EDM CD Cover Analysis

1. Elishia Selby MediaStudies
EDM CD Cover Analysis
I have noticed through conducting research on Electronic Dance Music CD covers that there
are common conventions used within them. There are also a variety of different layouts
they have used to contrast with one another, but can be placed into common groups.
Once majorly noticeable convention is the use of bright bold colours such as purple, blue
and green. These colours have commonly also been used with an enhanced light glow
added in, which also fits a common convention of Electronic Dance Music Videos of using
bright lights (i.e. disco lights) to fit the typical night club or party setting. An example of this
is Alvaro and Mercer’s Welcome to the Jungle CD Cover. This specific design of EDM CD
covers definitely stand out and can easily be recognised as Electronic Dance Music CD’s
because of this common convention which their audience would recognise. Also different
lighting designs have been used such as using universe light styled effects, lights from
parties such as big disco lights or glowing explosions etc. as shown in my collage. This is
more commonly used by DJs CD covers, perhaps to reflect the lights from their
performances, gigs and music videos.
Another common convention, which isn’t used in all is the use of having the artist’s face stared in the centre of the CD cover; making it the main focus. They
are also generally dressed in a smart or appealing outfit (dress-code) which is also a common convention in the Electronic Dance Music videos. This is shown
in Alesso’s Forever, Era Istrefi Bon Bon and Calvin Harris’ Summer CD cover as some examples. Photographs of landscapes have also been used occasionally
as the background of the artist, for example in Zara Larsson Never forget You CD cover this convention is included. It could possibly be used due to when an
artist hits a specific point of fame in their career in order to be recognised, and their face is the iconic recognition of their music. DJs often hide behind the
lights and are not seen, perhaps they don’t show their face in their CD cover is because they want to keep their identities more of a mystery and promoting
the music is more important than the artist themselves.
Some have also put their design on a plain black background and used white text to help emphasise the artist and song name. Major Lazer’s Cold Water for
example. Others have contrasted to this and chosen a white background and used plain black text, Alesso’s Heroes forexample. It is the specific font chosen
that has been used to make the design of the CD cover unique and stand out, rather than the colours or artist. This technique may be used for some CD
covers and not others to show that they can create a simple design where they only have the writing of the song information such as Alesso’s Heroes because
they are well known (famous) and the music is more important to be promoted than the artist. I have also noticed that commonly the name of the song is in a

2. Elishia Selby MediaStudies
larger, bolder font size than the main artists name and featured artists, shown in Major Lazer’s Cold water and Alesso’s Heroes Cd Cover as two examples.
And also the use of an art deco font style is commonly used.
A variety of abstract shapes are also used within Electronic Dance Music video CD covers. For example Galantis’ No money has a picture of a cat however the
face has been alters with the shapes, colours and patterns of flowers to make it look more abstract and stylised, which fits the music video of the song.
Another example is the Chainsmokers’ Don’t let me down CD cover where they have used what looks like a deer skull with colourful feathers like a peacock to
stylise it further. Years and Years’ Desire CD cover contains a variety of lines connected together to create an irregular pattern, and filled in with the colours
of pink, purple and aqua, again using a black background and white art deco font. This design type may have been used in specific CD covers to promote their
music being unique and different and to help it stand out on the shelf with other CD covers.
To conclude the EDM CD covers have a variety of different designs, which can all be categorised into common groups. However I have noticed that it depends
on the artists and their music as to which design, features or style is used. The more experienced artists and DJs seem to focus on their music and song name
whereas the newer more recent artists seem to try to promote themselves more commonly by featuring on the front of the cover. More famous songs seem
to have used more abstract, stylised designs orused bright lights, fitting their music videos, therefore also concluding that their music videos also have an
impact as to what their CD cover design is.