I WAITED FOR YOU

The 7th video from our SMD Series. video by Kate Moross & Hans Lo for Simian Mobile Disco's track 'I Waited for You'. Some excerpts from a recent Dazed Digital interview with Hans about the process.

Dazed Digital: What is the story behind the new vid and how did it come about?
Hans Lo: It is a study of three-dimensional space, virtual camera work and the moiré effect. The idea for the video came about by playing around and building these enormous sculptures (they average around 150m in height) in Google Sketch-Up. We were quite new to this open-source software so there was alot of room for experimenting and trying to use this architectural programme to create some simple and geometric sculptural pieces. I think it was one of those moments when we assigned 'I Waited For You' to the visuals that it felt the stars were aligned and fitted the audio perfectly!

DD: Have you worked with SMD before, and what was the experience like?
Hans Lo: Kate and I (ISO Studios) have been working with SMD in the past individually on videos, artwork and web on separate albums/EPs. Then about a year ago, we got the call to art direct together this new album 'Unpatterns'. All the artwork, press, flyers, website and nine videos for each track on the album. I guess we had a pretty good grasp of SMD's ethos and aesthetics by working with them for the past four years. So this project was a perfect opportunity to produce a consistent campaign through each medium working directly with James and Jas, which is quite rare these days.

The experience was great working with them on this project. It was emphasised right from the start that these videos should reflect the experimental methods in which James and Jas make their records. It was all about the process of creating something audibly or visually. Whether the end result is nothing like what you planned at the start, it shouldn't matter. It's the knowledge you gain and your will to 'let things roll' on the journey from A to Z, which will make the result unique. So between the band and us, we were very open-minded about ideas and ways to tailor the videos to each track.

DD: How would you describe the new track in under 5 words?
Hans Lo: GO-SEE-SMD-PLAY-LIVE

DD: What is your favourite part of the vid?
Hans Lo: The whole thing really as this is our favourite out of the nine videos.

STUDIO MOROSS NYC

Mid September and an exciting time for Studio Moross. In the midst of a busy schedule of projects we were really excited to go to NYC for a 5 day business trip. We flew out to complete an on-site mural commissioned by Google for the Big Tent NYC event. 

We managed to strike the perfect balance between work and play. Below are some photographic highlights...

After a daytime flight to JFK a beautiful evening sky welcomed us as we drove into Manhattan over the Brooklyn bridge. A sight to savour...

An incredible meal at Pies N' Thighs in Williamsburg provided a fitting first taste of NY cuisine, after which a very deep sleep was more than welcome. In preparation of our work commitments we spent the following day in Lower Manhattan sourcing materials. We split our time throughout Sunday either eating or shopping...

If you're ever going to NY to paint, don't take your own supplies. This is just a tiny glimpse of the ridiculous stock of materials available at Pearl Paints, which proudly, and rightfully boasts its status of "the worlds largest discount art store". Stupidly we had taken our own paints with us, only to find a better, and cheaper selection at Pearl... 

Pearl also boasts a pretty impressive neon sign in the stairwell...

We were fortunate enough to enjoy NY in all it's beauty. A Sunday afternoon in the sunny, but not-too-hot Soho provided the setting for some casual Basketball. 

Big love to Naomi, and Nick Hook, who we toured with on some L-Vis dates. This was taken a couple of moments after Kate's ball skills let her down, resulting in a broken phone screen. Sad. 

 Still slightly annoyed, but styling it out...

If you like surfing (Ollie) or coffee (Kate) then Saturday's Surf NYC is pretty much a winner. Here is the courtyard out back. 

Monday morning and the work begins. Early stages of the 600sq ft. mural as the shapes went into place, all in Google colours of course... 

Still with lots to do Kate takes a break. Nicely colour co-ordinated with the winning (new) hat, and socks combination...

Some pretty clinical line work to join the shapes. So much so that these lines were mistaken for electricity tape on more than one occasion. 

Studio Moross HQ as London wakes up and emails start coming in. Mural at the 1/2 way point...

Having completed the main Mural, our attentions turned to the "welcome wall". In absolutely no way aided by the world's worst projector. If paint is in ample supply in NY, projectors certainly aren't...

After 2 labour intensive days here is a very satisfied Ollie and Kate in front of the finished piece. Once our muscles are fixed it's time to re-decorate the Studio with the left over paints...

And to reward ourselves we took on some serious liquids. Still reppin' the Google colours. Can't get enough. 

No glimpse of NY would be complete without an epic breakfast. Clinton Street Baking Company gave us the morning boost we both needed. After eating monumental plates of food and drinking very good Milkshake we were set for the day...

...Which was spent roaming NY and attempting to fit some of the big sights in before the return back home. Time Sq. is pretty nuts...

And just up the road is the much more tranquil Central Park. This is the place that Ollie's Brother and Sister In-Law got engaged...

A slightly ambiguous view of "Broadway". but what Graphic Design feature would be complete without some typography...

And as we left Manhattan and headed back towards JFK to fly home an unbelievable traffic jam allowed us the opportunity to take in the evening sky. Here the sun goes down, a Coca-Cola sign illuminates and a plane heads into the distance... all in one photo.

Studio Moross' first business trip was truly unbelievable.

PITCHFORK

Nice article on Pitchfork about Kate & Jessie's collaboration over the last year.

"Part of vocal powerhouse Jessie Ware's appeal lies in the clean, classic aesthetic she carries throughout all aspects of her debut album Devotion-- everything down to the font on the record's cover or the shade of lipstick worn in a video seems to fit into a graceful larger piece. This stylistic consistency is largely owed to Ware's tight partnership with London-based artist Kate Moross, who's carefully directed each visual component of the release."

Kate has been writing a couple of articles for new platform HedgeHogg. The most recent article is about finding an agent as an illustrator, designer or photographer.

TEED

Excited to say that we are now working with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, more work to come.
We put together a flyer for the curated show at Manchester's Warehouse Project, the line up is EPIC.

PLASTIC CIRCLES

Our favourite blog recently ran a feature about our art direction for Jessie Ware.

"This latest campaign (including the singles that preceded, album, Devotion) has been typified by an elegant, balanced approach with some lovely detailing. Meanwhile the creative's playfulness has been demonstrated in new, innovative ways: including the interactive billboard that, while undoubtedly fun, still managed to stay true to Ware's sophisticated image."

We will continue to work with Jessie into 2013, we always enjoy working with Jessie and her team at
PMR and Island Records. We want to congratulate all of them of the top 5 success of the album and their Mercury nomination. It was a pleasure developing Jessie's vision into the album campaign.

Plastic Circles writes about music visuals, artwork and packaging.

Some of recent articles that we enjoyed, Nathan Fake by Jack Featherstone, Matthew Dear by Michael Cina, and Marble Music Releases.