Stylorouge have produced the TV spots for the release of the new David Gilmour album Live In Gdansk, due for release in September. The first ever live solo album by the Pink Floyd front man, (and the player voted the best Fender guitarist ever) comes in a multitude of formats, some including pretty much the complete live show on a bonus DVD package. The 30, 20 and 10 second commercials have been created by Jamie Gibson at Stylorouge, who also edited the video sales programme that Sony will use to help the roll-out of the major release in the US. View the 30 second TVC (see right)

With Spring finally lumbering into Autumn (carefully avoiding Summer), the political party conference season is upon us once again, and for the third year running, Climate Clinic are setting up shop at Bournemouth, Manchester and Birmingham respectively to educate the conference delegates and stimulate the debate on the crucial issue of climate change. Stylorouge have once again designed the display and promotional material for Climate Clinics activities during the next three weeks, and have updated the website that they built on the inauguration of the collective back in 2006. This year Stylorouge are proud to be official sponsors of Climate Clinic alongside organizations such as The Fairtrade Foundation and The Independent newspaper. www.climateclinic.org

New singer-songwriter Anthoney Wright releases his up-beat soul pop single 'Reset To Zero' on De-Angelis Records. Designed by Mark Higenbottam and Jo Tomkins, photography by Gustavo Camilo. Listen to Anthoney at: MySpace

Chris Difford, who is off to the US with the first major Squeeze tour in the US for over ten years, has undergone an online spruce-up courtesy of Michele Rossi at Stylorouge. Increasingly favouring the journal approach to updating his website, Chris has also taken the opportunity to change the look of things at www.chrisdifford.com. His latest (Stylorouge-packaged) album The Last temptation Of Chris is available at Amazon.

New York based design veteran Tim O'Donnell is the curator/author of a forthcoming book for publishers Laurence King celebrating the notebooks and sketchbooks of contemporary designers. Stylorouge's Rob O'Connor has been asked to contribute, and the book will see the light of day early in 2009. Another design book worthy of mention is soon to be published by Berlin-based publishers Gestalten (previously DGV). Playful Type is a collection of just that; visual puns and adventurous use of letters in design. Among the work featured will be the album packaging for Sarah Blasko's What The Sea Wants The Sea Shall Have, designed by Stylorouge's Sharon Chai.

A major new talent, Ben Montague performed at a packed-out London showcase at the Soho Revue Bar on Tuesday 15th July, which also served as the official launch of a 4 track Peter Vetesse produced EP. The event was prompted by the interest of a number of potential major record companies. Ben has had Stylorouge overhaul his website and MySpace page, as well as design the packaging for the EP. Listen to Ben at www.benmontague.co.uk

On Saturday 12th July a very high profile fund-raising football match took place in Munich to publicise a major new charitable initiative for the benefit of African nations. It saw the debut of the Goal4Africa anthem, a new version of of the Jimmy Cliff standard Many Rivers To Cross, recorded by Ali Campbell and Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Artwork for the single is by Stylorouge. The event was part of the worldwide celebration of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday and was attended by the Goal4Africa ambassador Clarence Seedorf, AC Milan midfielder and star of the Dutch national team. A CD/DVD of the event will be available later in the year, all sales revenues to go to the charity. For more information or to make a donation go to http://www.alicampbell.net

The Stylorouge website finally got a major content overhaul in June, and in particular we've added some of the online marketing projects that we've handled during the past few months. Campaigns for projects as diverse as SoulWax, Crowded House, Athlete and Celine Dion all demanded creative banner advertising, and video clips are increasingly being made more for use online than on the telly. Check out what we've been up to here, and watch the latest clips for Irish singer/songwriter Tara Blaise on the video-player (now conveniently plonked to your right...)

We have a limited quantity of our 2001 book Delicious available to buy, signed by Rob O'Connor. The 228 page hardback book, published by Die Gestalten, is a comprehensive review of the first 20 years of Stylorouge, focussing on print design, and with special features on Blur and the early years. It also features contributions from journalists and media highfliers (our description!) Jim Davies, Claire Allfree and Andrew Collins. Click here to order your copy

Japanese menswear retailer United Arrows have commissioned Stylorouge to create some T shirt designs with an Indian theme as part of their Summer range. The style outlet became aware of Stylorouge through our previous ranges for two other chains in Japan and Korea, and our work for the music industry. The shirts are available on the United Arrows website at www.united-arrows.co.jp/

Whilst in Japan... the country's leading media monthly +81 is featuring Stylorouge in the August issue. For further information check the +81 website http://www.plus81.com Also for imminent publication by Laurence King Publishing (September to be precise) is Postcard, a book curated by fl@33. The 224 page paperback celebration of the art of the postcard, features our last range of self-promotional cards, and includes pockets containing 20 postcards to enable the book owner to customize the cover. For further info: www.postcard-book.info

