As an independent artist, you are 100% responsible for your failure or your success. This incredible freedom can be exhilarating or intimidating depending on how you approach each task. One of the most important tools in your belt is your “image”. This is the visual aspect to your artistry and then some. Technically, the total perception of your brand makes up your image.
Your image may start with a simple profile picture until it graduates to your logo and spreads to literally all areas of your personal and professional life. Your image is literally based on any and every aspect of you… In addition to your music, “look”, attitude, any artwork for your singles or project, and merch. Plus what you eat, where you eat, where you’ve been, things you say or have said, what you wear, how you style your hair etc. And yes, believe it or not, your political opinion (especially in today’s climate) falls under your image umbrella.
NEVER, ever, ever, ever…sacrifice your music for your image.
If that was alarming for you to read, it should be. That list is about a mile long and I could have kept going. You need to know not only what your image consists of but how this will impact you. Not everything that comes with being an artist is full of rainbows and butterflies and glitter. Being a public figure sucks. The more people that know who you are equals more opinions. People are never NOT watching you. Everything you say or do is now up for judgement by the public so whether you like it or not, you must concern yourself with your image. Be aware of what you say and how you look: always, in all ways. All of it plays a role in how your music is perceived.
A quick way to start your image is drafting a quick bio, 3-4 sentences max describing your sound or style. Then dumb it down even more, write a 1 sentence bio blurb or quote to describe you. For instance, my image is that I have no image, I am unapologetically me. So my blurb if you will is “Be more real and less perfect.” This is me saying, I’m perfectly imperfect and I love me so why can’t you.
We all have that artist or public figure in mind that has an awful image that they maybe didn’t create but was created for them. I don’t need to drop names because we all know who they are. What you don’t want, is your perceived image to supersede what you do and why you do it. Repeat after me, NEVER, ever, ever, ever… sacrifice your music for your image.
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