My Favorite Album Artwork of 2025 (So Far)
Album covers used to be a first impression for many when searching for new music. I don’t think that their importance has dwindled in the digital age, but perhaps their presence has amongst listeners for discovering new artists. Nonetheless, art design is still an integral piece of an album or single, and I wanted to share some of my favorites from the year below.
Artwork by Jack Vanzet
Thrupence - Empty Maps | Listen
Genre: Piano, Classical, Ambient
This is hands down my favorite artwork of 2025. Written from 2020-2022, Empty Maps explores the collective unrest and loneliness humanity shared during a time of disconnect and extended reflection. Through thoughtfully composed piano pieces and one of the most stunning artworks of the year, Vanzet proves yet again he's a craftsman and an evolving, multifaceted artist. He describes the layout and meaning behind the artwork below, weaving the narrative of the music within its lovely arrangement of images:
“Intentionally fragmented and unpolished, the artwork embraces mess and imperfection. It captures the raw, unfiltered emotion of that period—offering moments of lightness amidst introspection. Empty Maps became more than just music; it was a way to understand and connect when communication felt out of reach.” - Jack Vanzet*
Alicks - In Environment | Listen
Genre: Electronic Ambient, Drone, Experimental
I'm always looking forward to the next Alicks release in January, and In Environment’s artwork served a great first impression before listening to the record. A marked shift towards ambient and minimalism, the vertical stacking of textured landscapes detailed the perfect backdrop to the different tones of each song. I couldn't stop staring at the album art as I made it through the album, just thinking “how can someone make these scattered images come together like this?”
Artwork by Hämäläinen
Mumrunner - Soot (Single) | Listen
Genre: Shoegaze, Alternative, Dreampop
While only a single, Mumrunner’s Soot is a welcomed return from Finnish shoegazers at a time when the genre has never been more hot. I was first hooked into the immediate grip of the track, then awestruck at the accompanying image after a few cycles through. It rests in the pensive nostalgia this heavy laden single focuses on, but in a much more colorful light than the black ash of the song's title. Another artwork I can't stop staring at, just look at it! I'd love to see it on something physical, CD or Vinyl or otherwise.
Artwork by Kodai Kobayashi
Ichiko Aoba - Luminescent Creatures | Listen
Genre: Ambient Folk, Chamber Folk, Singer-Songwriter
After releasing a KEXP Live Session a few weeks ago, Ichiko Aoba discusses her relationship with water and the concept around her newest release, Luminescent Creatures. “Water contains infinite possibilities,” Aoba remarked, representing a central theme to her music and this album in particular. The artwork reminds me of the friction when breaking through the glossy surface of a still body of water. The ripples, endlessly moving and dispersing outward, display an intricate natural art piece that was captured for the album’s art.
Artwork by Nedda Afsari
Deafheaven - Lonely People With Power | Listen
Genre: Metal, Blackgaze, Black Metal
With Deafheaven’s powerhouse of a record Lonely People With Power, fans and critics alike penned more than positive sentiments for the band’s sixth album. Marking 15 years as a band, this record culminates in a thematic cross-section of each seminal release from then to now, and the artwork is as oddly evocative as the art to Ordinary Corrupt Human Love, in my opinion. Both records utilize photography, but this time around with Lonely People, a much more colorful, living and breathing picture that represents the transitional focus of the record and the lyrical themes accompanying it.
Sidenote, Deafheaven and Ichiko Aoba were able to meet in person this year during both of their album tours! I love seeing stuff like this, check it out below and be sure to follow our socials for more artwork come the end of 2025.
