Kevin Ellis Moore

This is tight. I’ve loved Chevelle since I heard Point #1 in junior high. I appreciate them having me on board for this and letting me get weird. Sam and Pete put their full trust in Tegan and I. We had no clear concept and just wanted to photograph completely random shit all day long and see what stuck. Amanda was a trooper and I think we must have shot over 20 different concepts and ideas. The band wanted the art to be weird and vague and not directly say anything in particular. It needed to be something people could put their own meaning into. I said “I can do this. We just gotta shoot every idea we have”. I am laying on the floor behind Amanda holding those rings in my fist. It was the perfect amount of vague and weird. Thanks go out to @getmorechevelle @thepeteloeffler @therealsamloeffler @seanheydorn @thenewbmg @teganmh @amanda.noelle_ this one was a ton of fun. Great record.

Getting the opportunity to work alongside @amylee on this project was an absolute pleasure. She’s every bit as kind and thoughtful as you’d hope, and her willingness to just let me go at it and explore my own ideas meant a lot. That level of trust isn’t something I take lightly. From the start, there was a real openness to push things and follow the concept wherever it wanted to go, which made the whole process incredibly rewarding on my end. It’s not often you get that kind of space on a project like this, and I’m really grateful for it. I’m really proud of how this one turned out. The album is incredible, and it was an honor to help shape a small part of its world. @evanescenceofficial @mindreaderinc @softsurrogate

Thank you @spiritboxmusic for having me along for the ride

@1047thelizard ’s Ryan chats with Okanagan-based graphic designer Kevin Moore, who creates album art and merch for major bands like Spiritbox, Of Mice & Men, Chevelle & Sum 41. Hear how he built a career in the music industry from home and what it’s like when fans realize their favorite album covers were made locally.

WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE THINKING We’ve designed hundreds of albums, been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards, and spent the last 30 years not just creating for bands—but being in them. We’ve written the songs, played the shows, loaded the trailers, and lived the full album cycle from both sides of the equation. That means we understand what artists, managers, and labels need—because we’ve been in your shoes. Few studios can claim our level of hands-on experience directing and designing for music. @mindreaderinc

MINDREADER IS A MUSIC-FOCUSED CREATIVE VENTURE BY INVISIBLE CREATURE AND SOFT SURROGATE. We’ve been designing album artwork for the past 25 years. With somewhere in the realm of 500 titles—and four Grammy nods—under our collective belt, we understand this world more than your average creative. Although the company name might be new, we’re anything but. Throughout our experience working in this field, one fault tends to remain the same: After the work of creating album art is done—and the album/touring cycle begins—cohesion and quality control often begin to suffer. Disparate creatives are cobbled together at random to fulfill needs like merchandise, tour designs, music videos, social assets, photo shoots, staging, promotional materials, and more. Any semblance of a concise visual concept quickly begins to crumble as designers with varying styles and skill levels are thrown into the mix. Quality of concept and quality of execution are paramount. For over two decades, these are the values we’ve built our brands on. Implementing that work with consistency is the idea behind Mindreader. We are a full-service studio specializing in complete album cycle creative. From album art to merch to social assets to music videos and everything in between, we’re equipped to handle it all. Mindreader can provide every single piece of the puzzle, giving you a fully-realized campaign that exudes quality and harmony. What you’ll find showcased throughout this website is just a snapshot of our journey working in the music industry. Please let us know how we can help you. @mindreaderinc - Ryan & Kevin

Art Direction and Design for a tour poster (and more) for Chevelle (@getmorechevelle ) Photography by: Tegan Klein (@gloam_media ) Model: Amanda Noelle (@amanda.noelle_ )

