This project started with generating a song with AI, the basis of this was to then create a cross platform Identity for the artist(s) responsible for the made up track. This identity includes album artwork and design in the form of vinyl record and tape cassette, and a tour identity for the album including posters and social media posts, different forms of merchandise, and finally a stage design.
After generating and listening to my track I found connections and similarities to different 70s American Folk/Rock bands like CSN, The Band, and Steely Dan. So I decided to use the aesthetics surrounding those bands as a jumping off point. Thinking how could I create an identity for a band that exists today that is inspired by and revives the sound of this era, while still considering what came after it and the context that they exist in now.
I believe that my first decision to make my artist into a band was the first step in creating parallels to the 70s and what came before. I found the idea of home and comfort and a strong sense of play were themes that stuck out to me and felt right for my band. I used a house shape as a motif and logo for the band and the silhouettes of different “Items of home” as a basis for album concept and art. The silhouettes are featured on the album cover but also each item is the name of each track. this allowed me to use each shape as a the title separators on the lyric sheets.
For set design I knew I wanted something both simple and physical. I always loved the look of bands preforming in front of a huge American flag, I wanted to call to that in making a big flag featuring the bands house shape as the backdrop. Atop a stack of books calling back to the items of home, I lit an incense as a smoke effect.