The first-person action platformer Mirror's Edge released in 2008. My local video game store had a giant poster of the main character, Faith, with her iconic tattoo design emblazoned in red, covering the storefront. I immediately went inside, asked for this game, and bought it on the spot without knowing anything else about it.
I recently released my pumped-up single Runaway, and I think it sounds like something Faith would listen to on a run!
To this day, Mirror's Edge gives me a feeling of freedom whenever I play it. The rush of running through levels, using parkour to overcome obstacles, and the thrill of chasing the next spot to take a leap of faith from is what makes this game so fun. Through it all, Faith has her Runner's Vision, which is an option that allows players to see key pathways and colours vividly in red.
Even more than its fluid movement, Mirror's Edge is known for it's visually striking levels.
The towering blue and white of the glass and steel skyscrapers. The green, yellow, and orange of corporate offices. The neon advertisements and lights that blur the faster Faith runs. The sun blazing down on white rooftops, replaced by the pale moon and twinkling skyline. And high above it all, the imposing silhouette of The Shard, the tallest government building that looms over every frantic move.
No matter where I am in the game, I know exactly what level I'm on and what the area is thanks to the distinct colours.
Just like Mirror's Edge immediately recognizable aesthetic and levels, I want all my music releases to be visually distinct and attention grabbing for listeners!
I do all the graphic design myself. Before I even start with shooting photos or videos, I decide on a colour palette. Usually this is based on the feeling I want to evoke as well as the subject matter of my music.
For example, Afterlove's cover is blue. The exact shade was actually derived from a photo of my bass, which has an unusual "blueburst" colour. In Canva, I added a subtle, eye-catching red contrast for the main symbol of the hands surrounding the heart, as well as the pink glow. I applied a "liquify" effect to the background to give it an interesting texture. Then I added shadows around the edges of the cover for some depth and mystery.
Taken together, these elements made listeners associate certain moods with Afterlove, the most common being: dark, romantic, and somber. This is exactly what I was going for, especially given the theme of heartbreak and healing.
Following Afterlove, I wanted my 2026 music releases to each have their own colours. So far I have yellow, green, red, and purple and orange planned! Even at just a glance, I want listeners to know exactly what song they're listening to and how it makes them feel based on each visual identity.
And, just like playing Mirror's Edge was thought provoking and exciting for me, I hope listeners feel the same about my music.
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