Álvaro Montoya

Álvaro Montoya is a Spanish musician, founding member of Absinthones and player in Suitesiberia.

After a period living in Berlin Álvaro returns to his hometown Madrid to launch Montoya Thomas, a personal singer-songwriter project.

For the design of his project we discussed cultural influences and impressions of his jourey between North and South. The artwork for Rathaus (the German titled debut album, which translates into "town hall") utilizes symbols Montoya associates with traditional Spain, urban spaces and a sense of travel. The key art combines photo-manipulation and hand drawing and is enhanced by an understated polished design. All textures were created by hand and subsequently manipulated digitally to reference marbled paper and drawing board. My goal was to maintain an editorial feel as a point of entry for the musical experience making space for the listener to project his feelings by association.

For the branding elements I took inspiration from ordinary chord charts. Chord charts represent the position of fingers on the fretboard. Accordingly I designed the logo as a moving pattern.

More artwork will come out of this collaboration. Stay tuned.