Izdavač: Ostalo
Žanr: Fank i Soul, Rep i Hip-Hop
Poreklo: Strani izvođač

Original, made in Australia

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Studio album by Outkast
Released September 23, 2003
Recorded 2002–2003
Genre
Southern hip hopfunkpopjazz-funkavant-soulprogressive rap
Length 134:49
Label Arista
Producer
André 3000 (also exec.)Big Boi (also exec.)L.A. Reid (exec.)Carl MoMr. DJCutmaster SwiffDojo5
Outkast chronology
Big Boi and Dre Present... Outkast
(2001) Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
(2003) Idlewild
(2006)

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is the fifth studio album by the American hip hop duo Outkast, released on September 23, 2003 by Arista Records. Issued as a double album, its length of over two hours is spread across two solo albums from both of the group`s members. Big Boi`s Speakerboxxx is a Southern hip hop album with progressive qualities and influence from the P-Funk sound; André 3000`s The Love Below largely departs from hip hop in favor of pop, funk, electro, psychedelia, and jazz styles while drawing inspiration from artists such as Prince and D`Angelo.[5]

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below was supported with the hit singles `Hey Ya!` and `The Way You Move`, which both reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and the top-10 hit `Roses`. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 510,000 copies in its first week. It eventually amassed a total of seven non-consecutive weeks at the top of the chart and 24 weeks in the Top 10. It has been certified diamond and 13 times platinum by the RIAA (each disc in the double album counted as a separate unit for certification). As of March 2012, it has sold 5.7 million units in the United States.[6]

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below received widespread acclaim from music critics, who praised the consistency of Big Boi`s Speakerboxxx and the eclectic musical style of André 3000`s The Love Below. It topped The Village Voice`s Pazz & Jop critics poll, garnered the most total votes for any number-one album in the history of the poll, and won Album of the Year and Best Rap Album at the 46th Grammy Awards, while `Hey Ya!` won Best Urban/Alternative Performance. The album has been acclaimed as one of the greatest albums of the 2000s and was ranked 290th in Rolling Stone`s 2020 edition of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

Background
Following the release of Outkast`s fourth studio album Stankonia (2000), André 3000 felt urged to do something different from his previous projects and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He was relatively unsuccessful, landing a minor role in Hollywood Homicide (2003) and a one-episode appearance in the drama series The Shield. He returned to music and recorded a solo album that was different from the material he had recorded as part of Outkast. The output was a blend of pop, jazz and funk with live instruments and more singing than rapping.[7] When writing songs, he used a microcassette recorder in order to `record melodic ideas and lyrics, then build the melody around the lyrics`.[8]

The CD artwork is designed so that the Speakerboxxx artwork is on the front of the case, whereas the Love Below artwork is on the back of the case. These images are merged on the artwork displayed on online stores (Front cover on left, back cover on right). The CD booklet and the credits printed within is also divided in half and the back cover is printed on both sides, allowing fans to customize who appears on both the front and back covers.

Recording
The recording of The Love Below began at André 3000`s Los Angeles home, using Pro Tools software,[8] in addition to a drum machine, keyboards and various synthesizers.[9] He enjoyed the atmosphere of recording at home instead of a studio, saying to XXL, `it didn`t start in the studio because if you have a bunch of people around, they`re coming from the party and I`m in there singing falsetto ... those vibes didn`t match.` His initial sessions were hampered by his inexperience with Pro Tools and, unaware how to edit his recordings, he opted to record songs such as `Pink & Blue` in their entirety.[8] Other gear used included an Avalon VT737 SP and AD2055 EQ and AD2044 compressors for his vocals.[9] After creating five songs, he informed Big Boi of the solo project he had been working on.[7]

Big Boi had already recorded some songs when André 3000 had contacted him, but after their conversation he decided his next project would be Speakerboxxx.[7] Describing his approach in the studio, Big Boi later commented to XXL, `the idea was just to keep it funky, keep it jamming, it`s always bass-heavy. And lyricism, it`s all about lyrics, taking pride in your pen and your pad.` His favorite song to record was `Unhappy`. He spent several days working on its hook before driving to his mother`s home and playing the song in her driveway, to which she responded enthusiastically.[8] At some point in the recording, the project moved to OutKast`s Stankonia Studios in downtown Atlanta, which had been used to record OutKast`s previous release and namesake. John Frye, the studio manager and an engineer, would later recognise that much of the media attention surrounding the album`s recording was concerned with André 3000 and Big Boi`s working relationship and why they had chosen to record separately. He concedes that both enjoyed working solo and were doing so more frequently, but they continued to share and critique each other`s music.[9]

