The cover artwork for “3 of Hearts” was the first visual collaboration between myself and New York artist J. T. Liss, created before the final cover for my album In the Red. Rather than approaching it as a traditional single cover, JT developed the graphic artwork as a visual interpretation of the song’s emotional narrative—exploring themes of vulnerability, devotion, and the internal tension that comes with putting your heart on the line.
This release serves as a profound synthesis of sound and sight, anchored by the musical production of Alcatraz Ed. His ability to capture the track's internal tension through a gritty yet melodic sonic landscape allowed the music and visual art to merge into a single, cohesive identity. The collaboration highlights a rare creative shorthand, where Ed’s atmospheric production provides the necessary weight for the emotional concept and JT’s imagery to fully breathe, creating a unified narrative that transcends the standard single format.
The piece became the foundation for the broader visual direction of In the Red, helping establish the tone and symbolism that would later carry into the album artwork itself. In many ways, the “3 of Hearts” design represents the first visual chapter of the project, where the emotional core of the music was translated into imagery before the full album identity took shape.
“3 of Hearts” is one of the more vulnerable moments on my album In the Red, a record where I explore the emotional weight that comes with love, commitment, and the tension between holding on and letting go. In the song, I reflect on the feeling of being completely open with someone—heart on the table, sleeves rolled up—while wrestling with the internal conflict that comes when that connection begins to fracture. The title speaks to the idea that relationships are rarely simple; they carry layers of loyalty, memory, and emotional stakes that can leave you exposed. “3 of Hearts” captures that moment of pressure when love, pride, and vulnerability collide, forcing you to confront whether to fight for the bond or accept the distance. Within In the Red, the song represents a turning point in the album’s narrative, where personal reflection meets the raw honesty that runs through the project as a whole.
