Sunroof

Overview

Sunroof is an electronic project on Mute Records — the legendary label founded by Daniel Miller, home to Depeche Mode, Nick Cave, and generations of pioneering electronic music. For their album campaign, Mute commissioned a series of visualisers to accompany single releases.

We were brought on by Neil Blanket, Head of Marketing at Mute, to create visual content that could establish a cohesive aesthetic across the release cycle — building recognition and anticipation ahead of the full album.

Challenge

The brief required visualisers that could:

• Complement Sunroof's sonic aesthetic without literal interpretation.
• Establish visual continuity across multiple releases.
• Deliver within tight timelines and independent artist budgets.
• Meet the creative standards expected of a Mute Records release.

Approach

We developed a visual language for the first single that could evolve and develop across subsequent releases — creating continuity without repetition.

First Visualiser

The initial visualiser established the core aesthetic — a treatment that responded to the track's texture and rhythm while leaving room for expansion. The result was well-received by both the label and Daniel Miller personally.

Second Visualiser — "1.2 30.5.19"

Following the success of the first piece, we were commissioned for a follow-up visualiser for the pre-album single "1.2 30.5.19". The brief was to continue the established theme while introducing new visual development — evolution rather than repetition.

Creative Solution

The visualisers occupied the space between music video and visual art — abstract enough to reward repeat viewing, rhythmic enough to feel connected to the music, and distinctive enough to build recognition across the release cycle.

Working within budget constraints typical of electronic music releases, we focused on techniques that maximised visual impact: procedural motion, considered colour palettes, and editing that responded to the track's structure rather than illustrating it.

Results & Impact

• First visualiser delivered and approved, leading to immediate follow-up commission.
• Daniel Miller (Mute founder) expressed satisfaction with the work and continuity approach.
• Established visual identity that could scale across the album campaign.
• Strengthened relationship with Mute Records for future visual projects.

The project demonstrated how visualisers — often treated as afterthoughts — can become integral to an album's identity when approached with the same creative intention as the music itself.