Being asked to return as the art director and designer for Spiritbox’s (@spiritboxmusic ) new album, Tsunami Sea, was an incredible honor. Being part of this release has been a true joy. Courtney and Mike knew from the start that they wanted the album to incorporate photography of Vancouver Island as a nod to their hometown. The island is a breathtaking paradise, but it also carries an overwhelming sense of isolation. My extended family lives there, and I’ve spent a lot of time on the island myself, so I deeply connected with Courtney and Mike’s perspective—the double-edged sword of living in such a beautiful place while also feeling disconnected from the rest of the country. The stunning photography was masterfully captured by Kyle Joinson (@kylejoinsonphoto ). For the layout, I wanted to use spot gloss elements to mimic reflections on water, along with a subtle Easter egg—incorporating a topographical map of Vancouver Island. It was Courtney’s idea to turn all the song lyrics sideways so they would resemble mountain ranges, with phrases lengthening and shortening like peaks and valleys. The iconography for the album was created through a process of deep immersion—I listened to the record over and over again, absorbing its essence as I designed. I felt incredibly privileged to connect with the music before creating the art. That’s not as common as you might think. Tragically, just as we began this project last spring, our dear friend and Spiritbox’s former bassist, Bill Crook, passed away. This album is for him. Bill Crook Forever #spiritbox #softsurrogate #mindreader #riserecords #culturewave #albumartwork #albumpackaging #graphicdesign #design #packagingdesign #vinyl #vinylpackaging #artdirection #designer

Today the new EP “Serene In Violent Oceans” from Katerina Nicole drops. This project has been a labour of love since March of 2024. Full scope art direction and design including branding, photography, packaging design, merch design, website design, music videos, social media design (static and motion), visualizer videos, and probably way more but I am drawing a blank. Thank you to Katerina (@katerinanicolemusic ) for putting her trust in me and letting me do what I do best. Thanks for having me along for this ride and I hope this music spreads far and wide. Art Direction & Design: Kevin Moore (@softsurrogate ) Music Production: Jordan Chase (@oodelally_recordings ) Photography: Tegan Klein (@gloam_media ) Makeup: Liberty Dafoe (@noxious_arts ) Outfits & Costuming: Amanda Noelle (@amanda.noelle_ ) & Hannah Schmidt (@hanschmidtt ) Music Videos: Tom Flynn (@tom.j.flynn ) & Alex Kouvatsos (@directedbyak ) On-Set Photography: Dom Delfino (@domxdelfino ) Music Video Makeup: Shevvy Marie (@shevyymariee ) If I have forgotten anyone, I apologize. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible.

‘What I Know Now’ Single & Music Video - Out Now Music video produced by the insanely talented @blackwolfimaging and directed by the incredible visionary @tom.j.flynn It was the best experience working with them on set and I couldn’t be more proud to share this video with you. Go watch it on YouTube! Direct link in my bio 👁️ Single written, produced, mixed, and mastered with love @oodelally_recordings 🤝 🥁@ryanloerkedrums Digital art design, branding, direction, and content creation by @softsurrogate 🙌 Makeup & Hair By @shevyymariee ✨ Wardrobe By moi 💋 Extras and assisting @domxdelfino @shevyymariee @rudnick57 @dionne_24k 🤘🖤

SAVE THE DATE 🔥🖤 #katerinanicole #whatiknownow #metalcore #bmg #palechord

I’m deeply honoured to be part of the Spiritbox (@spiritboxmusic ) family and to have contributed to the artwork for their new album, Tsunami Sea. This record is a thoughtful return to the simplicity of Eternal Blue. Creating this art was a profoundly personal journey. During the process, we experienced the loss of a close friend we all cherished. Courtney, Mike, and I leaned on one another through that difficult time, channelling our shared grief into the visuals. The themes of loneliness, isolation, and solitude resonate deeply in this artwork, reflecting the emotional undercurrent of the music itself. It was an absolute privilege to work alongside the incredibly talented Kyle Joinson (@kylejoinsonphoto ), whose photography brought the band's vision to life. I can’t wait for everyone to experience Tsunami Sea when it’s released on March 7th. I’ll always treasure this project and the experience will stay with me for a long time. Bill Crook Forever