WHY UNDERGROUND MUSIC MAPS?

During lockdown, I daydreamed about impossible journeys. My mapping of such in my head went a bit weird. I started thinking about tube and underground (transit) maps, and how they could help us navigate other non-places.

Having previously worked my way up from a floor-sweeper in a touring sound company's warehouse, to show designer for corporate 'gods', and everything in-between, and having worked with both data (crew & kit management) through to content production & creating spaces in 2D, 3D & in real life for shows, I needed to find a new medium that could make use of all those skills and experiences.

Bands and how they connect, through albums, and then often disconnect around them, had always intrigued me - having seen some of these individuals close-up (and dirty). Plotting their histories in my unique music maps detail became my lockdown interest.

Using my spreadsheet skills, and my CAD software, both redundant in lockdowns, my band maps began!

I started with The Fall's studio album discography as an underground map. It (eventually) worked after version thirteen! Their studio albums had an incredible journey to show, as do others - from Bowie through to The Who, and others.

Late 2023 I was commissioned to produce Levellers and Dire Straits studio discography maps for band members, with other request fulfilled by fans of diverse acts I'd not normally engage with.