Initial research, influences and ideas - Inspirational websites

My favourite artist's website by far is that of Beyonce Knowles. Below there is a short video of some of my exploration of her website.

       
I firstly liked the simplicity of her options, and was intrigued to know what '#BEYGOOD' was. Once I clicked on it, it was a page packed with all of the charity and community work Beyonce is involved in, with pictures and information. I thought this was a really nice touch, and honestly it was very educational for me, and made me admire Beyonce. Within each charity/community work she has a connection to there were options to 'learn more' about those charities and organizations, and I thought this was a really brilliant feature. This is definitely going to increase Beyonce's fan base and so is good marketing in the sense that she is the product. There was also the option to 'Become An Ambassador' and to 'Like', 'Tweet' and 'Pin it' on posts which are a really good way of using the viral ability that web 2.0 enables. There were also products you could buy in aid of this cause, like a bag, which I thought was a good place to advertise products, as it would be more motivational after seeing all of her work.
I thought that the home page's style is something I personally liked and would like to adapt. There were various artistic and beautiful photos of Beyonce and her life, which alternated after a certain amount of time. I thought the pictures themselves were really beautiful shots, but it was also such a good way of making the fans feel connected to Beyonce and her life. Having these personal photos available, for instance of her child and her husband and their holidays etc, really establishes a connection which fans desire and those who may not be fans may appreciate and be intrigued by. When your mouse hovered over them it would say 'My Life' and if you clicked on that you could go through the whole album, as if Beyonce was your friend of Facebook, and actually there were options to share it of facebook, twitter, and pinterest.
In conclusion, I think Beyonce's website was the best website I saw because it really ensured a connection to her, it educated you on her life through information and photographs which were very personal. I think this is the sort of website fans would love, and those who may not be fans but interested, would be drawn in by the intimacy created by it. I think it is a very clever way of bridging that gap that fans often feel to super stars (especially of her status), and also of promoting the product which, essentially, is herself.

Initial research, influences and ideas - Inspirational art and photography

I have found these photographs and paintings really inspirational, especially for album covers or art on the artists website.

I like this photo because the sky looks amazing, and it would be a good idea for an album cover to have a similar style, but with the writing saying the name or artists name.

I really love the colours in this picture, and the composition of the plants and the beautiful paintings.

Lai N. Nguyen

I love the composition and colouring of this painting. I think the pose of the woman is very beautifully seductive, and I like the fact the body melts/fades away . I think all of the colours dripping down the painting is also a really nice idea.

Emil Alzamora
This piece, to me, represents identity, and perhaps a ccrisis in identity or the variety of personas within one's identity. This, if thematically in tune with the artist, could work for album art.

Sun-Hyuk Kim

This piece would be an interesting piece of art for the album cover or website. This piece, to me, brings forward themes of love, relationships, human nature and the human mind.

Chad Wys

I think these are also very interesting and could work for album art. They're modern and abstract twists on classical pieces.

 Liu Zhan, Kuangjun and Tan Tianwei
I like how abstract these pieces of art are, and how they beutifully distrort the human body and face. The first piece of art I really love and I think it could work for certain themes from artists, i.e. love, distortion, identity, relationships etc.

Ed Chapman
I think that this could be a good idea for an album cover, and is a wonderful piece of art, and could work for an album cover

I really love the setting, colours, and cmposition of this photo, and think that it could work for an album cover. 

Alana Dee Haynes
I also think that this is something that could work for an album cover or website artwork. I like the idea of the artist in a certain position with drawings on top.

Rosie Hardy

Lastly, I think Rosie Hardy's art could be a great choice for an album cover or website art. Of course this is entirely dependent on the artist, but I will definitely use this inspiration i.e. the glitter, composition, lighting and concepts.

Initial research, influences and ideas - Suitable tracks and artists

Solo artists:

Kimberly Anne
I think Kimberly Anne could be a good potential artist as she has quite a unique and distict voice. Her genres vary, which is always good as it can appeal to wider audiences that way. In this song, there is a mix of acoustic and indie which is a popular mixture.


