Burka Band
2025 | Album & Vinyl Record Design
Artist
Burka Band
Source
Individual Project
Team
Independent
Task
Album Design, Vinyl Record Design, Concept Development
Background
The Burka Band is an Afghan all-female indie rock band formed in 2002, known for their satirical music that challenges the oppression of women in conservative societies. Their music, particularly tracks like "Burka Blue" and "I Care for You", became a symbol of rebellion and female empowerment under restrictive regimes. Due to the dangers of performing as women in Afghanistan, the band remained anonymous, wearing burqas both as protection and as a powerful visual statement.
Insight
The burqa represents both oppression and defiance—a tool of concealment imposed by society, yet reclaimed by the Burka Band as an instrument of rebellion. The album packaging design aims to translate this dual symbolism into an interactive experience, where the act of unveiling the music becomes a metaphor for revealing suppressed voices.
Idea & Concept
The entire album packaging revolves around the act of unveiling—forcing the listener to physically engage with the object to access the music, echoing the band's defiant message.
Vinyl Packaging Design
- The outer layer is made from blue fabric replicating the texture of the burqa, with subtle embroidered geometric patterns commonly seen in Afghan textiles.
- The burqa folds around the record like a protective veil, with a small net flap revealing the eyes on the vinyl.
- The packaging closes using hidden magnets, making the opening process resemble the lifting of a burqa to access the vinyl record.
Vinyl Design
- The center label features two open eyes, staring outwards as a symbol of women who are unseen but not silent.
- A blue tape sticker covers the hole—listeners must peel it off to play the record, a direct reference to censorship and silenced voices.
- The vinyl is printed with UV-sensitive ink, starting black and turning colorful when exposed to sunlight, representing the gradual unveiling of hidden stories.
Symbolism
- Outer Burqa: The act of unveiling suppressed identities.
- Blue Tape on Vinyl: The forced silencing of women’s voices.
- Light-Activated Color Change: Hidden voices breaking free through music.
The experience of peeling off the tape, unveiling the burqa, and watching the vinyl change color makes the listener actively participate in the act of breaking silence. It transforms the music into a message that cannot be ignored.
Sketch
