S.O.S. Abstracted

Graphic reinterpretation of a song using red circles and white lines reminiscent of 1970s design language.

This illustration series explores the idea of creating something abstract from an audio source.

I chose to illustrate 3 of my favorite songs from one of my favorite albums of this decade, SZA’s “SOS.” Instead of focusing on recognizable imagery, I was interested in translating the emotional tone and sonic qualities of each song into form, color, and composition.

By removing literal representation, the project explores how music can be expressed through non-figurative systems. Each illustration functions as a visual distillation, capturing mood, rhythm, and atmosphere rather than narrative or portraiture.

Speaking to my passion for music, this work reflects my broader interest in how meaning shifts when media is translated across formats and how abstraction can be used as a tool for interpretation rather than reduction.