SZA
  Sza has again a very unique sound, which is quite alternative pop here, but varies in general. This song is very happy and upbeat and so should be a good mode of escapism and creating a good mood, which is popular for audiences.

Paolo Nutini
Paolo Nutini also covers a wide range of genres, from soul to rock, which is always an asset. This song has a particularly American style rock and roll feel, with soul elements too. I think that with a voice that can be husky and deep, and then soft and soulful, he would be very popular especially among women. I think his sound is accessible and  to a very wide range of ages too, which is definitely an asset to a record label. For a solo artist, I think he's quite unique to have all of the assets he has.

Bands:

Gold Fields
Goldfields have great appeal to younger generations in the indie rock genre. Their songs for instant, has very strong hook, key to this genre and for audiences. They have an american style to their singing and their music is very upbeat and fats paced. Their songs are very feel good and energetic, which audiences really enjoy for escapism and to create a mood - perhaps the most popular uses of music for audiences.

Bahamas

Bahamas also have a very upbeat vibe which would be great for escapism and creating a mood. Their style is quite alternative indie and accessible to a wide range of ages; I can't see, within reason, any age group between young teenagers to older adults feeling isolated by this group - unless of course it is to do with particular taste. Again, I think they have this relaxed and happy Californian feel to their music, which aids for audiences wanting to relax, escape or create a particular mood with their music - which most audiences do want to do.

Bleachers
 Bleachers have a more British feel, but similarly share an upbeat indie genre. I think Bleachers would appeal to a younger generation, although the themes of their songs are accessible to adults.The first song especially has a very catchy nature, with the chanting 'I wanna get better!' repeated continuously, I can see it taking off within it's genre and among a younger audience.

Initial research, influences and ideas - Influences/Inspirations - More artistic and conceptual music videos

'Snap Out Of It', straight form the outset, has some really beautiful shots; the grading and quality of the shots works really well, and I also, as with many of my other reference videos, like the slow motion effect used. I like the intimacy of many of the shots, for instance the back of her neck (0:34) or her back (0:35). I also found it very unique and interesting the way they chose to include separate footage, that the woman is supposed to be watching, too, as it's very different from the high-quality, colourful footage. I also think that they way they play with the video and the music works really well, for instance 1:10; the way they go between shots on each beat and there is a clear progression in time, with the woman feeling worse and worse. They do this similarly after 1:58 which again, in my opinion, works really well, and I would like to, if possible, use this technique. Particular shots I like are after/starting at 2:51-4:07. In this, i partiuclarly like the shots that have the woman acting infront of/with projections of seperate images; I also really like the scenes where she is jumping around and dancing, I think this goes really well with the music; and I really like the end of the music video too. I think that the exterior noises, like the footage noises, steak sizzling, crying and pool noises work quite well. Normally I wouldn't want any noises apart from the music but I think it was justified and worked well.


I chose to reference the 1975's 'The City' because I really liked their style of video/concept.  I really liked, as I continue to reference, how they used motion, for instance in the beginning, it began very slow then suddenly speed up and went back into slow. I think that this, paired with the camera movement works really well. Once again, I also think that having different characters and narratives within the video also works really well, and I particularly think that this works well in this video. In particular, the fighting juxtapositioned with the equally as passionate kissing worked really well together, to create a sense of contrast and similarities in human behaviour. I think that this video narrates different sides to humans; emotions and actions, and there similarities - I think that was captured well with the different characters. I also really liked the projection onto bare bodies, and  how artistic and intimate many of the shots were.

 
 In this video 'Never Let Me Go' I really enjoy all of the artistic shots, I think that they play with focus, lighting and intimacy of shots in a really clever way. Again, they use slow motion which I really like, as I think it creates a dramatic detail which is really captivating. I think they have some really beautifully romantic and happy shots too which I really like. The camera movement in this work really well in my opinion, especially in those happy and romantic shots. I also quite like the fact you're not quite sure what's happening in the video too, however the music is coherent with the mood of the shots.



