One of the things I struggle with in this kooky career as an illustrator is the transition from one large project to another. Whenever I reach the finish line on something I’ve been pushing through—usually art for a picture book—I’m pretty much brain dead for several days afterward. I guess it’s a kind of unconscious, self-imposed recovery.

In mid-July after several months of work, I delivered interior illustrations for an upcoming picture book, and didn’t have the luxury of a respite to reset. I’d just been assigned a very different kind of project. The manager for the musician Eljuri had asked me to create a music video for the focus track on their latest album, Así es el Mundo. Of course, I jumped at the chance. Even though I have several books in the pipeline, I knew taking time to focus on a challenge like this would reset me just right going into my work this fall.

A few years ago, I created a lyric video for another Eljuri’s song, “Salva la Tierra,” and it remains one of my favorite non-book projects to date. It even won a 2023 AI-AP International Motion Art Award. But while “Salva” was created primarily with stop motion, videography, and mini, hand-built sets, I wanted this new video to feel more illustrated and traditionally animated. (To read more about “Salva,” click here.)

Cambio, Eljuri’s new song expresses universal themes for our time. That in spite any one person’s burdens, we all can and will be heard to reshape the future. Our voices are an “echo” and will create a community for cambio, or the change that is coming if we “tap into our power.” It’s a positive, hopeful anthem—qualities I really leaned into with the art. (The full lyrics in Spanish and English can be found under the video on Youtube.

It was an intense 3-4 weeks, but I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out and hope you think so too! If you’re in NYC, Eljuri will be performing live at Joe’s Pub on the evening of Wednesday, September 3rd. Tickets are available here.