SOLAR RECORDS

For the 30th anniversary of legendary Los Angeles label SOLAR Records — The Sound of Los Angeles Records — Colorola was commissioned to create the packaging and promotional design for a special commemorative music collection celebrating the label’s enormous influence on funk, soul, R&B, and disco culture. At a moment when physical music packaging still carried cultural weight, the project was conceived as both a tribute to the golden era of Southern California music and a way of introducing a new generation to the richness and atmosphere of classic analog recordings.

Drawing inspiration from the visual energy of late-70s and early-80s Los Angeles, Stuart created a series of custom illustrations and collector-style packaging for the label’s “Ultimate Collection” releases featuring Shalamar, Midnight Star, and Lakeside. The work combined retro-futurist illustration, bold typography, and richly layered graphics inspired by the visual culture of classic vinyl sleeves, nightclub posters, and West Coast music history. Developed across CD packaging, marketing collateral, and promotional materials, the project captured the atmosphere of an era when Los Angeles helped define the global sound and style of contemporary music.