The xx's 'Chained' has some really beautiful shots, especially underwater and of the water. I think that the slow motion in the video works really well with the song, and I personally really like this effect, as I think it creates an almost surreal and very dramatically detailed shots. I also like the way they play with focus (e.g. 1:39) and the way they play with this theme of fluorescent lighting is very beautiful too. 


A purely performance video that I like is Ben Howard's 'The Fear'. I really love the lighting in this, I think it really gives the video a more artistic and unique feel. I also like how some shots are slowed down, for example the beginning, and the really intimate close up shots add a really beautiful quality to the song; especially as it is a very thoughtful and personal song, these intimate shots work really well. I really like the crowd shots and also like the juxtaposition between the empty concert hall and then the joyous filled hall with lots of people clapping and enjoying themselves. The shots after 2:36 are very artistic and I really love how they play with lighting, movement and sound.



What I like about The Weeknd's 'King Of The Fall' is the style of the video, i.e. the lighting, slow motion, atmosphere etc. I think overall I wouldn't use all of their video style, as I think it needs a bit more energy in my opinion, but I do really like the slow motion and attitude and atmosphere of the scenes. I also really like the shots of the people in the video (e.g. 0:50, 1:12-1:27,2:17-2:24, 2:17, 4:27, 4:40, 4:58, 1:52-2, 2:15). 
I really like the lighting in scenes (like 1:28, 2:55, 3:00, 3:25)

Initial research, influences and ideas - Inspiration: Referential and strong narrative music videos

I found Iggy Azalea's music videos very inspirational. This is because they are captivating because they are based on films, such as the two below, being based on 'Clueless' and 'Kill Bill'. They are really fun and full of iconography. No expense was spared in terms of these videos, which is unrealistic for our own video, however I really like the idea of basing the music video on a well know film. I think in both videos it was ensured that the films were recognised, by things like recognisable outfits and scenes, and in 'Black Widow' they even used the actor from 'Kill Bill'. These two movies are very recognizable especially drawing on a female audience, as the film focuses on females, from the 'clueless' to the very strong and powerful femme fatale.

To reference Azalea once more, in her video to 'Murda Bizness' she also adopts a similar style, playing on the at the time trending 'Honey Boo Boo' and 'Toddler's and Tiaras' phase, where the media took particular interest in the lives of very young pageant girls. The fact she is speaking of the harshness/'dog eat dog world' of the rap world, is ironically played with here, showing the 'dog eat dog world' of the young pageant lifestyle, indicated through scenes where the children say 'we in that murda bizness' and throw about money and thrash the set. They indicate the 'toddlers and tiaras/honey boo boo' theme by having very sassy young girls, being fed unhealthy things like sugar by pushy moms. Additionally, things like their outfits, hair and make-up and the stage and pageant contest in the video indicates this too.I think this is quite fun and interesting to watch. I think especially in a song like this, it was essential for Azalea to try and lighten the connotations of murder and violence in the rap world. I think even just the titles at the beginning are all in line with the concept of the Toddler's and Tiara's/Honey Boo Boo theme. I like that at the beginning there was a bit of acting to almost 'set the scene'.

From video

Honey Boo Boo and her mom

 

I really like this narrative music video 'From Nowhere' based on the theme of 'staring into [your] eyes' and creates a fun video of a 'National Staring Competition'. Within the video, I really liked all of the contrasting and well-defined characters and they were very interesting to watch. I think that the fact that you don't know what's going on at first makes the video even more intriguing, especially as you see the characters warming up and then beginning, it creates suspense.