John Frye also describes how the format of the projects changed rapidly. Initially intended as two separate solo releases, they decided to merge their work and create a soundtrack album as André 3000 had initially intended. The duo then began preparing to work on a motion picture, but reconsidered and compromised by interpolating background noise into songs, such as the slamming of car doors and footsteps.[8][9] They eventually settled on releasing a double album. Frye noted the end of the recording sessions as particularly stressful for André 3000, who he described as drained from working at four studios simultaneously. In total, an estimated 120 songs were recorded for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.[9]

Music and lyrics
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is a 135-minute double album comprising a total of 40 tracks, including 11 interludes.[10] It is a concept album with the intention of each disc showcasing each member`s individual perspective and musical style.[11][8] Big Boi`s Speakerboxxx is an experimental Southern hip hop record with socially conscious lyrical themes, such as single parenthood, philosophy, religion, and politics.[7][12] Journalist Roni Sarig observed the emotional range in Big Boi`s lyricism as wider on Speakerboxxx than on its predecessors.[7] After a `gunshot beat`-paced intro, the disc opens with `GhettoMusick`.[13] The track`s eclectic musical style encompassing electroclash,[14] electro-funk,[12] hip hop,[10] and techno is juxtaposed with recurring excerpts from Patti LaBelle`s 1983 song `Love, Need and Want You`, which exhibit LaBelle`s vocals against a `lascivious` soul background.[15][10][16] Lyrically, it displays Big Boi confronting lackluster contemporary rappers and criticizing the hip hop scene`s perceived descent.[17] According to Brent DiCrescenzo of Pitchfork, `Unhappy` musically conveys Big Boi effectively asserting himself as simultaneously traditional and perverse.[18] The big band, horn-driven funk track `Bowtie` was described as reminiscent of George Clinton and Cotton Club.[19][18][20][16] It lyrically details stylishly dressing for a night out,[21] and features Sleepy Brown and Jazze Pha.[22] Brown is also featured on `The Way You Move`, a Latin-influenced R&B song pairing a `Dirty South synth-drum bounce with a faux Phil Collins hook`.[5][12]

Mariachi-tinged hip hop track `The Rooster` discusses Big Boi`s struggles as a single parent,[10][16] against an instrumentation based on `slippery` horns and loose wah-wah guitars.[20] Killer Mike collaboration `Bust` blends hip hop with nu metal,[13] and lyrically expresses a desire for superirority.[23] On the psychedelic soul track `War`, Big Boi refers to the 2000 United States presidential election, War in Afghanistan, murder of Daniel Pearl, Iraq War, Black Panther Party, and Post-9/11.[24][25][26] `Church` is a lyrical critique of organized religion.[21] A techno-gospel song, it has received comparisons to Stevie Wonder`s 1970s recordings.[18][15] The interlude `Bamboo`—titled after Big Boi`s son, who makes a guest appearance—precedes `Tomb of the Boom`. Both tracks use an identical `bouncy` beat,[13] while the latter dismisses rumors about Outkast`s disbandment,[24] and features Konkrete, Big Gipp, and Ludacris.[22] `Knowing` discusses a prostitute`s plight,[21] while `Flip Flop Rock` is an ode to flip-flops.[27] Featuring Killer Mike and Jay-Z, `Flip Flop Rock` is a hip hop track built on a `springy` guitar loop and a `beatific` piano,[5] while incorporating scratches and propulsive kickdrums.[18] `Interlude`, a spoken word evaluation of Outkast`s history,[10] precedes the percussion-infused `Reset`, which features Khujo and CeeLo Green.[12][22] Comedian Henry Welch performs the brief interlude `D-Boi`,[10] while Slimm Calhoun, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, and Mello appear on `Last Call`, a track accentuated with aggressive horns and an eccentric theremin.[22][24] Speakerboxxx closes with a 35-second reprise of `Bowtie`, on which Big Boi`s vocals are altered with helium.[10]

