Towards the end of June I was given a very challenging and exciting project.

My first attempt to build an iTunes LP would be for the incredible Biffy Clyro. iTunes LPs are interactive rich media digital albums. Essentially it’s the digital version of special edition packaging with extra content. LPs can include a range of content including lyrics, photos, videos and bonus features.

We initially had a 4 week deadline to deliver the project, but due to Apple’s lengthily approval process, this was reduced to only 4 days for the entire project. After much frustration with Apple’s bizarre code structure and many late nights at the office we managed to pull it off.

Warner’s in-house designer Kate Brighouse did another brilliant job on the design elements. I had to piece all the javascript and css together to make everything run smoothly. Alex Marshall at Warner International was a brilliant resource who helped me make sense of the code with numerous examples of LPs he’s worked on in the past.

As a Biffy Clyro fan, I’m really proud of the Only Revolutions iTunes LP. It is a quality package including lyrics and commentary for all the songs, 6 music videos, 3 behind the scenes videos, a video of the band discussing the album in detail, a 45 min film made during the recording of the album, 31 photographs and the band’s detailed biography.

Because awareness of the iTunes LP format is fairly low, I proposed that we should create a YouTube video highlighting the contents of the package. Dan Massie and the team at Warner Music Entertainment did an excellent job making a trailer to promote the release. You can watch the embedded video on the left.

Despite the stress around the incredibly tight deadline, this project was hugely rewarding. It’s amazing to think that so many people will buy something I created for a band I’m a massive fan of, what an honour!

The Only Revolutions iTunes LP is currently on special for only £4.99 – only available from iTunes.

Coinciding with the Metal Hammer takeover promotion for Disturbed’s new album metalhammer.co.uk were given an exclusive pre-release stream of Asylum. I built a simple Flash player to do the job.

Listen to the stream and view the player here:
http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/exclusive-hear-the-disturbed-album-here/

I built a custom streaming Flash player based on designs by Warner’s in-house designer, Kate Brighouse.

The player is currently hosted on The Times website, go and listen here:
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/music/albumreviews/article2549829.ece

I put the screensavers and settings panel together in Flash and used Instantstorm to create the PC version and SWF Screensaver for Mac to make the mac version. These two pieces of free software are top class, I used them to make my Native Noise Seether Screensavers last year.

You can download the Foals screensavers here:
Foals Screensavers (PC Version)
Foals Screensavers (Mac Version)

Mac users running Snow Leopard need to download this version (although it might be a bit buggy):
Foals Screensavers (Mac Snow Leopard Version)

They both come with a configuration panel that can be used to disable the sound and select which screensaver to show. This is accessed by clicking the settings button from the screensaver set-up window.

Go to the download page to get your copy of the Native Noise Collection Seether screensaver.
http://www.nativenoisecollection.com/screensaver/

I used Adobe Flash to create an animated swf file and then two great pieces of free software to convert the animation into screensavers.
Instant Storm Screensaver Creator for Windows
SWF Screensaver for Mac

Having successfully sold 2000 pre-order copies of her debut album, Verity was looking for a way to reward the fans that supported her in the journey. The limited edition release of ‘Journey’ included two bonus tracks as well as an interactive CD-ROM as a second disc. I developed the CD-ROM in Adobe Flash to showcase Verity‘s music and present fans with bonus videos, photographs and information about the difference the artist has made through her Live Your Dreams Foundation as well as other charities.

The CD-ROM was packaged with 2000 limited edition copies of Journey and shipped to fans across the world.

To aid the promotion of Fevertree‘s sophomore album, ‘Under a New Regime’, I developed an EPK (Electronic Press Kit) that would be sent out as an interactive CD-ROM. The Multimedia presentation was built using Adobe Flash. It proved to be an effective way to showcase the band’s music – with a selection of songs playing throughout the showcase. The EPK also includes dynamically loaded music videos and photographs.