# Faux Mixtape Cover Homages Gerard Nelson Pays Tribute to The Weeknd Using Lyrics and Photos By Jason Soy | Published 2012-01-17 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gerard-nelson References: [merelyawkward.tumblr](http://merelyawkward.tumblr.com/) & [facebook](http://www.facebook.com/Gerard.L.Nelson) Gerard Nelson is the operator and designer behind the popular Merely Awkward Tumblr, and in his latest series of [lyrics-inspired photo creations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lyricsinspired-ooh-campaign), he pays homage to The Weeknd’s mixtape Echoes of Silence. He wasn’t satisfied with just slapping The Weeknd’s words onto any run-of-the-mill picture of the emerging Toronto R&B singer the way so many other Tumblr bloggers do. Instead, Gerard Nelson has emulated the signature look of The Weeknd’s [mixtape covers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/albumcover-ai), which includes colored swatches, The Weeknd’s name written in Helvetica typeface and the infamous XO Crew logo, and made a tribute cover for each song found on the album. The images are from a photo series The Weeknd’s team released to coincide with Echoes of Silence and Gerard Nelson integrates the best of Abel Tesfaye’s words into each image for a [fan tribute](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sonic-editions) that is classy and appealing. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 34% | Activity: 65% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Lyrics-inspired Photo Creations:** There is a growing trend of artists creating visually captivating images that incorporate song lyrics, offering a unique way to engage with music and create fan tributes. - **Emulating Mixtape Covers:** Artists and designers are increasingly emulating the aesthetic styles of popular mixtape covers, allowing fans to connect with their favorite artists and albums in a visually immersive way. - **Fan Tribute Art:** The creation of fan tributes through art is becoming a popular trend, providing fans with a way to express their admiration for artists and connect with their music on a deeper level. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Visual Arts and Design:** The trend of lyrics-inspired photo creations and emulating mixtape covers presents innovative opportunities for artists and designers to create visually captivating artwork and engage with music fans. - **Music and Entertainment:** The rise of fan tribute art offers the music and entertainment industry new avenues to connect with fans and showcase the creativity and dedication of their fan base. - **Digital Content and Social Media:** The trend of fan tributes and visually immersive experiences provides opportunities for digital content creators and social media platforms to facilitate and amplify fan engagement with artists and their music. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Mixtape Merch Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/echo45-sound-system.md) - [Singer-Collaborative Creative Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-weeknd-and-nespresso.md) - [Cultural Sports Collaboration](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/world-series-collection.md) - [Personalized AI Album Covers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-album-covers.md) - [Singer-Backed Coffee Machinery](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nespresso-2.md) - [Art-Inspired Streetwear Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/silent-echoes.md) - [Contemporary Statue Album Artwork](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drip-season-4.md) - [Mexican Designer Collaborative Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/design-mixtape.md) - [Ethiopian Culture-Celebrating Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ethiopian-culture.md)