I was responsible for the concept and design of this album by Out of the Blue, Duke’s oldest all-female a cappella group. The album can now be purchased on iTunes and recently won runner-up for Best Female Collegiate Album in the nation.
CONCEPT
The runway. A point of both departure into the unknown and return to solid ground. The one tangible connection between a period of chaotic inhibition and confident self-awareness.
The album begins with “Too Close,” which emphasizes the pressure building as we prepare for take off. Over the course of the next few songs, we are propelled toward a disconnection with reality, an illusory daydream, which forces us to question our very existence. Both “Don’t Wake Me Up” and “Lights” bring us into this new world, from which we have truly lost sight of the ground. As we transition from “Breath of Life” to “Born To Die,” we feel a sense of hopelessness, unsure of who we are and where we belong. Suddenly, we feel the dip of descent. “I Was Here” begins and we realize that we are approaching solid ground. It’s a moment of acceptance that we have touched this world that we can now see beneath us, and this time of apprehension has only made us stronger. We land with steadfast confidence, reinforced by the powerful tone of “Mamma Knows Best.” Safely back on the runway, we have a newfound eagerness for life. We know that “It’s Time” to be confident of how far we have come and all that we have accomplished.