Artist: Jaycen Cruz

Release Title: LIWANAG

Release Type: EP

Release Date: January 24, 2024

Label: Self Released

Tracklist:

1. Atin Ang Sandali

2. Umaga

3. Kandilihin

4. Supernova

5. Hiraya Manawari

6. Huwag Kang Manghinayang

Credits:

Written by Jaycen Cruz

Performed by Jaycen Cruz & OMNEI.FM

Composed by Jaycen Cruz & Neil Belen

Co-Produced by Jaycen Cruz & OMNEI.FM

Album Artwork by Jaycen Cruz & Neil Belen

Artwork Concept: The final EP cover is a mixed media experiment originating from an acrylic painting, digitally sampled, and effected to embody the 6 songs on LIWANAG (Tagalog: Light).

Challenges: With the intention to be ambiguous and multi-dimensional through a single visual while resembling 6 different songs and stories that spanning across a range of feelings and depths, this representation of LIWANAG features each chapter of the story highlighting a new shape and angle with each panel, while also demonstrating the seemingly interconnectedness in all through the negative space and perceived rigidity of connection.

Album Artwork : Art Direction | Graphic Design | Photography | Release Promo by Neil '4000' Belen

3rd EP collaboration with Nativity (DNK012)

Released: December 18, 2015

Record Label: Dank Radio

Concept

"Continuing the journey from Inception to Ascension one finally arrives in the upper realms of the lucid dream state. But what do you hear when you're here? You're welcomed by the 'Seraphim' to a dance party filled with bboys/bgirls and bass music. You rejoice with the 'Electrograde' and move 'On The Groove' to the familiar break beat. But alas you realize you've arrived early to the party and must return back to the planet you come from. As you awake in confusion to the experience you hear the distant sounds of beasts all around. The wind calls your invitation as the animals welcome you to the 'Jungle Funk'. You finally realize that it's here where you belong. Grounded on the planet to do great works and to share what you've learned. It's up to you to make them 'Bounce'... 

Providing music for lovers + dreamers & helping dreamers find their lovers on the dance floor. " - Nativity

Challenges

The main challenge for this project was completing the artwork in a few weeks time constraint while simultaneously preparing for tour travel during the holidays overseas. This album was released the day the artist Nativity (my brother) and my family got on a plane to fly to our Motherland (the Philippines) for the Holidays.

Fortunately, having already developed a solid relationship and connection through the previous 2 releases (in addition to this client being my blood brother), the mutual understanding of vision brought an effortless flow to this creative graphic design project.

Fun Facts

1. The composition consists of photos from my visual travels archive including a luscious shot of the Mediterranean Sea I took during my travels to the Middle East,
2. Figure in the center is based off of a statue I came across along a photo adventure in the Philippines.
3. The Parallel lines that I incorporated represent dimensions and higher states of being, which here are embodied by an effected photo of a staircase.

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Artist: Jaycen Cruz

Release Date: January 24, 2024Label: Self Released

Challenges:

Summary:

Dank Radio: Live Broadcast: Art Director

Fourth Dimension (4D)

This is the last call to mankind… Of a multidimensional war and ancient prophecy's that are manifesting into reality….The final battle of light vs. darkness… The end of an era and the beginning of  a new age known as, the Millennial Kingdom...

Album Artwork: Art Direction | Graphic Design by Neil '4000' Belen

4000's debut A/V release, SEED Vol. i EP (DNK003)

Released: March 17, 2014

Record Label: Dank Radio
 

CONCEPT

Seed represents the beginning of our journey, the ignition to intention. The idea planted is to just start somewhere and allow the growth. Starting fresh and accepting the progression. The brain represents the mind and the ego. Through our awareness of the mind we remember the heart, which is the best place to focus our energy.
 

CHALLENGES

Artwork challenge was to transfer an archived drawing from a college art class and turn it into album artwork. Photography, Illustration, and Graphic Design experimentation were the keys to transmuting the art from Analog to Digital.

Eddie Cole presents Inertia: The Art of Motion LP

Album Artwork : Art Direction | Graphic Design | Layout | Back Cover Photo by Neil '4000' Belen

Front Cover & Insert Photos by: Mirza Babi

Released: September 4, 2015

Record Label: Dank Radio
 

Concept

Feminine Energy. Intimacy. Muse inspiration. Art of Motion.

Challenges

The main challenge for the project was the redirection of design after the subject of the original album cover was no longer on the best terms with the artist, therefore resulting in our need to move in a different direction. Fortunately, this allowed for an opportunity to collaborate with the art of other creatives in the industry who share the vision of intimacy and femininity: Mirza Babi and Reign Apiim.

Neon Phoenix's debut release DNK004 is a full length soundtrack.

Album Artwork: Art Direction | Graphic Design | Photography by Neil '4000' Belen

Record Label: Dank Radio

Released: April, 8, 2014

CONCEPT

"The challenge is yours to HEAL yourself and take the journey from beginning to end. Find your Light and share it with the world. Let the funk move you. We are all Shamans. 

Inspire the world to love." - Neon Phoenix

CHALLENGES

 The challenge I faced creating the album artwork for Neon Phoenix's debut SHAMAN was visually communicating the layers upon layers of musical depth that the project features. From the vast multi-instrumentation, to the movements and arrangement of each piece on the record, Shaman truly captures a moment in time spent in the abyss of the galaxy. I feel confident that I was able to provide a visual solution by transmuting the bass groove into a colorful palette of texture and adventure that represents what is Neon Phoenix.

A/V Production : Album Artwork: Art Direction | Graphic Design | Illustration by Neil '4000' Belen

4000's follow up A/V release, SEED Vol. ii EP (DNK007)

Released: July 31, 2014

Record Label: Dank Radio
 

CONCEPT

Building on the initial installment of the SEED series, volume ii is about extending the awareness of the mind to remember the heart, which is the best place to focus our energy. Visually, in our mind's eye, we distinguish between the heart and the mind as two separate entities with discrete purposes. In order for us to quiet the noise of the mind we must stay grounded and center our selves into what we FEEL with our heart. 

CHALLENGES

Art Direction challenge was to continue the SEED series visually and tie two separate pieces of music released together through cohesive album artwork.

With the drawing digitized from my LBCC art class, I was able to continue creating art in the SEED world of 4000. Design experimentation with blend modes in Photoshop of travel photography and illustrations from the archives were the keys to telling the story of the music via texture and crimson color.

Sensus Presents: Malaikat - The Bali Project

Album Artwork : Art Direction | Graphic Design by Neil '4000' Belen

Released: January 31, 2016

Record Label: Experience Sensus

Concept

Musician, Composer, and Culinary Artist Tom Terrell creates a multi-sensory expereince through his creative project SENSUS, in which specific music and food are composed in order to relate to each other. The Project is a reflection on Tom's experience during the month he lived in Bali, in February 2015. Malaikat ('angel' in Indonesian) is the name of the house in Bali where most of the music and menu was composed. This studio album's recorded music is performed with a live orchestra simultaneously alongside dishes prepared by a team of cooks to create a multi-sensory experience.

Challenges

My biggest challenge for this project was creating an entire album artwork design from a few low resolution photos from Tom's iPhone taken during his travels in Bali. Fortunately with my creative vision and the tools of photoshop, I was able to make use of the photos in an artistic way regardless of their original quality to visually communicate travel, music, and food.