Friday, 30 September 2011
CD Front cover
This is the front cover of my CD, I am pleased with the final product as I feel that it sets the tone for the music. I think the visual effect of the girl standing on the slope reflects the slope of a mountain. The distortion of the image makes it look like she wouldn't be able to stand but the way the camera has been tilted give the effect that makes it look like she shouldn't be able to be standing upright.
The setting of this image was key that it was outside in a forest and on a slope, this surrounding that the picture has been taken in creates the tone that I was looking for. The combination of lighting, setting and camera angles.
The setting of this image was key that it was outside in a forest and on a slope, this surrounding that the picture has been taken in creates the tone that I was looking for. The combination of lighting, setting and camera angles.
The way I did the spirits coming out of the girl was by using photoshop. Firstly I selected the brush tool and set the master diameter to 10px and the hardness to 0%
I then unlocked the layer and added a layer mask.
I then zoomed in and used the bush tool to outline the girl accurately. The next step was then going back to the original background image and overlaying the image and then duplicating the image onto a separate layer, I then zoomed in so I could see the pixels and I cut arounde new layer onto the image. To give the effect of the spirit leaving the body I made it gradually get more and more distant and less visible, I did this by duplicating the later and each time it got further away I lowered the opacity.
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
CD cover design
Abbey road became one of the most famous streets after the Beatles used it as their album artwork. What many people don't realize about this album is the depth that it holds.
"The cover photo of Abbey Road may perhaps have ignited the "Paul is dead" rumor, as it is said to be a funeral procession. Leading the procession is John wearing white, symbolizing the clergy. Ringo, dressed in black, is the undertaker. Paul, the corpse, is out of step with the other Beatles, he is barefoot and his eyes are closed. George, dressed in work clothes, is the gravedigger. Also, Paul is smoking a cigarette, also known as a "coffin nail". He is holding the cigarette in his right hand, even though the real Paul McCartney was left handed."
"The cover photo of Abbey Road may perhaps have ignited the "Paul is dead" rumor, as it is said to be a funeral procession. Leading the procession is John wearing white, symbolizing the clergy. Ringo, dressed in black, is the undertaker. Paul, the corpse, is out of step with the other Beatles, he is barefoot and his eyes are closed. George, dressed in work clothes, is the gravedigger. Also, Paul is smoking a cigarette, also known as a "coffin nail". He is holding the cigarette in his right hand, even though the real Paul McCartney was left handed."
I didn't know this before I researched the album, many people don't know the thought that went into the creation of this album. To the naked eye it just looks like a simple picture of the bad walking along a road. The thing that makes this such a significant image is that there is a hidden meaning behind something that looks simple. The colors used in this image are black,grey green etc... not bright colors that stand out. This could interpret to the audience that the band are not trying to be different and to stand out from the crowd they are themselves and feel their music is good enough to have a simple artwork cover rather than bright eye catching colors.
This Album artwork is coldplay (XYX) The image just looks like a blue background with different colored shapes on it. Again this is another simple looking album artwork that hides an nostalgic statement. It can be viewed as a neat commentary on the death of the old record industry. The album's cover art is a combination of colours and blocks, which is a representation of the baudot code: This is an old code made before computers and telegraph transmissions.
This Artwork of example ( playing in the shadows )
This Album artwork is coldplay (XYX) The image just looks like a blue background with different colored shapes on it. Again this is another simple looking album artwork that hides an nostalgic statement. It can be viewed as a neat commentary on the death of the old record industry. The album's cover art is a combination of colours and blocks, which is a representation of the baudot code: This is an old code made before computers and telegraph transmissions.
The album contains twelve tracks and an additional hidden track, "Til Kingdom Come".
The reason why I chose to annotate this album is because it looks like it should be simple but then if you wanted to know what it meant and you researched it you would realize that it had a significant meaning behind it. By doing this it is stepping outside of the box and creating something new rather than following the norms of what is seen on album artwork.
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Artists with a 'niche' brand
Many artists strive to be original and distinctive and it is important that any artist that wants to stand out has to create that impression as soon as they become known. For example Lady Gaga has always been known for her distinctive style. Some artists try to change as they become famous to stand out more such as Amy Winehouse, when she wasn't well known she didn't have a trade mark image she was herself but as she began to be famous her style changed to reflect her soulful music. Here is a video from 2003 before she had her trade mark image and she had just become famous.
Here is a clip from .... when she was focused on creating a niche brand identity so that her music would reflect herself. Many artists struggle to do this but Amy Winehouse created herself a brand that meant she stood out from the crowd and became an icon.
From this video you can see that she has completly changed her image by having many tattos, thick black eyeliner and a beehive hair style and black hair. Without this image Amy Winehouse may have not been the famous icon that we will always remember her as.
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
The online revolution
The music industry has changed in many ways since the internet has become a main tool for new artists to release their music onto the internet and gain large fan bases. Without the internet then there would be a lot less artists coming into the music industry.
For example Ed Sheeran used the internet to create a fan base that would then be able to support him into the music industry and selling albums.
The Arctic Monkey's are a good example of the effects the internet can have on a band and launch them clearly in the music industry. The group has built a hugely devoted fan base by using the internet to reach young fans.
when the band were just becoming known they played to 2,000 fans at sold-out London Astoria.
For example Ed Sheeran used the internet to create a fan base that would then be able to support him into the music industry and selling albums.
Ed sheeran- "I also gained an army of fans through social networking sites, where I have now accumulated 36,000 followers on Twitter and has celebrity devotees including Arsenal and Russia footballer Andrei Arshavin"
Arctic Monkeys
The Arctic Monkey's are a good example of the effects the internet can have on a band and launch them clearly in the music industry. The group has built a hugely devoted fan base by using the internet to reach young fans.
when the band were just becoming known they played to 2,000 fans at sold-out London Astoria.