A brand new sugar-free, guarana-based soft drink range goes on sale this summer, targeted initially at the exploding Indian market, to be launched partly on a website designed and built at Stylorouge.
The brains behind the new product are Andrew Whiteman and Simon Moger, who saw the potential of creating a healthy alternative to the 'no-tritional' established drink brands. In their own words:
"to all the people who have said we couldn’t do it; we have, and if you never be bold and dare to start Mixin it up with the establishment, you never will, and you will never achieve great things". Bravo.
www.dragonflydrinks.com

With Sir Paul McM making the headlines on such a frequent basis at the moment, this one probably pales in comparison, but we're proud nevertheless, to have been working with him since the release of Chaos And Creation In The Backyard in 2005. What's keeping us busy at the moment with every mum's favourite Beatle is a campaign to publicise his forthcoming historic performance in the Ukraine. Stylorouge have been asked to design the advertising for his Concert For Independence

Having kept in touch with Stylorouge over many years since he left late '80's pop band Johnny Hates Jazz, founder member and vocalist Clark Datchler is returning as a solo artist and has commissioned Stylorouge to create a visual campaign for his re-launch. Since leaving the besuited hit-making trio (whose successes included Shattered Dreams, Heart Of Gold and Turn Back The Clock) Clark re-located to California in the early '90's and has been consistently involved in music, experimenting with a number of sounds and styles and working towards a more mature, organic style of pop. The shoot for his new album Tomorrow, was done at Chatham Dockyard in Kent during a visit back to the UK. Design is by Mark Higenbottam.

The success of the single Breathe on the Irish airwaves meant a temporary re-location for Tara Blaise, as she was booked to appear on one after another TV and radio shows in her homeland of Ireland. The single was taken from her second album Great Escape, which features photography, packaging and a TV spot created by Stylorouge. Photography is by Rob O'Connor, design by Sarah Foley.

Symphony Live In Vienna, is the new DVD from Sarah Brightman, hot on the heels of her latest album of the same name (well, the Symphony bit anyway). Recorded in Vienna (as it says on the Stylorouge-designed cover), this new release features over 40 minutes of bonus material and extra audio tracks etc for the hard-core Sarah Brightfan. Shots from the dramatically staged cathedral gig were combined with photos from Simon Fowler's last studio shoot to create the images for the packaging.

The voice of UB40, Ali Campbell, released the second album under his own name in time for last Christmas, and he finally got the chance this month to showcase the album's classic hits and new material live, at the Royal Albert Hall. Stylorouge were commissioned to film the inaugural solo concert for future DVD release. This 'flagship' one-off show would also herald a complete UK tour, which was originally planned for the summer, but has now been re-scheduled for early next year. The live show will be accompanied by a documentary of Ali's year leading up to the show, which should be screened on TV later this year. Both films have been directed by Rob O'Connor, and produced by Rob with Rupert Style.
View the trailer for the Royal Albert Hall show here.

Stylorouge tip-for-the-top, soulful singer-songwriter Laura Welsh is now the proud leader of a great five-piece band; Laura & The Tears, who have been out on the road getting some character-building rock 'n' roll motorway miles under their belt supporting Ben's Brother among others. Laura's website has been updated to reflect the growing Welsh family, but still fashioned in Stylorouge-style by designer Sarah Foley.
www.lauraandthetears.com

Pianist John Harriman's passion for jazz of an Afro-Cuban persuasion has resulted in the one-time city banker spending more time in the company of his band Head South. John travelled east to Shoreditch where he commissioned Stylorouge to design and build a website for the band. Aimed both at fans as well as promotors, enabling them to get an idea what the band offer on stage. Designed and built at Stylorouge by Mark Higenbottam and Michele Rossi, the site can be found at www.headssouth.com

Spokes Records releases a single by Marie Jr this month, with sleeve design and promo video created by Stylorouge. The clip for Goodbye Hello is the directorial debut for Mikkel Lundsager Hansen, with Fran Lima producing. Marie is one half of Brilliant Things, and Goodbye Hello is one of a number of tracks she recorded solo, before the band became fully-fledged. The track recalls the post-punk energy of early '80's New York new wave pop, and was written by Mat and Ville Leppanen. The single packaging is by Mark Higenbottam.
View the clip

Estonian singer songwriter Hannah releases a new single in March on Snowdog Records. You And I will be launched with a performance based video clip directed by Rob O'Connor. The band performance was shot in an apartment in London's East End with solo footage of Hannah filmed in the streets of Soho, and was produced for Stylorouge by Rupert Style.

EMI signings Captain follow up the success of their debut album This is Hazelville, with Keep An Open Mind, the first single from their forthcoming album Distraction. Stylorouge have designed the packaging for the first single to be released from the album, with images created by Poland-based photographer Bogna Kuczerawy
Design is by Sharon Chai and Anthony Lui. The band hope to repeat the commercial success of their biggest hit so far Glorious, which was a big turntable hit at radio and in the UK charts.

