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Robbie is an illustrator and cartoonist based in Bristol, UK.

Heya Robbie. Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

Hi Sam! I wanted to create a playlist that I would listen to as I fly across the galaxy in a little spaceship. Telling the story of my journey from my home planet as I bounce across the stars, speeding along galactic roads and visiting space palaces.

It shifts from a more electronic sound at the beginning to a moodier, more instrumental section towards the end as you travel into deep space further away from the sun. I thought it could be a good playlist to work or to listen to if you’re walking home at nighttime.

I wanted to include some of my favourite music on here so you have Todd Terje, Janelle Monae, Robyn, some French electro and some film soundtracks. ‘Meditation Des Enfants’ by Alain Goraguer is from a beautifully surreal French animated sci-fi film from the 70’s called ‘Fantastic Planet’ that you should definitely watch.

How did you go about the artwork?

I put on the playlist and started drawing. I knew I wanted to make some sort of image of a spaceship speeding across a planet in black & white, with an old sci-fi movie poster sort of look. Something that would fit the electronic and more instrumental sides of the playlist. I had also never drawn a spaceship before so I took myself back to playing Kingdom Hearts as a kid as reference, because there’s really cool toy ships made from very simple shapes on there! I drew a couple of roughs as well of grand space goddesses that I liked, kind of with the same vibe as Ponyo’s mother, floating through space holding and kissing planets. Another was a girl boosting down a rainbow road-like track on spaceship roller skates.

What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?

I absolutely love all of the Todd Terje record artwork that Bendik Kaltenborn makes. It’s super fun and fits the music perfectly. I love his Standbar art, but his It’s Album Time sleeve is my favourite.

Little Dragon Machine Dreams is a perfect album, so fun and so delicate, and ‘Feather’ might be one of the most beautiful songs ever. The artwork is very, very gorgeous as well.

Grace Jones’s Slave To The Rhythm is just a really, really cool collection of songs and the cover image of Grace shouting is iconic.

Whilst the covers themselves aren’t anything special, my favourite internet conspiracy and character development arc is Lana Del Rey’s album covers! On Born To Die she is stood outside of a truck pouting. Then on the cover of Ultraviolence she is getting in the car. On Honeymoon she is in the car. And finally on Lust for Life she is stood outside of the truck again but smiling. It literally represents her shifting from a ‘sad girl’ tone to someone who is happier. I just love that she manages to have 4 album covers that show her getting in and out of a car.