Beyonce's 'Why Don't You Love Me' is styled to the 1950s lifestyle and with effects like the grainy filter to enhance the 1950s look. Costumes, stylised movement and every detail in each scene was styled particularly to enhance the 1950s look. Again, I like how the beginning of the video is a short introduction almost, and sets the scene for the 1950s setting of this video.
We see many typical 1950s themes, like the woman being the homemaker, yet ironically, this is whilst doing a typically masculine thing at the time, like fixing the car. We see this reoccurring theme throughout, that actually her role is very powerful, as she states in the song all of the power she does have, just not the power to make the man love her. This then sets the feminist points perhaps back, as she seems to be pleading for the male's love, however their are alternative interpretations, like it's simply her passionate love that takes her power away, not the male.

In scenes like these, Beyonce comes off as weak and vunerable, playing into a less strong, empowered female role model. However, this is the only scene where she is presented in such a way; in all the other scenes she is working around the house, and dancing in various other scenes. This reaffirms a more empowered character, with the weakness of love.
















There are also lots of sexualised scenes in which Beyonce either dances (a good example is the thumbnail of the video - Beyonce clutching her breasts), or Beyonce going about her housework in a very sexual manner. Even her costumes adhere to this sexualisation, and I think she is embracing this characteristic, as another example of her power.

Initial research, influences and ideas - Audience

I conducted a survey to familiarize myself with the alternative audiences. I found that many of genre tastes which were more particular and less open, were formed when they were very young, and got even more specialist as they grew up, i.e. age 32, age 18 and age 50. Additionally, those candidates were all from one culture each, and so this may play a role in musical taste; whereas those who had a much more varied taste were also culturally varied too. However, my survey isn't large or specific enough for me to draw a definite conclusion on whether culture plays a part in variety of genre etc. The older generations seem to use more old-fashioned methods of consumption like CDs, experience, festivals and the radio. However, mp3 and phones were very popular among most candidates. A common uniting theme was the use of music as a diversion and escapism, showing that music for a majority is a method of recreational escapism, and also commonly for relaxation and to create a certain mood. 

Initial research, influences and ideas - Record labels

In this Media A2 coursework I am working for an independent record company, therefore my research will be primarily focused on the UK's independent record labels.
From my research on 'Pigeons and planes' (a 2013 article) I found out that independent labels account for about 30% of overall record sales. From this article I found out about many indie record labels:

Domino is regarded as one of the longest running and most successful British Record Labels, set up in 1993. It's genre focus is on indie rock and indie pop. They have expanded into Germany and Brooklyn NY now and handle U.S distribution.
A few artists I personally recognized among their list of artists:
Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Hot Chip. 

Rough Trade may be one of the oldest British Record labels, having been founded in 1978, and focusing on post punk, indie pop and underground rock. Rough Trade endured a 'rough trade' indeed, at one point becoming bankrupt and ending up in receivership. However, due to success with The Strokes and The Libertines, was able to restructure the company and stays active today.
A few artists I personally recognized among their list of artists:
Babyshambles, Buzzcocks, Islands, The Strokes, The Smiths, The Libertines, Arcade Fire, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

XL Records is a great British example of an independent record label who thrives on a variety of genres. The list below demonstrates the wide variety of (well-known) artists that it incorporates.
A few artists I personally recognized among their list of artists:
Adele, The xx, Tyler the Creator, Vampire Weekend, Sampha, M.I.A, The Prodigy

Much like XL Records, Glassnote, whilst not being British Record Label (although it does have bases in London) was a useful example of an independent record label with a wide variety of genres, again exemplified by the artists below.
A few artists I personally recognized among their list of artists:
Half Moon Run, Two Door Cinema Club, Childish Gambino, The Temper Trap, Daughter, CHVRCHES, Daughter, Mumford & Sons

I think overall, I prefer this approach, probably because I am someone who listens to and enjoys a wide variety of genres. Whilst I respect that record labels like to specialize in a very particular genre, in order to perfect that market, I think that as record labels expand, they should be able to overcome that boundary, and include a variety of new and upcoming artists.