Cherry Cola

Cherry Cola is a painting made while listening to a song of the same name, a solo record by Andy Bell. He wrote and recorded songs during the pandemic in his home studio on digital equipment. I bought the vinyl record upon its release (online as shops were closed), and felt close to the feelings of an artist trying to make sense of our new world. 
I often make paintings at night listening to music on a record player - the feel and sound of analogue vinyl is so much more human than listening via digital platforms. The sound is warmer, but also the LP is an object that becomes part of one's life tapestry. 
 
 Digital music platforms encourage listening to individual tracks, cherry-picked for quick dopamine pleasure-fixes for the listener ('consumer' is a more accurate term). I prefer the narrative of a vinyl record, where the carefully constructed work unfolds over time. It is like reading a novel, or an autobiography. 
 
 I respond to the sound, feel, and phrases (musical and lyrical) when painting to music. It's not about 'capturing' (thereby trapping) the sound, but responding in real time, having a conversation with another artist, on equal terms.