Alex Durlak Creative Operator
20+ years bridging art, sound, print & technology
Crafting experiences with an eclectic toolkit: from printing presses to DAWs, vinyl records to microcontrollers, and spreadsheets to legal contracts. Equipped with a knack for problem-solving and a love for figuring things out on the spot.

This site is a selection of case studies of various projects.

Available for full-time and freelance work, while also maintaining an art practice.

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02 AS WE RISE
A vinyl compilation of African diasporic culture


Music Supervision
Project Manager
Layout The Wedge Collection, Canada's largest collection of works by Black artists, set out with excitement to develop a musical  companion to their acclaimed photobook As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic (2021). This venture would become Aperture Foundation's first-ever record release, As We Rise: Sounds from the Black Atlantic, and they needed someone with expertise in music licensing, vinyl production, and project management to bring it to life.

Working in close partnership with Dr. Kenneth Montague, founder of the Wedge Collection, and the team at Aperture, we curated a playlist that reflected the book's themes of community, identity, and power. The selection process was a beautiful blend of deep archival exploration and personal connection. While I contributed my knowledge to unearth hidden gems, many songs were hand-picked by Dr. Montague himself, reflecting his love affair with music - a passion that parallels his love for photography and art. The final tracklist showcased the rich diversity of African diasporic music, featuring artists ranging from Jamaican dancehall legend Tenor Saw to American contemporary guitar phenom Jeff Parker to the powerful voice of South African artist-singer-activist Miriam Makeba singing a Brazilian tune.

With our musical roadmap in place, I navigated the intricate world of music licensing, negotiating with 10 different record labels and artists across Canada, the US, and the UK. This process required meticulous precision, diplomatic finesse, and unwavering determination. On the production side, I oversaw every aspect to ensure the final product met the high standards expected of both Wedge and Aperture. This included preparing master audio files, scrutinizing the vinyl pressing quality, leading the packaging design, and attending a press approval for the jacket printing to ensure perfect color balance. The layout incorporated the typeface Martin by Vocal Type, which was the display font used in the counterpart book, and included an insightful essay and descriptions of each track by Liz Ikiriko. 

The result was more than just a record - it was a multifaceted celebration of Black artistry, featuring stunning works by photographers Samuel Fosso, Jamel Shabazz, Paul Anthony Smith, and Jorian Charlton. As We Rise: Sounds from the Black Atlantic stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, the richness of African diasporic culture, and the enduring appeal of vinyl. It's the kind of multifaceted, culturally significant project I thrive on - complex, challenging, and deeply rewarding. 




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Seeing sounds, hearing images