Still something of an enigma in the UK, Sarah Brightman, the world's biggest-selling soprano, saw her new studio album Symphony enter the US Billboard Top 200 chart at number 13. Stylorouge were commissioned to produce a complete media campaign for Symphony, including art direction and design for the album packaging, international TV advertising spots, and a complete overhaul of Sarah's website.
Directed by Simon Fowler, who also took the photographs, the TV campaign featured especially staged performances by Sarah, with sets built by Einstein's Octopus, and with animated sequences based on illustrations by two of the world's foremost fantasy artists, Daniel Dociu and Phillip Straub.
The album will soon be joined by an accompanying live DVD, documenting a one-off concert in the fittingly cavernous gothic surroundings of Vienna's St Stephen's Cathedral. Again, packaging of the DVD is by Stylorouge.

To download screensavers etc go to:
http://www.sarah-brightman.com/sound_vision.html
Watch the commercial

Abbey Road's Studio 1 and 2 were packed to the gunnels on On February 29th, as the third annual Sound & Vision event was held in aid of Cancer Research. Among photography and artwork donated for auction was an original proof of Stylorouge's album sleeve for George Michael's Faith, which originally saw the light of day 22 years ago. In an unexpected turn of events, the collectable piece ended up being bought by George himself! Having been sent the proof for signature, George realized that his personal collection of memorabilia was sadly short by said printer's proof, and a generous offer of £5,000 secured it for posterity.
The original sleeve, featuring beautiful photography by Russel Young, had no text on the front at all, just gold sketches of five symbols drawn by George himself. In due course his record company (known as CBS then) inevitably dropped in his name and the title, adding further cause for Mr Michael to lock horns with CBS, with whom he eventually (and very publicly) parted company.

Stylorouge have been commissioned by Mintaka Music to create the packaging and photography for new star of world music, Mor Karbasi. Mor's father and mother are of Moroccan Jewish and Persian Jewish descent respectively, and her musical influences cover a variety of backgrounds. She is an avid fan of flamenco, and she was brought up in a highly charged eclectic musical background – her mother sang Andalucian Jewish ballads to Mor as a child, and now writes stories which form the narrative basis of much of Mor's songwriting.
Mor met gifted British guitarist Joe Taylor of the band Blackbud three years ago and he is now an essential contributor to Mor's sound. Mor Karbasi will be touring the UK in April.
For details, check out her MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/morkarbasi
The sleeve images for The Beauty And The Sea were shot by Rob O'Connor, with art direction and design by Mark Higenbottam.

Godfather of British singer/songwriters, and founder of legendary South East London pop heroes Squeeze, Chris Difford, releases his second solo studio album in March. Co-produced and partly co-written with Boo Hewerdine, The Last Temptation Of Chris features packaging by Stylorouge with a front cover photograph taken by Rob O'Connor, in which Chris displays more than a passing resemblance to one Tony Hancock. Other shots in the package are by Ray Burmiston.
Design for Stylorouge by Mark Higenbottam.
http://www.chrisdifford.com

Monaco-based lingerie retailers Fabulicious hired Stylorouge to design a brand identity for the launch of their new underwear range. Anthony Lui took inspiration from classic pin-up iconography to create the image-strong identity.
http://www.fabulicious.fr

New pop duo The Brilliant Things have commissioned Stylorouge to produce a promo clip for their new single Pointless. Directed by Rob O'Connor and edited at Stylorouge by Jamie Gibson, the video was shot in London and its less glamorous suburbs. This is the second commercial release from the band's album.

Watch the video

2008 kicks off with Stylorouge continuing it's ongoing relationship with Manchester (and LA and Rome)'s finest, Morrissey.
With seven solo albums to his name since the demise of The Smiths, Morrissey signs a new contract with Universal and celebrates with the release of a Greatest Hits collection. The album actually appears on the Decca label, an imprint with a rich history – initially one of the UK's prime exponents of pop, then later of classical material. Now the label also releases music by what could best be described as crossover album-based artists.
Morrissey's Greatest Hits includes upcoming single “All You Need Is Me” and the new Radio 2-friendly single That's How People Grow Up. Packaging for album and releases has been designed with Morrissey by Anthony Lui at Stylorouge.

Northamptonshire-based recording studio Far Heath has commissioned a campaign to entice city-based musicians to head to the country in pursuit of their next hit. Stylorouge have designed a marketing campaign for the studio that has hosted The Prodigy, Spiritualized and The Fall. Mark Higenbottam created the design and illustration.

The forthcoming Computer Arts Projects publication will revolve entirely around the music business, and in the lead article for this special, Stylorouge Creative Director Rob O'Connor was interviewed regarding the current trends in the marketing of music and elsewhere in the publication was asked to select a favourite piece of Punk/New Wave design and explain why. Barney Bubbles' classic packaging for the Evis Costello Armed Forces (also a musical classic) was his choice. To read why, and to discover the choices of others go to http://www.computerarts.co.uk

Stylorouge were at the launch party for Cirque du Soleil's new show at the Royal Albert Hall this month to commit proceedings to film (videotape actually). Event organizer's Brickwerk brought Stylorouge in to cover the celebrations for future promotional use. The cavernous glass and steel reception areas of London's Imperial College in Kensington were transformed into an enormous temporary nightclub, where performers from the Amsterdam Circus School provided colour and Bombay Sapphire supplied the hangovers