A dark, energetic, and avant-garde visual for recording artist A1 Flow’s latest club-focused single.
Project Overview
For this cover design, I had the opportunity to create visuals for recording artist A1 Flow’s latest single, 4AM. The song captures the essence of after-parties—late nights filled with vibrant energy, chaos, and an almost haunting atmosphere. My goal was to translate that mood into a striking and memorable cover.
Concept & Visual Direction
The song’s instrumental had a haunting, dark quality while still maintaining a high-energy club feel. To reflect this combination, I leaned into a dark yet vibrant aesthetic with an emphasis on texture, movement, and depth.
Typography & Text Effects
I chose a gothic-inspired typeface to reinforce the eerie yet bold energy of the track. The song title, 4AM, needed to feel chaotic and dynamic, so I experimented with text effects that combined fire, smoke, and shattered glass using Adobe Firefly. This gave the text an explosive energy while maintaining realism.
Parental Advisory Sticker: A Signature Detail
Parental advisory stickers are a staple in hip-hop design, lending authenticity, legitimacy and a rebellious aesthetic. However, I always strive to customize them to fit each cover uniquely. For 4AM, I applied distress and shattered glass effects, making it feel organically integrated into the artwork. Additionally, I added subtle paint splatter and dripping paint effects, reinforcing the song’s chaotic and unhinged energy.
Artist Name Treatment
The artist's name also received a grunge texture and shattered glass overlay, breaking up the text just enough to enhance the energy without sacrificing legibility—an important consideration for emerging artists.
Final Thoughts
This project was an exciting opportunity to push the boundaries of modern cover design. By blending experimental textures, AI-generated effects, and hand-crafted details, I was able to create a cover that feels raw, avant-garde, and deeply connected to the song’s energy.
