Labiata Tropicana is a Brazilian band whose music blends multiple styles, drawing strong inspiration from the Tropicália movement and other classic Brazilian genres. The goal of this project was to create the visual identity and album cover for the band, translating the richness and diversity of their sound into a compelling visual language.
Concept
Mood Boards
The goal of the album cover is to visually communicate the essence of the band’s music. Labiata Tropicana’s sound feels fluid, organic and expressive, being shaped by emotional storytelling and blending musical influences from different genres, eras and artists.
With the band sounds and style in mind the concept and mood board for the visual identity were built around three core ideas:
Organic · Sentimental · Multi-Faceted
Colour Pallet
The color palette was inspired by the vibrant tones of the labiata flower, which served as the foundation for the project’s direction.
After experimenting with different types of paint, acrylic proved to be the most suitable medium. When combined and mixed, the acrylic paint allowed the individual colours to remain visible rather than fully blending together. This effect visually represents how different musical genres merge in the band’s sound while still maintaining their distinct identities.
Lettering Study
Through an iterative process, I explored various letterforms, but always maintaining the concept of organic, fluid lines to create a visual rhythm inspired in the 1960s Tropicalia and modern psychedelia.
Results
Album Cover
Labiata Tropicana’s music blends genres and shift moods and style from song to song. The album artwork was designed to visually representing a sound that is fluid and versatile.
The final direction combines organic elements and vibrant colour with layered visual forms, creating a composition that reflects the band’s dynamic, emotional and multi-dimensional musical identity.
Font
Due to project budget constraints, the selected fonts are free and open source.
The typefaces were chosen for their strong legibility while maintaining an organic, human feel that complements the overall visual direction.
Other Applications
Visualizing the Labiata Tropicana aesthetic through tour posters, stage equipment, and digital streaming platforms.
