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Brisbane artist Nordacious's work features on Elton John, Britney Spears release

A Brisbane-based artist has designed the new cover of Elton John and Britney Spears' limited-edition CD single of Hold Me Closer.

Digital artist Nordacious, aka James Hillier, was one of two winners to have their artwork selected for the cover of three limited-edition singles. 

Elton John and Britney Spears revealed on social media that tens of thousands of fans had voted for Noradacious and Vinni Amaro's work to be on the cover as they dropped the new music video for Hold Me Closer, a rework of Tiny Dancer, The One and Don't Go Breaking My Heart.

Mr Hillier said having his work recognised on the cover of the single "means everything".

"It's incredible," he said.

Mr Hillier discovered he had won the competition about 4am yesterday morning.

"My digital art sort of has a very pop art, retro aesthetic to it, so a lot of inspiration from comic books and old movie posters," he said.

"But this one has Britney behind a yellow piano, which Elton has set up playing with a gorgeous, late 70s mullet, and there's like a red rose on top of the piano and they're just vibing away.

"I definitely wanted to inject that, the brightness and the blinding lights of Hollywood into that aesthetic."

Artist's work shared by stars before

Mr Hillier said he didn't know there was a competition to design the single covers until he was approached by the record label.

"Elton had been sharing some of his favourite fan art since the song was announced, and mine was in the mix and which was a lovely surprise,'' he said.

"I got contacted by the label and asked if I wanted to be a part of it, and naturally, I was like, 'hell yes'.

Mr Hillier said it had "been a big love fest" of support since being announced as one of the winners.

But wasn't the first time his work had caught the eye of Spears — who had shared his previous work on her social media.

"So I drew this particular one of Britney Spears and Cher on the beach, they are in St Tropez eating an ice cream and it's all very retro, popsie cutesy and ... positive and sunny," he said.

"It was a reference from something Britney had posted on her social media, she was in the midst of going through a very public conservatorship legal battle … and so she was desperate just to get to the end of it."

He thought it would be "a cool, beautiful image" that was "aspirational" and created the art.

"Then a day later, I was like 'boom, I got a notification that Britney Spears has just reposted this'," he said.

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