In contrast with Speakerboxxx, Sarig identified André 3000`s The Love Below as a `jazzy pop-funk` record comparable to the music of Prince,[7] while Marcello Carlin of Uncut labeled it as an avant-soul concept album.[14] The disc`s abounding theme is love, specifically falling in love and self-love. Sarig suggested that the end of André 3000`s relationship with Erykah Badu influenced much of the lyrical content, which he saw as concerned with the search for true love.[7] André 3000`s vocal performance on the string-driven intro was compared to Frank Sinatra by Andy Gill of The Independent,[21] while on the noise rock-lounge opener `Love Hater`,[5] it was described as `mock crooning` by Stephen Thomas Erlewine.[20] The interlude `God` finds André 3000 embracing his `horndog` reputation in a prayer, accompanied by an acoustic guitar.[10] `Happy Valentine`s Day` introduces his alter ego Cupid Valentino, a reimagination of Cupid as a `gun-toting thug`.[15][28][23] Anal sex-themed `Spread` displays trumpets and piano interspersed with a pliant bassline and scattering rimshots.[5][18] Prelude `Where Are My Panties?`, featuring Toni Hunter,[22] insinuates a one-night stand leading to a romantic relationship.[5] The lyrical theme continues on `Prototype`,[29] a funk-neo soul ballad sung similarly to Prince, Clinton, and Sly Stone.[10][30] Alternative R&B track `She Lives in My Lap`,[5] featuring actress Rosario Dawson,[29] received further comparisons to Prince, as Erlewine compared the song to Prince and the Revolution`s 1985 B-side `She`s Always in My Hair`.[20]

Acoustic guitar and synth-bass-driven `Hey Ya!` fuses power pop, traditional soul and electro-funk styles.[18][5][20] Lyrically an `ass-shaking jam session`,[19] it introduces André 3000`s second alter ego Ice Cold, who instructs the listeners to `shake it like a Polaroid picture`.[28][31] `Roses`, the sole song on The Love Below on which Big Boi appears,[10] is a diss track directed towards a conceited ex-girlfriend referred to as `Caroline`.[32] `Pink & Blue` contains samples of Aaliyah`s 1994 song `Age Ain`t Nothing but a Number` and reverses its lyrical theme, being directed towards an older love interest rather than a younger one.[21] A `Goth-soul cha-cha` track,[12] `Pink & Blue` ends with a brief orchestrated outro.[18] While `Love in War` is André 3000`s lyrical response to Big Boi`s `War`,[15] the frivolous, falsetto-sung minimalist electro track `She`s Alive` discusses single motherhood.[5][33] `Dracula`s Wedding` follows André 3000 as a vampire infatuated with another vampire, portrayed by Kelis,[12] but fearing commitment.[29] `My Favorite Things` is a drum and bass rendition of the song of the same title from The Sound of Music.[28][27] Norah Jones is featured on `Take Off Your Cool`, a string-driven acoustic track.[18] On `Vibrate`, André 3000 uses pro-environmental metaphors for masturbation.[15] The dub-jazz track is built on muted trumpets and backward drumbeats.[21][12] The Love Below closes with `A Life in the Day of Benjamin André (Incomplete)`, described as an `autobiographical epistolary`.[12]