"The speed with which they have developed a large and committed fanbase is being put down to the viral marketing effect of the internet, with fans swapping tracks with one another with the blessing of the group.
According to one estimate there are already 142 different versions of various Arctic Monkeys songs floating around on the internet, some recorded by fans at concerts. The band has only officially released one very limited edition single called Fake Tales of San Francisco."
Monday, 15 August 2011
Research task- How albums are promoted
Target audience
Research is key to finding the target audience that will be best for your product. There are many factor that help you find a target audience, the ways of finding out these is by looking at your product in detail and evaluating every aspect of it and then compiling this into questionnaires and interviews to narrow down the direction that your product is going in. If you aim at the wrong target audience it can have a catastrophic effect on the product as it wont gain the popularity it needs to become successful.
Research on 3 bands and their target audiences
Florence and the machine
This is a band who began their music career on you tube and by doing small gigs to get themselves know.
Florence and the machines genre of music began as very individual and original, as the band become more and more famous and well known they became signed and the style of music began to change to adapt to a mainstream target audience. The target audience for this band has changed with the progression of their success. florence and the machine still remain as a individual band and the style of Florences voice has not changed . The change in music lost Florence and the machine fans but they have now become very popular but with this it is easy to see the change in lyrics and a softer tone has become favored.
florence and the machine before she was signed
Florence and the machine after she was signed
From these two videos you can see the difference of her style and how she adjusted her music and lyrics slightly to adjust to her new target audience.
Lady Gaga
lady gaga is an artist who has shocked the music industry with the music and style of her performances, lady gaga is known as one of the strangest artists with an extraordinary voice.
"I didn't want to start singing while they were talking, so I got undressed. There I was sitting at the piano in my underwear. So they shut up. That's when I made a real decision about the kind of pop artist that I wanted to be. Because it was a performance art moment there and then." lady gaga is known for the strange things she says and no one knows what her next move will be. Lady gaga promotes her albums and performances as a work of art, she doesnt just stand and sing she dances sings and acts just to an unforgettable performance.
In this video of Lady Gaga you can see that she puts a lot of effort into how she looks and trying to make herself stand out from other artists that opt for a more glamorous look. Its this that makes her an original artist and is why she is known globally for her voice and personality.
In the past year Ed Sheeran has launched himself into the music industry, before he was signed Ed Sheeran had a large fan bass by promoting his music at gigs and also by using viral marketing and web 2:0. Sites such a Facebook and YouTube were important for him to become known.
The genre of music that Ed Sheeran produces is acoustic/indie this has gained him a young audience as his music is based on things that teenagers can reflect on. For example his song 'The A Team' is about drug use and that bad effects of it.
But regardless of knowing what sets him apart, Ed is already impressing the right people. In April 2008 he was asked to play a gig with Nizopli, who shot to fame in 2005 with their number one hit The JCB Song.
Research is key to finding the target audience that will be best for your product. There are many factor that help you find a target audience, the ways of finding out these is by looking at your product in detail and evaluating every aspect of it and then compiling this into questionnaires and interviews to narrow down the direction that your product is going in. If you aim at the wrong target audience it can have a catastrophic effect on the product as it wont gain the popularity it needs to become successful.
Research on 3 bands and their target audiences
Florence and the machine
This is a band who began their music career on you tube and by doing small gigs to get themselves know.
Florence and the machines genre of music began as very individual and original, as the band become more and more famous and well known they became signed and the style of music began to change to adapt to a mainstream target audience. The target audience for this band has changed with the progression of their success. florence and the machine still remain as a individual band and the style of Florences voice has not changed . The change in music lost Florence and the machine fans but they have now become very popular but with this it is easy to see the change in lyrics and a softer tone has become favored.
florence and the machine before she was signed
Florence and the machine after she was signed
From these two videos you can see the difference of her style and how she adjusted her music and lyrics slightly to adjust to her new target audience.
lady gaga is an artist who has shocked the music industry with the music and style of her performances, lady gaga is known as one of the strangest artists with an extraordinary voice.
"I didn't want to start singing while they were talking, so I got undressed. There I was sitting at the piano in my underwear. So they shut up. That's when I made a real decision about the kind of pop artist that I wanted to be. Because it was a performance art moment there and then." lady gaga is known for the strange things she says and no one knows what her next move will be. Lady gaga promotes her albums and performances as a work of art, she doesnt just stand and sing she dances sings and acts just to an unforgettable performance.
"I haven’t been bothered by Lady Gaga’s outlandish outfits in the past, but I gasped when I saw her posed on the September cover of Vogue Hommes Japan, doning pieces of raw meat strung together. She holds one slab up to her face. The title of the article beckons: “The Naked Truth.”
What is the truth, Lady Gaga?"
Ed Sheeran
In the past year Ed Sheeran has launched himself into the music industry, before he was signed Ed Sheeran had a large fan bass by promoting his music at gigs and also by using viral marketing and web 2:0. Sites such a Facebook and YouTube were important for him to become known.
The genre of music that Ed Sheeran produces is acoustic/indie this has gained him a young audience as his music is based on things that teenagers can reflect on. For example his song 'The A Team' is about drug use and that bad effects of it.
"The blend of acoustic music, folk and hip hop beats? Maybe the age? I've got ginger hair which may set me apart - I don't know!"
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
But regardless of knowing what sets him apart, Ed is already impressing the right people. In April 2008 he was asked to play a gig with Nizopli, who shot to fame in 2005 with their number one hit The JCB Song.
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