Girl Power in Action
The Pipettes originated in Brighton, England, in 2003. Bubble gum pop at its finest, The Pipettes released a collection of 7″ singles and two albums.
Their first major single was Dirty Mind which reached #61 in the UK singles charts, with their follow-up single Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me, reaching #35. Pull shapes hit #26 in the UK top 40. Their 4th single Judy reached #1 in the Indie Chart.
In keeping with the style of the band, the design approach referenced Columbia and Decca’s records of yesteryear. I designed each single as part of an eventual box set. The back covers of each release featuring illustrations, stories, and dance move instructions, and as a set, the singles built up an image of The Pipettes as that band that young girls listen to in their bedrooms. Head in hands, staring out the window and dreaming of the world of boys, bubblegum, and pop music fame.
We Are the Pipettes was released in 2006 and featured an image of the girls holding up The Pipettes logo. At first glance, the cover looks like an authentic ’60s girl pop cover, with three identically dressed women striking a pose. On closer inspection, the image is an update of these classic ’60s covers, with all elements being in camera physical props. Working with Photographer Mel Bles, we created the whole cover image in camera. Even the “We Are” sign was held aloft by the shoot hair stylist.
Collaborators
Photography: Mel Bless
