7UPPERCUTS - CHÁI MÁI (2020)
Genre: Pop-Punk, Vietnamese Indie-Rock Ballad
Composition, Writing, and Drums: 7UPPERCUTS
Production and Mixing, Mastering: Wave Storm Productions
Album Cover and CD Sleeve Illustration: Spencer Nam Nguyen
Label: First and Last Records
Media: Lamnguy, Lung Nhiet Doi, Ho Viet Quan
Project Description-
7UPPERCUTS consists of three members: Aki (bass, vocals), A Dính (guitar, vocals), and Anh Lâm (drums). Formed in 2017, the band's name is inspired by two things the members love: soft drinks and action movies. To date, the band has released the album "Summer Jam" in 2018 and the latest EP "CHÁI MÁI" in 2020. These releases have received a lot of positive feedback from the Pop Punk music community in particular, as well as Vietnamese music fans in general.
The band's music tells the story of youth, rebelliousness, and living life to the fullest. However, their music is not superficial. Each release is meticulously crafted, authentic, and unpretentious, while still maintaining its unique character. 7UPPERCUTS captures the essence of youth in their lively music, making it more enjoyable.
Artistic Interpretation-
In the summer of 2019, Aki Pham approached me to create this illustration. As a high school student, I frequently attended music shows on the weekends and regularly saw 7UPPERCUTS perform at hardcore punk events. During that time, being a teenager in Vietnamese society often felt repressive, and music was one of the ways we expressed our discontent.
My interpretation of "CHÁI MÁI" differed from their 2018 album "Summer Jam." Ho Chi Minh City was undergoing massive development projects, leading to chaotic changes and intense summer heat. This illustration draws inspiration from the album "MAKING THE ROAD" by the Japanese Pop Punk band HI-STANDARD. Little did I know, this EP would then be the key to making pop-punk more accessible and mainstream to the Vietnamese audience. This was my first ever big commission when I first started doing more dynamic illustration, there are many aesthetic choices I would change if I were to remake this today.
Final Front Cover Illustration
Back Cover Illustration
Promotional Images for Release Party
4 Year Anniversary Limited "CHÁI MỎ" Hot Sauce
Collaboration: DÊ HOT SAUCE
Album Cover and CD Sleeve Illustration: Spencer Nam Nguyen
To celebrate the 4th anniversary of the release of our first EP, named 'Chái Mái', DÊ Hot Sauce has collaborated with 7UPPERCUTS to introduce a special hot sauce called 'CHÁI MỎ' - only 1 size 115ml.
Flavor - To create the pink color and sweet-sour taste for this special sauce, like all products from DÊ Hot Sauce, we use 100% completely natural ingredients and avoid artificial colors.
Dragon fruit is one of the fruits that DÊ uses for this sauce. Behind the mild sweetness of dragon fruit, DÊ also adds Australian cherries and beets, combined with super spicy Jay's Pink Pepper (~1,000,000 SHU). Additionally, the hidden aroma behind this special hot sauce comes from pickled lime, a bit of Szechuan pepper, and a type of sour candy that everyone must have tried in their childhood - Salted Plums.
*Description via DÊ HOT SAUCE, which you can also buy this hot sauce here.
Artistic Interpretation-
I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to revisit "CHÁI MÁI" and create a re-interpretation of the high school-style illustration I originally did. For this updated version, I refined the colour palettes, although I still have a fondness for the raw and naive style of the 2019 illustration. The unconventional labelling of the hot sauce allowed me to experiment with formatting and composition on a smaller scale.
Promotional Images by DÊ HOT SAUCE