Track listing
Speakerboxxx
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. `Intro` Cutmaster Swift 1:29
2. `GhettoMusick`
André BenjaminAntwan PattonKenny GambleBunny Sigler
André 3000 3:56
3. `Unhappy`
PattonDavid Sheats
Mr. DJ 3:19
4. `Bowtie` (featuring Sleepy Brown and Jazze Pha)
PattonPatrick BrownPhalon Alexander
Big Boi 3:56
5. `The Way You Move` (featuring Sleepy Brown)
PattonBrownCarlton Mahone
Carl MoBig Boi[a]
3:54
6. `The Rooster`
PattonMahoneDonnie Mathis
Carl MoBig Boi[a]
3:57
7. `Bust` (featuring Killer Mike)
PattonMichael RenderMyrna Crenshaw
Big Boi 3:09
8. `War`
BenjaminPattonSheats
Mr. DJ 2:43
9. `Church`
BenjaminPattonKevin KendrickBrownCrenshaw
André 3000 3:27
10. `Bamboo (Interlude)` (performed by Big Boi and Bamboo) 2:10
11. `Tomb of the Boom` (featuring Konkrete, Big Gipp, and Ludacris)
PattonJames PattonCory AndrewsNathaniel ElderCameron GippChris Bridges
Big Boi 4:46
12. `E-Mac (Interlude)` (performed by E-Mac) 0:25
13. `Knowing`
A. Patton
Mr. DJBig Boi[a]
3:33
14. `Flip Flop Rock` (featuring Killer Mike and Jay-Z)
A. PattonRenderShawn CarterSheats
Big BoiMr. DJ[a]
4:36
15. `Interlude` 1:15
16. `Reset` (featuring Khujo and Cee-Lo)
A. PattonWillie KnightonThomas Burton
Big Boi 4:36
17. `D-Boi (Interlude)` (performed by Henry Welch) 0:40
18. `Last Call` (featuring Slimm Calhoun, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, and Mello)
A. PattonBenjaminBrian LovingJames Hollins
André 3000 3:58
19. `Bowtie (Postlude)` 0:35
Total length: 56:26
All tracks on The Love Below are written by André Benjamin, except where noted. All tracks produced by André 3000, except `Roses` produced by Dojo5 and André 3000.

The Love Below
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. `The Love Below (Intro)` 1:27
2. `Love Hater`
BenjaminKendrick
2:49
3. `God (Interlude)` (performed by André 3000) 2:20
4. `Happy Valentine`s Day` 5:23
5. `Spread` 3:51
6. `Where Are My Panties? (Interlude)` (performed by André 3000 and Toni Hunter) 1:54
7. `Prototype` 5:26
8. `She Lives in My Lap` (featuring Rosario Dawson)
BenjaminBrad JordanWillie DennisDoug KingIsaac HayesRoger TroutmanDino HawkinsEric VidalNick Vidal
4:27
9. `Hey Ya!` 3:55
10. `Roses`
BenjaminPattonMatt Boykin
6:09
11. `Good Day, Good Sir (Interlude)` (performed by Benjamin André and Fonzworth Bentley) 1:24
12. `Behold a Lady` 4:37
13. `Pink & Blue`
BenjaminRobert Kelly
5:04
14. `Love in War` 3:25
15. `She`s Alive`
BenjaminKendrick
4:06
16. `Dracula`s Wedding` (featuring Kelis) 2:32
17. `The Letter` (featuring Qasha Aman) 0:21
18. `My Favorite Things`
Oscar Hammerstein IIRichard Rodgers
5:14
19. `Take Off Your Cool` (featuring Norah Jones) 2:38
20. `Vibrate` 6:33
21. `A Life in the Day of Benjamin André (Incomplete)` 5:11
Total length: The Love Below: 78:23
Total: 134:49
Notes

^[a] signifies a co-producer
Shortly after the Grammy winnings, pressings of The Love Below contained a slightly altered track list. The song `My Favorite Things`, which was originally a hidden track, became credited on the album`s track listing. Secondly, a 21-second interlude performed by André 3000 and Amanda Qasha Aman was placed before `My Favorite Things`, entitled `The Letter`. To compensate for the addition of `The Letter`, the ending of `A Life in the Day of Benjamin André (Incomplete)` was changed, replacing the radio interview with a slightly longer fade out, shortening the track`s running time by 20 seconds. Additionally, a 6-second spoken outro was added to `Vibrate`. The revised version of the album is the one that is currently available through digital media outlets.
`Ghetto Musick` and `Knowing` are the only tracks on Speakerboxxx to feature vocals from André 3000, while `Where Are My Panties? (Interlude)` and `Roses` are the only tracks on The Love Below to feature vocals from Big Boi.
`Bowtie`, `Rooster`, `Take Off Your Cool`, `Church`, `She Lives In My Lap` and `Vibrate` are included in the soundtrack of OutKast`s film Idlewild. As a result, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below contributes as many songs to the movie`s soundtrack as the Idlewild album does.
Sample credits

