A Brisbane artist has had his work of Elton John and Britney Spears chosen as the official album cover for their collaboration hold me closer.
Nordacious artist, real name James Hillier, found out this week that he got enough votes online to have the digital art appear on a special CD of the song.
Elton John announced on Instagram that Hillier was one of two winners of the online competition for new limited edition covers.
The physical releases will include new remixes from the collaboration, by Joel Corry and Purple Disco Machine.
Taking to Instagram, Nordacious said it was “surreal” but “deeply special” and thanked everyone for voting for him.
“For @eltonjohn and @britneyspears, words cannot describe how surreal and meaningful this is to me,” Hillier said.
“I have admired your artistry all my life. To be affiliated with this official title is deeply special and I will always cherish it.
James Hillier told ABC Radio Brisbane the label contacted him after he shared the artwork online in August, ahead of the song’s release.
“Elton had shared some of his favorite fan art since the song was announced,” he said.
“Mine was in the mix, which was a nice surprise.
“I was contacted by the label and asked if I wanted to be part of [the competition]. Naturally, I was like, ‘hell yes’.
Artist James Hillier has described his digital art as having “a very pop art and retro aesthetic.”
“So a lot of inspiration from comic books and old movie posters,” he said.
“This one has Britney behind a yellow piano, which Elton set up to play with a gorgeous late ’70s mullet.
“There’s like a red rose on the piano and they’re just vibrating.
“I absolutely wanted to inject that, the brightness and the blinding lights of Hollywood into this aesthetic.”
Britney Spears has approved the digital portrait of her by Nordacious
Check out more amazing digital art from Nordacious on the artist’s Instagram.
The Brisbane-based artist’s work has already caught the attention of Britney Spears.
“I drew one of Britney Spears and Cher on the beach, they’re in St Tropez eating ice cream,” Hillier told ABC Radio.
“It’s all very retro, popsie, cutesy and…positive and sunny.”
It was a reference to Britney and Cher making future plans for this exact trip on social media, at the height of Britney’s heartbreaking legal battle for conservatorship.
Hillier said Britney “was desperate just to make it through,” so he created the two stars’ artwork together.
“Then a day later, boom, I got a notification that Britney Spears just reposted this,” he said.
For the latest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) news in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Consult our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, TwitterInstagram and YouTube.