The Rolling Stones’ Foreign Tongues: Bráulio Amado Designs the Artwork

The album Foreign Tongues, which includes re-recordings of songs by Amy Winehouse and Chuck Berry, has artwork direction by Portuguese designer Bráulio Amado.

The Rolling Stones return with Foreign Tongues

The Rolling Stones released their new album, Foreign Tongues, on Friday 10 July. Made up of 14 tracks, the record follows a fresh burst of creativity from the British group and shows that they remain in excellent form.

While it does not offer any major sonic departures from Hackney Diamonds, released three years ago, the album is distinguished by its new interpretations of Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good” and Chuck Berry’s “Beautiful Delilah”.

The record also features the final drumbeats of Charlie Watts, the legendary Rolling Stones drummer who died in 2021. Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers also appears, alongside musicians Steve Winwood, Robert Smith and Paul McCartney.

Among songs that take listeners back to the band’s golden years, such as “Rough and Twisted”, are others that sarcastically address the disappointment at what the United States has become, including “Divine Intervention”. Once again, The Rolling Stones give voice to melodic critiques of the society in which we live.

In “Covered in You”, they sing: “I wake up sick of all these autocrats/you know they seem to be breeding like a swarm of filthy rats with their missiles on parade”.

Bráulio Amado and the Foreign Tongues album cover

One of the release’s most striking elements is its sleeve, created by Almada-born Portuguese designer Bráulio Amado in collaboration with British artist Mat Maitland. The artwork merges Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards into a single face, painted by American artist Nathaniel Mary Quinn.

Bráulio Amado has already built a notable career in graphic design, producing work for artists including Mac Miller, Frank Ocean, Róisín Murphy, André 3000 and Harry Styles. The Portuguese designer has also received Grammy nominations and recognition from The New York Times.