Question 2: How effective is the combination of your main product with ancillary texts?

Digipak:
To connote the genre of my artist I researched many acoustic, folk and alternative artists such as, Nick Drake, Jack Johnson and The Eels. I also researched beyond my immediate genres and researched into genres such as: reggae, hip hop and ska because I found that their albums incorporated eye catching designs and this is very useful when trying to sell a product that will catch the eye. (RX Bandits cover art)
I tried to include youth culture into my product; after researching I realised that many young artists used repetitive images and bold writing, for example this RX Bandits album art. This is where I based my idea of using a collage of my artist on the front panel, which will be recognisable to his potential fan base. My print productions consist of still shots from my music video; which provides a consistent brand image between the music video and ancillary products.
Jason Mraz, a folk/ acoustic singer, was primarily significant in my research as he integrates his own iconic style which he uses throughout his album covers. I used Jason Mraz’s idea of a bold picture of the artist on the front cover to utilise the acoustic genre. My front cover consisted of face and shoulder close ups of the artists face cut, copied and then mirrored next to each other, I used a green graffiti like font which introduces the artist and his track; this was to create an eye catching production and reinforces the artists image. I related to Andrew Goodwin’s theory on that ‘the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work’ this was utilised on the back panel which indicates my artists recurring motif where he plays his guitar which is strapped around his neck this indicates that he is a talented performer. I used a silhouette shot where the artist is facing the opposite way to camera; these shots are frequently used throughout the music video and can be easily distinguished by the potential fan base.
I created a brand style throughout my print productions by conveying contemporary youth culture in rural and urban landscapes. I chose to keep my artist in the rural scenes; this was to depict the authenticity and the openness of my artist’s personality. I included skateboarding shots in the urban scenes in my music video to connote the artist’s mobility and flexibility. The imagery I’ve used in all my productions contrasts with British social realist films like ‘A Clockwork Orange’ where youth is portrayed as violent and brutal, whilst my productions portray youth as passionate and ambitious.
The second panel shows a wide angle shot of the artist in a rich rural setting; this was because I wanted to expand my demographic to a more contemporary ‘arty’ audience. The third panel illustrates a mid-shot of the artist which is taken directly from my music video, this shot indicates many references to nature; with the tall trees in the background, the river and the swans swimming underneath the bridge, again this expands my potential fan base to who may have a green ideology and find pleasure in traditional British landscapes. The locations also signify the artists Norfolk roots.

Magazine Advert:
My magazine advert is complete with an establishing shot of Laurence Parkin playing his guitar at the top of a stack of hay bales with a distinctively East Anglian landscape. The photograph leads off into a vanishing point which suggests that the artist has a promising future. My magazine advert is extremely significant to the genre of folk and acoustic; thus, the picture and the font together strongly represent the genre and its lyrical nature. This theme is very popular within these two genres for example: Jack Johnson’s cover ‘Sitting, Waiting, Wishing’ and John Lennon’s ‘Mind Games’.
There is a visual generic link between my music video and my magazine advert, the image utilised in the magazine advert is a photo that was taken whilst I was filming. The images featured across my digital pack demonstrate a tranquil scene moreover this reflects the laid back mood in my music video and the artist in serene locations.
My advert is likely to appear in the local Norfolk ‘Outline’ magazine this is because they like to promote upcoming local artists. My advert is also likely to appear in the monthly acoustic/indie magazine ‘Uncut’ as they like to endorse upcoming artists from around the UK.