An overview of CD packaging

August 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

CD cases and packaging are an often overlooked consideration in the release process. Here are a few options to think about.

CD cases.

  • Jewel case – Standard old school chunky look or the new sleek modern.
  • Digipak – Great for the special edition or limited single you want to really grab attention and look special.
  • Simple card sleeve or plastic wallet – A great option for small demos, promos and free gig gifts.

CD artwork, booklets and inserts.

Printed card and paper parts of the package include:

  • J card inserts for CD single cases.
  • Booklets & cards for the front and inserts for the back tray of standard jewel cases.
  • Digipack packaging.

This is where most people want to get the help of a professional designer and artist. The cover of your CD and artwork is the first thing customers/fans see and it is this that will help attract new fans to your music. To understand the design process of a professional designer I wrote out my usual design rout here

All printers and duplication specialists with print facilities will use templates for the artwork print process so even if you are using an outside source for your album artwork and design make sure you use the right template usually downloadable from the printer/duplicators website.

Remember colours on your graphics can come out different to your original artwork, so make sure that all copies and proofs are approved by all first!  If the run is radically different to the agreed proofs you should be able to get it redone free.

On body art work for your CD

On body artwork for your CD always gives the finished product the professional look all bands should be striving for.

This is basically the same rules as the booklet and insert printing, remember to follow templates, and as always it is best to get a professional to do the work for you or at lease check over and proof the work prior to sending off to the printers.

Check out some CD album artwork and design by ASYLUMseventy7

and Get committed to creative Music design!

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Zeni Danussi Album Artwork

June 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Here is the latest album artwork I have been working on for guitarist Zeni Dannussi!

Zeni Danussi is a ” Melodic Rock Guitar Instrumentalist / Virtuoso,”  playing solid British rock and putting it into the main stream. Zeni Danussi music is no-nonsense, heads down, in your face solos and guitar riffs. The Danussi experience will put you on a platform of pure rock energy, thrusting you into a world of escape, with the guitars smashing you through a brick wall of serious energy / emotions.

Check him and his fantastic guitar work here

and the Zeni Danussi myspace page here

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CD album artwork and design: The process

April 4, 2011 By 1 Comment

This is the design process I use when working with bands on their album artwork and design.

  1. Design brief: Send questionnaire/chat to the band.
  2. Research & reference: Research the genre, its history, the bands peers and artworks that have been mentioned by the band as influential, listen to the new album/rough cuts if they are available .
  3. Sketching & conceptualizing: Develop the cover design concept(s).
  4. Reflection: Take breaks through the design process and let the ideas develop. Get feedback from the band.
  5. Presentation: Hand over the cover design and rock out to the new CD when it arrives!

Step one:

Most projects start with a discussion with the band members about any ideas and concepts they have. Then I try to gather some keywords, influences and work they’ve already seen.

Conversations usually start and revolve around these planed standard questions:

  • Your Band name – should be dominating  the design and concept?
  • Album name – if required?
  • Please provide a little information about  your band
  • Key words that describe your band – eg. Metal, rock, indie, gore, fast, heavy, melodic etc
  • What do you like/dislike – bands, films, books, games?
  • Who are your peers in the same field please give links if possible?
  • “Look and feel” required such as horror/surreal/old/grungy/clean/mimimal/fun?
  • Any definite ideas you have about the design concept + examples of album artwork design you like/dislike (links if possible)?
  • Who is your Target audience?
  • Colour preferences if any. Should the album art be single colour/two colour/full colour/no specific preference?
  • Any other information you would like to add?

Step two:

Once we have had a chat and got the questions answered I relax, think it over and chill with some of the bands music where possible. I use this time to think up ideas/concepts and how and what I’ll need to create the design.

Then I begin collecting parts and bringing together photography, textures, found objects that may help from my extensive collection of stock imagery. (I nearly always have my camera with me on the off chance I see some interesting texture, object or element I may find useful on your/future projects.)

Step three:

I then play with ideas and rough sketch’s discovering what works and build up a couple of design ideas using key elements I think would be useful and communicate the overall concept.

After getting some more feedback from my collected ideas, I start the actual design. This part of the process can be fast or slow it really is the unpredictable part of the creation, happy accidents leading paths to new elements are always fun and can take a project to a new level of creativity.

