VIPER
Jazz music changed American culture through creative freedom and improvisation, but the natural little helper behind this breakthrough is rarely talked about. VIPER a custom typeface reveals how cannabis helped jazz musician amplify their music by unlocking new depths of musical expression. "Viper" was a slang term used in 1920s and 1930s by musicians who called themselves vipers after the hissing sound of taking a big draw.
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The relationship between cannabis and jazz is a significant influence on musical innovation but often overlooked. Cannabis fueled the creative explosion of the Jazz Age, as jazz musicians almost universally enjoyed canabis when improvisation was becoming the essence of jazz music.
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The Strategy
Drawing from this cultural legacy, the VIPER typeface translates this part of jazz history into a visual form. The VIPER typeface intentionally stays away from typical jazz fonts that use rigid blocky shapes. Instead, it is Inspired by the flowing creative thoughts and drifting smoke that cannabis brought to jazz musicians. The letterforms are slightly curved following a smoke shape. The strokes are thick with tapered ends like a rolled joint causing odd shapes that resemble the improvisation of jazz music. The combination of heavy letterforms with smooth and dynamic strokes creates a modern retro feel suitable for jazz clubs, music festivals or vintage stores. Ultimately, VIPER celebrates cannabis as nature's helping hand in unlocking musicians' creative flow.
