How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?
Digipak
We aimed for quite a simple theme by using the same three colours for the website and digipak of red, blue and white because as an indie band, they are often see as down to earth and not over the top. In addition, by just through the colour scheme alone and the products becomes instantly recognisable to the audience because when they see these colours together they will immediately think of our chosen band: Little Comets. By cross processing the digipak it adds a touch of unreality, giving the band a unique style. We decided to add this effect because Little Comets' original digipaks are often synthetic looking and fairly kooky.
Little Comets' own EP cover
We also wanted a very strong working class theme throughout all three of our texts as although this is a common theme shown through indie bands we wanted to follow this convention as we think it sells and fits the bands image correctly. This is shown on the background of the digipak which is of the universe, tying in with the ‘Comets’ in the bands’ name, and we also put this image onto the webpage for a strong, evident, instantly recognisable link. But the key factor with maintaining a working class, simple image was the style of how the universe has been drawn because it’s very home drawn, do it yourself and fairly freehand showing that the band are very laid back and normal people. The balloons, which we continued onto our digipak, also portray this as the colouring is messy, escaping the lines, adding to the D.I.Y style. However, we didn't think this was enough, so our font was chosen specifically to capture a handwriting, own drawn style, just like on Little Comets' own EP, strengthening this theme. Our dominant target audience are teenagers of all genders and we feel that at this age they too, usually, have a more relaxed and carefree attitude so this style on the band’s products will really sell to them and capture an element in which they can relate to.
Webpage
To incorporate this theme onto our webpage further we decided to not use pictures of the band taken in a studio or professionally but instead on a normal day out and we can see them having fun and pulling faces which portrays the bands want to have fun and are upbeat, reflecting what their music is like.
A subtle way to introduce a home made theme into our video
Our music video has a subtle home made style to it as felt that it was necessary to carry this theme on from the web page and digipak but if we incorporated this too far it could result in the video looking unprofessional. So by adding the 'How to make a music video' sign and showing that it's a self reflective video it just added a subtle amount of a D.I.Y attitude without sacrificing video quality.
One of many props we used to sustain a quirky and funny image