Step four:

I take a few breaks through the creation process to let ideas develop. I get more feedback from the band and finish up the design.

Step five:

I then send off the cover design and rock out to the new CD when it arrives!

Job done!


Contact ASYLUMseventy7 with your creative album artwork needs now!

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Band promotion: Press Packs

February 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The main idea of a press pack is to be attention grabbing. Presenting your bands information in an interesting way that gets the full attention of managers, labels, Gig Promoters, Venues, Labels, Press (on and off line), Radio DJs and anyone else in the music industry.

Sending a hard copy of your press pack is much better than sending an email with your Myspace/soundcloud URL.

Press Packs should 
include:

  • band name
  • genre
  • email address
  • website URL and social media links.
  • Photographs
  • CD/DVD
  • Business Card
  • A small bio not your life story.

Band name: This is obvious, no need to explain this one :p

Genre: Keep it simple and not overly confusing with really bizarre sub-genres only your band has heard of “coat-hanger chutney thrash,” ” lollypop jazz grind” and  “sub yogurt crunk”

Email address: It is best to use your Manager’s if you have one, Also using a band domain email address (such as contact@yourband.co.uk) will help show you are a committed band

Website URL and social media links: Having your own domain website will show you are a committed serious band. Include your Myspace as well as a couple of your other social network URLs showing how you interact with fans but don’t go overboard and list 100′s!

Photographs: Get a professional to take some photos of the band for press and promo purposes as well as using a professional for some strong live shots, you will see the difference! (photos at 300dpi +)

CD/DVD: You shouldn’t judge a CD by it’s cover but… make a good first impression by taking a bit of time over the packaging and presentation. Include 2 or 3 tracks and lead with your strongest song! Most people will only give you a minuet to impress them, remember they are getting loads of songs thrown at them everyday by loads of bands.

Business Card: This is good to have included so promoters, managers, venues and labels have your contact details to hand on a pin board or on file with out taking up to much room.

A short bio of the band: This should be kept short. Your target is only after a brief intro to the band, your style, aesthetic and not your bands favorite foods and first pet. If you think they may want more just wet their appetite with a brief intro then direct them to your website where you can put a mini bio for each member and go into more detail if it is an interesting story.

  • Tip: Do your research and make sure you send your press pack to the right people.
  • Tip: It’s a good idea to contact the recipient of your press pack first, to find out if they want it, and how best to deliver it.
  • Tip: Create different versions for different targets.
  • Tip: Keep it simple and direct.
  • Tip: Make a PDF copy or single web page press pack for those not wanting a hard copy.
  • Tip: remember to double check spelling and grammar.

Contact me to get committed to a creative eye catching press pack.

Read more on press packs and what to include here (Via www.unsignedbandpromotion.com)

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50 tips for band promotion

January 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Band promotion is one of the keys to success in the music industry, you need to get your band out there and heard by potential fans, promoters, managers, labels etc…

Here are my 50 top tips to promoting your music!

  1. Follow and get the @unsignedguide for lists of venues, promoters venues and help
  2. Join Myspace, start a Myspace group, start a band fan group/profile to support the main band page.
  3. Do the same with facebook
  4. Do the same with Twitter
  5. Regularly change your profiles avitar
  6. Network a lot, add friends, comment and @ people
  7. Tell your fans and followers about your website and social networks
  8. Join relevant forums and interact
  9. Start a blog and keep it up to date with your activities, good practis stories new songs etc
  10. Get a proper website and use your bands name for the URL
  11. Use your URL and social network URLs everywhere and on everything, CDs t-shirts, stickers etc..
  12. Start a street team to help promote your band and upcoming gigs.
  13. Start a mailing list.
  14. Take part in #MusicMonday on Twitter.
  15. Give away something for free.
  16. Give away exclusive material in return for joining a group.
  17. Run competitions where you give away merch in return for promo activity such as RTs.
  18. Sell cheap CDRs of your gigs.
  19. Make a video and put it on Youtube or VimioLook for keywords related to your genre and use them on your Website.
  20. Start a e-newsletter about your band and/or genre.
  21. have a facebook Share button on your site
  22. Have a tweet this button on your site
  23. Keep it all local to start with, and from this grow your fanbase out.
  24. Design your fliers with a striking image/artwork and the minimum of legible text.
  25. Brand your band!
  26. Make an  PDF Promotion Package.
  27. Optimize your band websites front page
  28. Link to other bands from your Website and blogs.
  29. Write a controversial and or political song.
  30. Ask your fans to retweet, share and talk about your music, blog, site etc
  31. See if your local record/music shop will give away your free CD/demo.
  32. Make a Shared promo CD with other local bands of the same genre
  33. publish your lyrics and tabs in a blog or eBook.
  34. Trade links with other bands and appropriate websites
  35. post fliers and posters around your town in local shops and venues
  36. Dress for your music genre
  37. Give away band t shirts to popular and cool members of your fan club to wear when they are out and about.
  38. Get some good band photos
  39. Get a strong band logo
  40. Look around for E-zines as well as Magazines looking for content.
  41. Ask your Myspace fan page to target venues, music magazines, other bands, promoters.
  42. have a lot of photos of fans, gigs, practising, nights out even, let the fans know you.
  43. Sell your band with your personallities, so have member band Twitter accounts too.
  44. Sell your music online.
  45. Ask friends, fans and family to text your gigs and releases.
  46. Make a link page with with reviews
  47. Let people know the kinds of events/gigs you’re happy to play next to your contact information.
  48. Search the web and Myspace for similar bands, make friends.
  49. Network with other similar bands for gig swops.
  50. Follow me on Twitter @ASYLUMseventy7 I usually retweet and help out where I can :)

