Seatton x CMAT
Seatton and CMAT showing the original artwork of her album, Crazymad for Me.
Seatton received a very exciting commission this year, to make the album artwork for musician CMAT’s second album. CMAT is an Irish star who writes country-influenced alternative pop music, she is also a long-time friend of Artbox having first attended one of our exhibitions in 2018!
When it came to choosing the artwork for her album, CMAT approached Artbox and given the album’s interest in Art Nouveau, La Belle Epoque, classical futurism and Greek mythology we suggested Seatton, known for drawing elegant figures rendered in strange scenes, as the perfect artist for the job. CMAT tells the story of the collaboration best:
For my second album, I wanted to work with a singular artist again but struggled this time around to find an artist who fit into the world of the new songs. I’d been really inspired by Classical-Futurism, Time Travel, La Belle Epoque, Paris, Camp (duh), Greek Mythology and putting everyday objects into the form of abstraction. There was a lot going on!
After explaining this to my dearest friend Emily, who works at Artbox, she sent me the work of an artist called Seatton who, miraculously, seemed to share every single on of my interests. I sent him image references and the result is this series of perfect art. It was so magical to see all of my musical concepts brought to life in visual form by my favourite artist in the world, Seatton.
I visited Artbox and chatted with some of the artists about how important the ability to create art is as a form of therapy. It has been very fulfilling for me to find some visual artists I can relate to on this subject - its the only reason I do music at all.
Seatton created seven artworks for the Seatton x CMAT collaboration, including the album's front cover and back cover, four single artworks, and artwork that CMAT has used as a background for photoshoots.
CMAT invited Artbox to help celebrate her album launch at Rough Trade East a couple of weeks ago. We put up a few of Seatton’s original artworks which CMAT’s fans recognised from streaming her songs. CMAT played in front of a backdrop which was a printed and enlarged version of the back cover of the album designed by Seatton. And most excitingly, all of her fans were carrying around the new album on vinyl and CD - Seatton’s artwork was everywhere!
We are so pleased that Seatton and his parents came along to see the albums in person and that he wore a one of a kind Seatton-designed shirt.
Artbox would like to offer a huge congratulations to CMAT on the release of her album, which has since become a number one album in Ireland (wow!), and thank her for supporting Artbox and artists with learning disabilities and autism through her choice of album artwork. Congratulations too to Seatton for his brilliant artworks which compliment the album wonderfully!
