THE ART & MUSIC STORIES
the album art for "HORMONE"
In the realm of sound and silence, image and intention, there rises a quiet revolution.
“HORMONE”, the second album by Twelve Gates Shiermen, is not merely a collection of songs. It is a statement of transformation. The album cover itself speaks volumes before the music even begins: a single butterfly, mid-flight, caught in a moment of serene defiance. It symbolises the butterfly effect — the idea that small, intentional actions can ripple outward and shape worlds unknown.
This is not coincidence. This is vision.
John Will, the principal force behind the project, shared a quiet yet determined dream with the visual artist and creative partner, Jowen Riven — the creative powerhouse also known for their work within MONNARROW. Their shared belief: that music in Malaysia, particularly within the Chinese language scene, is not simply an entertainment product — it is an art form. A living, breathing craft that deserves to be nurtured, not commodified.
For too long, young musicians have lived in the shadow of outdated voices. Aspiring composers and singers have been told to imitate, not to innovate. Too many have walked away from their craft, disillusioned — casualties of "musicpreneurship" courses that promise stardom, yet leave passion empty and pockets hollow.
A new way for art to live again.
Twelve Gates Shiermen believes in a different way forward — one built not on vanity metrics, but on the deep joy of creating. Not every young artist needs to be a celebrity; they deserve the space to create, to explore, to fail, and to find their voice.
The “HORMONE” album is, at its heart, a catalyst. A gentle rebellion. A whisper that says: yes, your music matters. Yes, your ideas are valid. Yes, you are enough.
Through Jowen’s illustration and John Will’s sound, they invite listeners and artists alike to reclaim their voice — to reimagine a Malaysia where music is not a product of fear or pressure, but of genuine human expression.
Like the butterfly — small, delicate, yet capable of changing the course of the wind — this album is a beginning.
A beginning for something greater.
Art Gallery
Art Gallery