Exploring The Creative Potential Of Vinyl Colors with Hannah Glavor
We teamed up with artist Hannah Glavor to craft a custom multi-color mix that perfectly reflected her unique album vision.
By Julia Girdharry
Choosing the right record color is more than an aesthetic choice – it also amplifies your music’s message. With artist Hannah Glavor, we helped craft a custom multi-color mix that perfectly reflects her vision.
For Portland-based multidisciplinary artist Hannah Glavor, her second full-length album, Hold On, Hold Tight, is a celebration of life and resilience. Her music, a cinematic blend of indie, folk, and pop, is brought to life visually through a custom vinyl color mix that reflects the album’s weight, playfulness, and deeper themes.
After placing an order for Clear (T2) vinyl through Precision Record Pressing’s exPRESS Vinyl Pack service, we saw an opportunity to connect with Hannah to explore the hundreds of unique color options that would reflect the album’s radiant reverie. Working with Shantelle, our in-house Color Specialist, and the pressing team, we explored a few unique blends that would tie into the album’s tone and imagery.
Hannah’s journey to putting together Hold On, Hold Tight began in 2017, following her recovery from a brain tumor and a series of life experiences that brought her to what the album is today. Hannah’s creative journey is shaped by her deep reflections on life’s vibrancy and impermanence. Her work explores motifs of freedom, life and death, capturing both the lushness and playfulness of living while considering what we leave behind. Inspired by the symbolism of real and fake flowers, gifts for both beginnings and farewells, Hannah wove this concept into her music and artwork.
“A lot of those songs were written that if I could have one last record, what would it be? If I never got to make music again—if the music industry died, if I didn’t live to see another day - how would I write?I didn't mean to write an album that way. I just started writing songs completely different because I was holding on to life very differently.”
Since 2017, her perspective on these topics has brought a new understanding. After allowing herself the creative freedom, healing, and permission to create this album, this body of work emerged as a collection of meditations compiled throughout the pandemic, loss, and heartbreak. Yet, upon listening, you’ll be surprised to discover how upbeat and cheery each tune is, serving as an auditory pick-me-up.
The album is a glimmer of light in the face of heavy realities. The challenge was how to convey those themes when choosing and incorporating color for this vinyl release. The visuals, sounds, and colors are integral to the album, and the tactile experience of the vinyl effect further reinforces its tone with vivid impact. The main goal was to create cohesiveness between the music the art and the vinyl to entwine one fulsome experience of the music.
Our color consultation started with Hannah sharing the backstory of the album and the art and and sharing samples and styles that could reflect that. She envisioned the sensory experience of someone unwrapping the record and having an emotional connection to the colors they saw. We explored colors picked from her artwork which could be replicated with our vast vinyl compound program.
“I think about the tactile experience that someone brings home a record, they unwrap it, reach inside. The emotion that I want is they pull out the record is to be astonished. What would bring that surprise? What would not be the expected color? [...] I see freedom, I see playfulness, I see fighting for hope even when you don’t see it.”
The Result: A Tactile Work of Art
The final effect combined these elements into a strikingly unique color mix that not only complements the themes of Hold On, Hold Tight but enhances the entire album experience thought colors and texture. To evoke joy and surprise for listeners that could incorporate thematic elements from her album artwork, Hannah picks from the floral designs, blues for a bold pop with vibrant pearlescent tones to recreate a silver lining within the vinyl. The result is a tactile, visual, and auditory piece of art that feels as personal and hopeful as the music itself.
At Precision Record Pressing, we know every album tells a story. That’s why we offer the largest color catalog in the world, empowering artists with endless creative freedom. Whether it’s your debut or a milestone release, we’re here to bring your vision to life.
Discover more at @prpeffects on Instagram or explore our colors on our vinyl page.
To check out Hannah Glavor's, Hold On, Hold Tight, use the player below or visit hannahglavor.com.
Header photo by Hannah Glavor