - Brave as a Noun / Jeffrey Lewis - Cult Boyfriend / Turner Cody - Better Days / WHY? - Into the Shadows of My Embrace -/FIDLAR - Awkward / Oberhofer - Sea Of Dreams / David Bowie - Lady Stardust - 2012 Remaster / Simon & Garfunkel - I Am a Rock / Tiny Tim - I'm a Lonesome Little Raindrop - Demo Session #6 / Joe Jack Talcum - Ryan's Song / The Velvet Underground - I'll Be Your Mirror / Sledding With Tigers - The Devil and a California Burrito Are Raging Inside Me / The Flaming Lips - The Gash - 2017 Remaster / Lou Reed - Waves of Fear / Shel Silverstein - Bury Me In My Shades ︎