2. When we first sat down to plan our video
and band profile we decided that we
wanted to establish the song as by a kooky
indie band.
We then chose our band members to fit
with this theme.
We also chose a style that we wanted to put in the video.
Originally we wanted to use a retro effect, to help with a vintage
'Grease style' theme in the video. However, as we changed our story
idea for the video, we decided to get rid of the vintage Grease style, at
least mostly. However, we wanted to keep an effect on the video,
to give it an indie style.
3. We used a colour motif throughout our work, even if it was
only in bits. We used a slight hazy warm effect, 'Teal and
Orange', on all our shots in the music video.
In addition to the music video, we
made a website. We tried to reflect
our band’s style in the website:
www.cookieoverlord.wix.com/thedansettes
To continue our motif in our website, we
chose an 'indie' theme; for the background,
we used a landscape picture with a hazy
colour effect over it- a typically indie image.
We used lots of images that we had edited to
also have a similar indie effect. We also used
continuity in the font styles.
Having the indie effect over all our products
gave them continuity, so any of our target We also combined these pictures into the
audience who had seen one of the products digipack to keep up the ‘indie’ motif.
would probably find they liked the other
products too, so the products as a whole
appealed to the audience, without one of
them changing styles and alienating audience.
4. In order to combine our products we
linked them is so that someone finding one
product would be made aware of others.
We put our music video on the website,
on the homepage, and on the videos
page.
On our website, we also did a link to our 'The
Dansettes' twitter page, which similarly had an
'indie' background, and some of the same photos.
Our twitter had a link to the website, and to the
video on YouTube.This means by accessing one
product audiences can access multiple products o
are open to more exposure of the band.
We put an image of our digipack into the website
so that people could be encouraged to buy it.
This also linked the two products together.
5. Another reoccurring image in our products was a
record player. This was to link in with the slightly retro
theme of the band, and the 'old-school' lo-fi style of
the music. A record player was shown at the beginning
of our music player, implying all the music in the video
was played via an old-school method. The record
player was then shown again in our digipack, as the
back bit for our CD holder. This gave the effect that the
album case was a 'record player', and the actual CD
was a record, which again linked in with the retro
theme. Similarly, instead of calling our Discography
page ‘Discography’, we called it ‘records’, to keep up
the idea that our music is retro and played through an
old fashioned music method.
Although retro is ‘old fashioned’, it’s seen as
fashionable, and is very marketable, whilst still being
an alternative style.
An old Dansette
The record image also links in with the name of
record player
our band- the Dansettes, the name of a brand
of old record players; This name fitted
perfectly with our retro theme.
6. Another reoccurring theme throughout our
products was making the band seem accessible
and relatable. The band have songs about
‘normal people problems’ such as ‘Boyfriend’,
about pining after someone who doesn’t like
you back.
The video is a narrative of the song so through
the video the audience can see her problem,
and feel sorry for her. They will hopefully also
end up liking her as they can relate to the
Not un-relatable like some
problem. In the video, both band members are
pop stars
also dressed in an indie style, instead of
dramatic outfits such that pop stars often have
in their videos. These clothes make the band
more relatable, it’s something anyone could
wear, and as they’re indie, are probably similar
to the clothes that the audience would wear.
We had to make the whole video seem as
unscripted as possible (as indie ideals are often
‘don’t care, don’t try hard’), although in reality
the outfits and movements were planned as
carefully as any pop music video.
7. The pictures we took and used for our products also
served to make the band appear accessible. They are quite
intimate shots, such as a close up of the singer. They are
also taken in normal places, such as a park, rather then in
a studio, where only a ‘celebrity’ would get their picture
taken. In the digipack, instead of normal serious band
photos, we had pictures of the two of them together
having fun, which emphasises that they’re friends as well
as band mates. This can also make the audience feel
as if they could be in the band, which is another selling
point- consume more of their products to find out how to
be more like them!
We put a fun profile for Zoe and Drake
onto the website, so the audience could
find out a bit more about the band
members, and in turn, feel closer to them.
We portrayed the singer, Zoe, as a lovely
person, which would make the audience
like her even more.
8. •
Our main product was our music video. In this we presented the band as kooky.
The main focus was the singer, Zoe, and she was the only person whose role in
the band was established in the video.
The other band member, Drake, featured, but it is not clear that he is in the
band. This shows that although it's a band Zoe is clearly the front woman
and the focus is more on her. This idea is continued in the website and
twitter, as there are more pictures of Zoe, although we decided it was
fairer to have an equal amount of pictures of them on the digipack, as it
shows they are a band. Single female artists can still be indie to audiences,
but bands are more credible, and more fun. Similarly, by having a male and
a female member the band can easier appeal to both genders- either for
finding attractive or for feeling relatable to. To continue the indie theme
we had chosen for the band, we gave them ‘indie’ style clothing. The
wearing of indie clothes was also present in the pictures we took and used
for the website and the digipack. These indie clothes would appeal to the
audience- as fans of indie music would most often dress in an indie style.
Having 'normal' yet stylish clothing is yet another marketing point- buy
more of their products so you can see more of their style, so you could
dress like them- like indie band members!