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Album covers and artwork
Here are some album covers which i have been working on recently. They are based around the same style of design but are more a progression of each other, rather than different ideas, all can be included in my merchandise to show the audience how my ideas evolved. I have several other different designs uncompleted for the alternative album artwork which i mention in my project proposal, which will be uploaded shortly.
My first attempt, very basic, but it delivers all the necessary, i find the combination of black and white to be an easy to read combination, and people would instantly recognise the cover if shown quickly:
My second attempt, by adding a slim, contrasting colour outline to the font i think that it really makes the text much more impacting. Also i think this album cover looks a little more complete:
This design below is my personal favourite at the moment, i believe that simplicity speaks louder than the over exaggerated.
This will probably be the chosen album cover unless inspiration for any other better designs comes to me:
I think that all 3 covers have quite a nostalgic technological look to them, due to the black background and digital style text, mixed with a subtle hint of modern pop art. This is a desired and intended affect because it shows a fusion of styles, which is also what the music contained is trying to create.
Here are just a few ideas for the design to be printed on the CD itself:
Distribution
The closest related band to the material i intend producing are probably either US3 (first album 1993, most recent 2009) or Aim (first album 1999, most recent 2003). Both have their obvious different styles and audible differences as i intend to have mine. So i don't think there should be many problems with high amounts of similar competition.
As for as distributing my music is concerned i would like to release my music as a DVD rather than CD, with an individual video for each track. Not necessarily a music video, but for some tracks maybe just a 'montage-making-of' video, showing various footage and pictures during the making of the particular track, and just filming things which have inspired my work at the time of production, such as friends, nights out and places i have been, and then sync-ing them with my track in a way that matches the visual with the audio, and that is entertaining. I will also include separate mp3 audio versions of my tracks on a separate CD included so people can still transfer my music onto mp3 players or play them in CD players.
My idea to distribute my music in DVD combined with CD format also seems to be a little used method of distribution, Gorillaz had a similar method when the released their first album, including extra video material at the end of their CD, this proved very successful for them.
http://www.us3.com/ this is a link to US3's promotional website.
Info on Aim: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aim_(musician)
Other major Bands of the Genre include: Jamiroqaui, Incognito, New Jersey Kings, St. Germaine, and The Brand New Heavies.
The record label most suited to my Music would probably either be Acid Jazz records, based in east London (which i have applied to for work experience), or possibly Ninja Tune records, also based in the London area. Mo'wax records, part of the Beggars group also release music of a similar genre to mine and would be worth applying my music to.
To ensure success i would have to ensure my music was distinguishable from these other, allready popular artists, to do this it is essential that i continue to further the genre, to do this i intend to create an even even larger fusion of styles, and similar to how the genre first revived a lot of 70's funk and soul music, i could begin to do the same but with more 80's and 90's music, but still focusing on finding and maintaining a particular groove for every track.
It might also be wise, to create acoustic versions of all my tracks, allowing me to do acoustic sets, widening my variety of available venues, and narrowing the number of musicians needed to perform, hence cutting my costs even more.
My idea to distribute my music in DVD combined with CD format also seems to be a little used method of distribution, Gorillaz had a similar method when the released their first album, including extra video material at the end of their CD, this proved very successful for them.
http://www.us3.com/ this is a link to US3's promotional website.
Info on Aim: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aim_(musician)
Other major Bands of the Genre include: Jamiroqaui, Incognito, New Jersey Kings, St. Germaine, and The Brand New Heavies.
The record label most suited to my Music would probably either be Acid Jazz records, based in east London (which i have applied to for work experience), or possibly Ninja Tune records, also based in the London area. Mo'wax records, part of the Beggars group also release music of a similar genre to mine and would be worth applying my music to.
To ensure success i would have to ensure my music was distinguishable from these other, allready popular artists, to do this it is essential that i continue to further the genre, to do this i intend to create an even even larger fusion of styles, and similar to how the genre first revived a lot of 70's funk and soul music, i could begin to do the same but with more 80's and 90's music, but still focusing on finding and maintaining a particular groove for every track.
It might also be wise, to create acoustic versions of all my tracks, allowing me to do acoustic sets, widening my variety of available venues, and narrowing the number of musicians needed to perform, hence cutting my costs even more.