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Marketing your music

January 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Whether you’re in a band, a manager, producer, sound engineer, promoter, or in music marketing and PR, it all comes down to contacts, and the best place to start is with a marketing strategy.

There are several steps you should follow.

  • Step one: Have something to market!

“The fist bite is with the eye”

A band logo is a key factor in getting your band noticed and remembered. Think of the Iron Maiden logo, or Areosmith, Oasis, Megadeth, or NIN, their logos are known all over the world.

Band photos are also a strong visual element to band identification, Think of the press pictures from your favorite bands, you don’t need to listen to the music to know what style and sound they are going for. for example you wouldn’t see a photo of black metal band Emperor and think its going to be in the same style and sound as Mumford and sons and vice versa.

CD album artwork and design can all be tied into the look of the band and carry alot of weight in identifying with your fan base. think of Cannibal corpse, Fear factory and Queens of the stone age album covers and their strong visual relationship with the music genre they inhabit.

  • Step two: Get online.

Next you need a place to direct people to hear your music and see your band so sort out a band website and social media.  There are lots networking sites to choose from these are the 4 most popular and  therefore get your message to the largest audience.

Remember to include your band logo, Photos and music where possible, a small bio and of cause up to date contact information. If you don’t have a website yet, use MySpace or Facebook as your link, remembering to change it when you have a .com/.co.uk/whatever domain hosted site.

  • Step three: Get networking and find some good contacts!

You can have the best songs and the strong coherent look of a top signed touring band, but if you don’t have any decent contacts and fans you’re not going anywhere fast. The way to do this is with a good strong marketing plan, just like you would in any other business venture.

Here are some of the basic guidelines to help you get started.

  • Know who your future fans are.
  • Know where your future fans are.
  • Know who can help you.
  • Know where you can find help
  • Know who your competition is.
  • Know where your competition is.

There are many types of marketing you can use and you will need to focus on in your marketing plan. The three main types are…

  • Brand marketing,
  • Promotional marketing,
  • Online marketing.

I plan to go into these and other helpful tips and advice over the coming weeks in this new series of band/music promotion, information and advice.

If you have any questions on anything in this or future articles feel free to contact me.

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Ben Steed’s steampunk orchestra

December 10, 2010 By 2 Comments

Last year I worked closely with producer, composer, songwriter and music teacher Ben Steed on his latest Album artwork and design “distorted Skies”

This year he came back to me with an exciting new project, working on the promo artwork  for “Ben Steed and the Orchestra of Symmetry”

keep an eye out for more from Ben at the following networks …

Find more music artwork and design by ASYLUMseventy7

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Trail of Creativity

October 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Formed in 2007 Trail were soon judged one of London’s hottest new acts at a performance in Hyde Park’s Wireless festival. The London 5-piece then went on to win a Capital FM 95.8 competition and raise £20,000 towards their album through fan investments, and in 2009 flew to Los Angeles to record their debut with acclaimed producer Matt Wallace (Faith No More / Maroon 5).