`Ghetto Musick`, from Speakerboxxx, contains samples of `Love, Need and Want You` by Patti LaBelle.
The first few seconds of `Intro` from Speakerboxxx is a sample of the beginning of the song `Europop` from the Eiffel 65 album of the same name.
`She Lives in My Lap`, from The Love Below, contains samples of `Mind Playing Tricks on Me` by Geto Boys and `Pistolgrip-Pump` by Volume 10.
`Pink & Blue`, from The Love Below, contains samples of `Age Ain`t Nothing But a Number` by Aaliyah and `Why Can`t We Live Together` by Timmy Thomas.[citation needed]
`My Favorite Things` from The Love Below contains interpolations from John Coltrane`s 1960 recording by the same name.
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album`s liner notes.

Speakerboxxx
Big Boi – executive producer, lead vocals (all tracks), producer (tracks 4–7, 11, 14, 16), programming (tracks 4, 7, 11, 13, 15), keyboards (tracks 4, 7, 11, 13), background vocals (track 8)
André 3000 – executive producer, lead vocals (track 2), producer (tracks 2, 9, 18), keyboards (tracks 2, 18), programming (track 18), additional vocals (track 13)
L.A. Reid – executive producer
Bernie Grundman – audio mastering (all tracks)
Killer Mike – lead vocals (tracks 7, 14)
Devine Evans – sound design, engineer
Sleepy Brown – lead vocals (tracks 9, 11), backgrounds vocals (tracks 2, 3, 6, 7, 14), additional vocals (tracks 4, 5)
Konkrete – lead vocals (track 11)
Big Gipp – lead vocals (track 11)
Ludacris – lead vocals (track 11)
Jay Z – lead vocals (track 14)
Khujo Goodie – lead vocals (track 16)
Cee-Lo – lead vocals (track 16)
Mello – lead vocals (track 18)
Slimm Calhoun – lead vocals (track 18)
Cutmaster Swift – producer (track 1), cuts (tracks 6, 14)
Mr. DJ – producer (tracks 3, 8, 13, 14)
Carl Mo – producer (tracks 5, 6)
Jazze Pha – additional vocals (track 4)
Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz – additional vocals (track 18)
Myrna Crenshaw – background vocals (tracks 2, 7–9)
Joi – background vocals (track 2)
Debra Killings – background vocals (tracks 3, 9, 14, 16), bass (tracks 3–6, 8, 9, 14, 18)
Tori Alamaze – background vocals (track 4)
John Frye – audio recording, audio mixing (all tracks)
Moka Nagatani – audio recording (tracks 2, 4, 13)
Vincent Alexander – audio recording (tracks 5, 11), recording assistant (track 2)
Matt Still – audio recording (track 9)
Chris Carmouche – audio recording (track 11)
Warren Bletcher – recording assistant (all tracks)
Marvin `Chanz` Parkman – keyboards (tracks 3, 8, 9, 14, 16), organ (track 2), piano (track 6)
Kevin Kendrick – keyboards (track 9)
Donnie Mathis – guitar (tracks 3, 6)
David Whild – guitar (tracks 4, 7, 8, 14)
ZaZa – guitar (track 5)
Preston Crump – bass (track 3)
Aaron Mills – bass (track 9)
Victor Alexander – drums (tracks 7, 8)
Hornz Unlimited – horns (tracks 4–6, 18)
Rajinder Kala – congos (track 3)
Regina Davenport – A&R direction and coordination, production coordinator
Theresa Wilson – A&R administrator
Michael `Big Blue` Williams – management
Joe-Mama Nitzberg – creative direction
Jeff Schulz – art direction and design
Jonathan Mannion – photography
The Love Below
André 3000 – executive producer, lead vocals (all tracks), producer (all tracks), programming (tracks 1, 9, 12), keyboards (tracks 1, 9, 12), guitar (tracks 4, 7, 8, 18), tenor saxophone (track 8), acoustic guitar (track 9), background vocals (track 19)
Big Boi – executive producer, lead vocals (track 10; uncredited), background vocals (track 6)
L.A. Reid – executive producer
Brian `Big Bass` Gardner – audio mastering (all tracks)
