Jeff Jank: Piece of the Puzzle

We’ve all heard the classic phrase never judge a book by its cover. In the case of album designer Jeff Jank of Stones Throw Records the cover is just as important as the rest of the process of making an album all the way down to the liner notes. Image is very important and in this day in age where we are surrounded by a multitdue of images it’s cool when people notice the art that not only goes into the music but the art that represents the music and the artist. So how did the Mr. Jank end up at Stones Throw Records designing album covers the same way everyone today ends up doing what they love, going there for a totally different reason.

Scheme: I read that you had no idea about the difference between a mac and pc, how have you grown with all the new technology that has come into play? Have you still kept some of the original practices that you used on Quasimoto’s ‘the Unseen’.

Jeff Jank: I just use technology to help me do what I need to do. Computers are suppose to speed everything up, but there always seems to be computer-related delays, and there’s still scraps of paper everywhere, so what does that tell you about new technology? But to answer you, I try to design on paper or in my head, and then make it happen on the machine.

Scheme: Why an album cover designer, what made you want to go that direction?

Jeff Jank: I like pictures, I like music. I didn’t actively set out to make covers, but after making music for years I noticed that I was making some of it just so I could get to the part where I make the demo tape cover.

Scheme: How did you land a position at Stones Throw and when designing covers for some of the most innovative artists like Madlib and Madvillain how does that process start and end for you?

Jeff Jank: When I met Madlib when he was just starting to make records with PB Wolf, back when PB Wolf was just starting to do Stones Throw. At the time I hadn’t done a record cover. We’re all around the same age, so I guess you could say it all happened together. Stones Throw has had some successes, and I’m proud to be a part of many of our records, but we’re still a small family-type company. My job at the outset was doing covers, but as the company developed I’ve experienced so much that overlaps – covers are connected with image, image is connected with photos and bios and publicity, and all of that is connected these days with the web. I love how it all works together. I like the whole story.

Scheme: What are some of the best album covers you’ve seen and what are some album covers that you look at and say you would’ve done it a different way?

Jeff Jank: I’ve found that if you ask 100 people about their favorite cover, you’ll get almost 100 different answers. Everyone’s opinion is based on what records they like most of all, and other factors after that. For me, I like any record cover that’s made an impression on me one way or another. Some of them happen to be records that I love, others happen to be records I’ve never even heard. I lot of people I know love to hate Pen & Pixel, but I just bought a P&P album just for the cover, Mr. Stinky-Everything Dead. I may never open it though.

Scheme: Is there anyone artist that you strive to do and album cover for?

Jeff Jank: Good question. I’d have to think about it, but I would say it goes two ways. One, any classic artist who hasn’t yet has a classic cover – that’s one to consider. Or, any new artist with a great album who hasn’t yet got artwork associated with them. Oh, and whatever the next Quasimoto record is – that’s the one I really strive for.

Scheme: Are you content with where you are or is there more that you want to do artwise or even at Stones Throw?

Jeff Jank: Nah, if I was content I’d be flying somewhere in my private jet editing my memoirs.

Scheme: Do you feel like album cover art is an ignored aspect of hip hop? It seems like some people could care less about the cover as long as the music is dope, but to me the presentation is just as important as the music.

Jeff Jank: No one would say that the album cover comes before music in the world of music, but there’s so many factors involved in a good record aside from just the music: the recording, mastering, the business decisions, marketing, the personalities, and the design. They all play a role together. Music is an art where the individual artist is the focus, but the world of records is
like movies – it’s a team effort. Of course for me personally, the value of the artwork, packaging and whatever visual elements has always had some importance. Sometimes more than others. It’s the type of thing you can’t and shouldn’t always be able to explain or identify.

Scheme: Does an album designer cover community exist, do you have a lot of peers that you bounce ideas off and let critique your work and vice versa?

Jeff Jank: At first, not too many people – probably because I came into doing what I’m doing by accident. Over the years I’ve talked to a lot of people about music-related design. Here in Los Angeles I’ve been happy to know and work with B+ and Eric Coleman, two great hip hop photographers, Keith Tamashiro who is a designer who I learned a lot from, and a bunch of other people who are all loosely connected. The first Quasimoto character was actually done
by DJ Design aka Keith Beats, and we talk about covers all the time to this day.

Scheme: Your work seems to very simple but complex at the same time what is the
most important aspect about the design for you?

Jeff Jank: I hate to avoid a question, but if I thought about this too much it would take the fun out of it.

Scheme: Whats the perspective like for you working at stones throw when the music is so diverse do you look at other branches of hip hop music and feel like a foreigner?

Jeff Jank: I’m immersed in Stones Throw and have been at the beginning, so that’s difficult for me to compare my perspective at Stones Throw versus any other fan of music. Like a lot of people, I got into music by checking out my dad’s records, then growing up and discovering new things through friends, college radio, accident, etc. That’s my only perspective, the personal one.

Scheme: In the end what is the ultimate scheme for Jeff Janks?

Jeff Jank: If I told you, I wouldn’t be much of a schemer.