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🎵 IT208: ZAMROCK
✏️ Tim Alexander
🗓 01.08.23


Tim is a freelance vector illustrator, based in Brighton, UK.

Hey Tim. Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?

Hello! My tape is all about Zamrock and a small deepdive into the music that was coming out of Africa back in the mid 60s through to the late 70s. I came across Zamrock a few years ago and something about it stuck, its got a familiar sound that makes it so easy to listen to. Honky tonk organs, catchy vocals, massive drum fills that come out of nowhere and juicy fuzzy riffs… what’s not to love! One of the bands on my tape, Witch, were the band that sparked my interest in the genre, I actually got to see in Brighton last year and was hands down one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to, if you get a chance you should see them, there’s a great documentary on them too!

What direction did you take with your cover art, and what was your process?

For the cover art I wanted to pay homage to all those loud, funky coloured records that I always flick through in the shops – bold designs paired with loud colours and abstract visuals. I wanted to carry across that kind of explosion of sound, that reminds me of when I first heard Zamrock. My process for this particular illustration, was relatively simple to be honest, I just put the playlist on and started adding shapes and pattern and type together and watching what happened. I usually spend a bit of time sketching out concepts before I go into Adobe Illustrator but for this I just got straight into it and started playing around, which was quite refreshing!

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

One of the local record shops/labels in Brighton, Mr Bongo, put out this annual compilation of music and collaborate with the artist Nicolas Burrows who designs the album art. I love his work and their music so that’s always a good listen!


Mr Bongo Record Club Volume One – Various
2016, Mr Bongo
Artwork: Nicholas Burrows

What did you listen to growing up?

I remember the first thing I paid attention to whilst listening to it was Mothership by Led Zeppelin which probably correlated with me watching School of Rock as a kid haha! Other than that a fair bit of The Kinks, Gorillaz and The Libertines, fairly standard stuff really!

And what’s on heavy rotation for you at the moment?

Aside from Zamrock, I keep returning to some of Fleetwood Mac’s older stuff, their album Mystery to Me has some great percussion, I also came across a band called The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band which I think are amazing, I’ve never really heard anything like them!

What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?

I’ve just wrapped up a few different projects, some editorial jobs and some slightly bigger jobs which I can’t talk about just yet! I only started freelancing in January this year so I feel like I’m just starting to find my feet but I’m really excited to see what happens over the rest of this year!

Where can we find you?

hellotimalexander.co.uk
instagram.com/hello_timalexander
twitter.com/hi_timalexander

Thanks Nicholas 👋🏽

TRACKLIST
WITCH - Living in the Past / Ebo Taylor - Love and Death / International Soleil Band - Ta Lassa / Amanaz - Easy Street / Ngozi Family - Hi Babe / Gnonnas Pédro - Dadje Von O Von Non / Marijata - No Condition Is Permanent / WITCH - Lazy Bones / The Ogyatanaa Show Band - You Monopolise Me / Les Sympathics de Porto Novo - A Min We Vo Nou We / Amanaz - Khala My Friend / WITCH - Introduction / Keith mlevhu - Love And Freedom / WITCH - She Is Mine / The Apostles - Don't Huzzle for Love / Blackfoot - Running / Ofege - It's Not Easy / Amanaz - Sunday Morning / WITCH - Home Town ︎