Kelis – lead vocals (track 15)
Norah Jones – lead vocals (track 19)
Killer Mike – background vocals (track 10)
Sleepy Brown – background vocals (track 19)
Joi – additional vocals (track 4)
Myrna Crenshaw – additional vocals (track 4)
Marianne Lee Stiff – additional vocals (track 7)
John Frisbee – additional vocals (track 7)
Rosario Dawson – additional vocals (track 8)
Rabeka Tunei – additional vocals (track 9), recording assistant (track 9)
John Frye – audio recording (all tracks), audio mixing (tracks 10, 14, 17), pre-mixing (tracks 2–8, 10–13, 15, 18, 19)
Robert `HipHop` Hannon – audio recording (tracks 4, 5, 9)
Pete Novak – audio recording (tracks 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19), audio mixing (track 15), pre-mixing (tracks 4, 5, 12)
Matt Still – audio recording (track 7)
Terrence Cash – audio recording (track 8)
Reggie Cozier – audio recording (track 13)
Darrell Thorp – audio recording (track 13)
Brian Paluralski – audio recording (track 15)
Padraic Kernin – audio recording (track 18), recording assistant (track 18)
Neal Pogue – audio mixing (tracks 2, 7–9, 18, 19)
Dexter Simmons – audio mixing (tracks 4, 5, 12, 13)
Warren Bletcher – recording assistant (all tracks)
Josh Monroy – recording assistant (tracks 4, 5, 9)
Russell Buelna – recording assistant (tracks 4, 13, 14, 19), mixing assistant (track 15)
Chris Carmouche – recording assistant (tracks 8, 13)
Jared Robbins – recording assistant (tracks 9, 15), mixing assistant (track 15)
Jeff Moses – recording assistant (tracks 12, 14, 17)
Greg Burns – recording assistant (track 13), mixing assistant (track 13)
Chris Steffen – recording assistant (track 13), mixing assistant (track 13)
Donnie Whittemore – mixing assistant (tracks 4, 12, 13)
Alex Reverberi – mixing assistant (tracks 5, 7, 8, 10, 14, 18, 19)
Malik Albert – mixing assistant (track 8)
Greg Price – mixing assistant (track 9)
Sean Tallman – mixing assistant (track 17)
Kevin Kendrick – keyboards (tracks 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 14, 19), guitar (track 4), piano (track 17)
Marvin `Chanz` Parkman – keyboards (tracks 8, 19)
Darryl Smith – guitar (track 2)
Tomi Martin – guitar (track 8)
Moffet Morris – upright bass (track 4)
Kevin Brandon – double bass (tracks 4, 14)
Kevin Smith – electric bass (track 5)
Aaron Mills – bass (tracks 7, 8, 17)
Hornz Unlimited – horns (tracks 2, 14, 19), trumpets (tracks 5, 8)
Cutmaster Swift – cuts (tracks 5, 8)
Jef Van Veen – drums (tracks 2, 14)
Benjamin Wright – string arrangement, conductor (track 13)
Charles Veal – violin, concert master (track 13)
James Sitterly – violin (track 13)
Mark Casillas – violin (track 13)
Gina Kranstadt – violin (track 13)
Marisa McClead – violin (track 13)
Mark Cargill – violin (track 13)
Richard Adkins – violin (track 13)
Tibor Zelig – violin (track 13)
Yarda Kettner – violin (track 13)
Louis Kabok – violin (track 13)
Patrick Morgan – viola (track 13)
Robin Ross – viola (track 13)
Michel Vardone – viola (track 13)
March Vaj – viola (track 13)
John Krovaza – cello (track 13)
Martin Smith – cello (track 13)
Lisa Chien – cello (track 13)
Catherine Chan – cello (track 13)
Kelvin Brandon – contra, bass (track 13)
Kevin O`Neal – contra, bass (track 13)
Gary Harris – saxophone (track 17)
Fulton Yard Unlimited – digital editing (track 14)
Regina Davenport – A&R direction and coordination, production coordinator
Theresa Wilson – A&R administrator
Michael `Big Blue` Williams – management
Joe-Mama Nitzberg – creative direction
Jeff Schulz – art direction and design
Torkil Gudnason – photography