To the rest of the world. Artwork by ASYLUMseventy7

“Full of catchy hooks and haunting melodies, held together by sumptuous production” - Music Week Magazine

“Played with exuberance and confidence… this is how bands get noticed” - Clash (live gig review) Read the full review here

“Strong stuff Indeed” – Kerrang! Read the full review here


City (single) Artwork by ASYLUMseventy7

Trail’s blend of “Mid-Atlantic” Indie Rock has moved crowds the world over including the prestigious Viper Room in Los Angeles as well as Greenwich’s O2 Indigo arena. Themselves having been long time guests at the infamous Bloodlust Ball (Hampton Court), Trail are delighted to now be launching their vamp-themed new single “Killing Sun” – mixed by Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails) and preparing a set of ghoulish party classics that will raise Hell on the dance floor.

Hear more from Trail at…

Trail on Myspace

Trailmusic.co.uk

Trail facebook

Trail Twitter

Read the Testimonial for ASYLUMseventy7 by Trail here

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Nightvision get committed to creativity!

October 15, 2010 By 1 Comment

Rock band Nightvision talk about the process of getting committed to creativity!

When Nightvision were signed by Rocksector Records and started work on their debut album ‘As The Lights Go Down’ they also started the search for someone to design and produce the artwork needed for the CD project.

We have known Mark at ASYLUMSeventy7 both as a musician and also as someone with the creative flair and imagination we needed for Nightvision’s first studio produced work. It was especially important that all aspects of this project were as good as we could get for the band’s first release on the Rocksector label. It was also vital that the design work was completed on time to reach the printers in time for the album general release and official launch gig and Mark met all the deadlines that were agreed.

Mark initially met the band, talked at length through their ideas and most importantly listened to the music and really took the time to understand the sense and feel of the album content. He put his own unique interpretation into the design and produced the ideas that led to the final superb design that has received great comments from everyone that now owns the album.

Nightvision are happy to recommend Mark Leary at ASYLUMseventy7 to anyone who wants to work alongside a professional who is willing to listen to your ideas and flexible enough to make changes along the way to achieve brilliant artwork designs that not only look great but will help promote your music. Thanks Mark.

Bob Wallis
Nightvision Manager

NIGHTVISION
NIGHTVISION MYSPACE

See more CD artwork by ASYLUMseventy7 and get in contact to discus your project

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The Blood of the Realm

October 5, 2010 By 3 Comments


This year (1/6/2010) saw the release of Eibon la Furies new album “the Blood of the Realm” on Code666 records! Artwork/design and logo by ASYLUMseventy7.

Lord Eibon Blackwood speaks…

I have been aware of Mark and ASYLUMseventy7 for a number of years, through Marks’ own association playing with bands and his art work within the scene. With Eibon la Furies we were looking for an artist we knew we could work with and who would see the style we hoped to achieve. The first work with Mark was to design the Eibon la Furies crest. At the initial stages an amount of ideas were passed between Mark and myself, always pushing forward to the excellent design that you now see adorning Eibon la Furies merchandise and albums. Working with Mark has always been an incredibly easy process for myself and the band because he sees our vision, takes that vision and weaves a little magic to make it even better than the original concept. I think it’s a case of getting it right at the concept stage and this is where we usually throw all of the ideas into the proverbial pot with Mark then producing rough sketches and from here we’ve always quickly identified and started to hone down to that final piece. The debut album for Code666 records is a six-panel digi-pack with full artwork by ASYLUMseventy7. The brief was to explore opulence and decay, and of course the Eibon la Furies crest had to be prominent. Again the process was organic as the original concept was quickly worked upon with Mark and the whole piece was completed well within schedule. This next year will see Eibon la Furies working on the second album, ‘The Immoral Compass’, with a much more expanded artistic feel and once again we are happy to be working with Mark and ASYLUMseventy7. The atmosphere we both work under is always professional, creative and ultimately inspiring so long may the association between Eibon la Furies and ASYLUMseventy7 continue!

Lord Eibon Blackwood (Eibon la Furies)

Eibon La Furies got committed to Creative art and design! you can too.

Check out Eibon la furies music >> here. New T-shirts and hoodies available NOW NOW NOW!!!

See the testimonials about ASYLUMseventy7 from Lord Eibon and others >> here

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