Illustrated Tapes 151: IN MY HEAD Joi is a 2D/3D illustrator, animator and occasional textiles practicioner, based in Chigaco, Illinois, USA.
Hey Joi. Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?
Hey Hey! So pretty much this tape is a compilation of some of my favorite songs to listen to while I work! I mainly listen to a lot of rhythmic, bass heavy stuff when I because something about the repetition keeps me focused. So you will see and hear a lot of deep house, Lofi house, DnB, and techno mixed up in there!
What direction did you take with your cover art, and what was your process?
I wanted to illustrate the kinda space I feel like I'm transported to while I listen to what I listen to! Just this void of colors and wonkiness haha. Also a lot of the music to me has this vibrant sound to them, whether that be the bass or some nice vocals, so the colors represent that! As for the process – I didn't want to have a face on the person because when I’m listening to this music I get so lost in myself if that makes sense, so that’s my visual representation of that. And as for all the shapes, those are like the moments of excitement that come up when I'm listening to my music!
What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?
Ooooo that's a hard one! Here’s a few that I’ve been gravitating towards.
'Heaven Let Me In' [MV] – Friendly Fires
2018, UMG / Polydor
Dir: BISON
2018, UMG / Polydor
Dir: BISON
This video is very simple but the visuals that are there is pretty much me when I listen to the song.
Azure – Vinyl Williams2020, Requiem Pour Un Twister
Collage: Vinyl Williams
Paintings (sourced): various artists
“Things I Imagined / Down with the Clique” [MV] – Solange
2018, SME / Saint Records / Columbia
Dir: Solange Knowles
2018, SME / Saint Records / Columbia
Dir: Solange Knowles
And literally anything Solange makes haha.
What did you listen to growing up?
I feel like I listened to a bit of everything! My dad was really into hip-hop and rap, my mom loved R’n’B, gospel, neo-soul, chill hip-hop stuff, one of my aunts is really into classic house so that was definitely an influence for me!
And what’s on heavy rotation for you at the moment?
Friendly Fires - “Heaven Let Me In”
2XM - “Leave With you”
DJ Housplants - “I Don’t Mind”
Rimbaudian - “Drop It on em”
Draftsman - “Crush”
What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?
To be honest not too much haha. Work has been a bit slow but in the meantime I run my shop (thedaintyheart.com) and my Patreon! (patreon.com/thedaintyheart)
Where can we find you?
INSTA: @thedaintyheart
TWITTER: @thedaintyheart
WEBSITE: joifulton.com
Thanks Joi 👋🏽