Gabriella Pecqueur

Media Evaluation

The music magazine I created for my media project is called “Anthem”, it features articles and news events all focused around the genre of indie pop. When researching music magazines to help me gain ideas and inspiration for my own project, I noticed that the majority of the magazines on the market were all very similar, in genre of music featured and in appearance, I decided that I wanted to challenge these forms and conventions normally seen, however, always making sure my product had some of the features used in all magazines such as price, barcode, contents and more. Some of the ways in which my magazine challenges the forms and conventions of a real media product are seen throughout each of my three pieces (front cover, contents page and double page spread). Many music magazines such as NME and Kerrang  completely cover their front page with brightly coloured images and numerous bold subtitles, therefore making it potentially quite difficult to read.  I looked at magazines such as Dazed and Confused and Vice, taking inspiration from their minimal effect used on the covers. The original photograph I decided on using really helped to draw the reader’s attention to the magazine, I feel if Anthem was situated in a shop, surrounded by various other music magazines, it would defiantly stand out and catch your eye. In my opinion, my magazine is unique and intriguing to look at. Furthermore, I think my contents page also challenges the forms and conventions of a real media product. Again, it’s relatively quite simple and minimal, though a lot of thought was put into the creation of it. I decided on keeping to the colour scheme of blue, white and black, this follows the normal conventions of a regular product seen on the market. Instead of loading my contents page with images until the stage where the readers cannot even see what is being featured in the magazine, I challenged the conventions by picking only three of my original photographs to use. Both my contents page and my front cover are very simple, however I feel they are extremely effective. Furthermore, I do feel as though my double page spread conforms more to a regular music magazine, though I tried to put my own spin on it, keeping in appearance to the style of my magazine.

When researching different music magazine I noticed how different products already on the market represented particular social groups. “Anthem”, which I created, is targeted at males and females, aged between 18 to 23, interested, not only in indie pop music, but art, culture, photography and fashion.  Throughout my magazine, I’ve tried to capture a vintage style, however, adding modern twists to it, to fit into the 21^st century audience. I really wanted to aim towards an audience yet to be targeted, who are looking to broaden their knowledge and look deeper into different styles of music and features connected to them. I think my media product really helps to represent this social group, my magazine is a little bit more unique and individual to most music magazines published already. I want my readers to be open to new and exciting ideas, people who like to delve into vintage inspired music, as well as being influenced by their cultural surroundings.

I think the way my magazine helps to attract my target audience is by featuring articles which aren’t normally seen in a regular music magazine. It contains a larger variety of items, such as photography inspired by the music industry and more different or unique artists, some who have yet to be discovered by record labels. I attracted my audience by offering them something new and individual. 

The kind of media institution which might distribute my media product would probably be the music industry, as it is a music magazine after all. However, it may also be distributed by the fashion industry. I think there is a distinct cross over between music and fashion in my magazine, first and for mostly, it is a music product, specialising in indie pop, nevertheless it has some features and conventions of a fashion magazine. My magazine is very individual and potentially quite artist, I think this is predominately seen throughout the fashion industry. I do believe fashion and music go very well together, even sometimes influencing each other. Therefore, this is why I think my media product could not only be distributed by the music industry, but by the fashion industry as well. In addition, my magazine could be sold not only in a newsagent such as WHSmith, but a clothing store such as Topshop and Beyond Retro as it could appeal to that audience as well.

I believe, that even though my magazine takes great inspiration from the vintage/retro vibe which is seen a lot throughout the music, fashion and arts industry, it will still be just as strong, and up to date, when this faze is over. The reason for is - I think there are many people in the UK who will always be into this style of music and fashion, and these are the real people I’m trying to target. Some people choose to follow a crowd, and therefore will listen to the same genre of music or dress the same as everyone else. My magazine is specifically targeted at those who work against the crowd and are inspired constantly by this vintage era. Those who decide to follow the crowd and buy my magazine are also welcome, but they will fade in and out with fashions.

Throughout this project, as students we had to use the website Tumblr to create a blog to showcase our final product, in addition to our ideas, thoughts and planning.  Furthermore, everything we created was done using the computer program, Photoshop, therefore it was vital we fully understood how both these technologies worked.  I have learnt how to create, hopefully, a professionally looking magazine. Although I had carefully planned out each page of my magazine, and had an idea in my mind of how I wanted it to look, sometimes while using Photoshop, I came across dilemmas which meant I had to re-think my plan. However, if I didn’t come across these small errors, my magazine wouldn’t look the way it does now, and since I’m very proud of the way it turned out, I think everything worked out eventually.  In addition, sometimes while trying out new tools on the program I would accidently make a mistake, which in ended up being quite beneficial to me because it created a different look to my magazine which I had never considered before. I also leant much about the website Tumblr, as well as how to blog, as I have never done this before. I learnt about how to present my work in a modern way. I really enjoyed using the blog to show my planning because it made something, which can sometimes be quite a tedious process of researching, a lot more interesting as it brought a new dimension to the whole project.

Looking back on my preliminary task in which I had to create a front cover and contents page for a school magazine, I feel like I have learnt a lot in the progression between this and my full production of a music magazine. I feel like I have defiantly learnt, as a whole, how to make my magazine look more professional. I know I thought more about the smaller details when it came to creating my music magazine Anthem, then I did when making my school magazine. I also feel that when I was making my music magazine I had a stronger idea in my mind of exactly what I wanted and who I wanted to target, therefore I think overall, it made creating my much easier and a lot more fluent and sufficient. On the other hand, when I designed my school magazine I don’t think I had such a strong view of how I wanted it to look like, which I think made the process much more challenging as I couldn’t really concentrate on one particular thing. Furthermore, I really feel like I have learnt to try original ideas and not just stick to what I know and the sort of magazines I am familiar with.  In conclusion I have really enjoyed creating both my school magazine and my music magazine, I hope all my ideas and inspirations have come across clearly and interestingly.

First Draft Interview

London born Evelyn Hart, who has gone by the name of Evie ever since she was small, releases her debut album “Behind Process” this month. She has been dubbed as the next Florence Welch, with her fiery red hair we can already see the resemblance. Known for her original writing, acoustic covers and raw sound, no wonder she’s already had numerous award nominations for next year’s Brit awards, as well as sell out gigs all across the UK. Set to tour America next year, we sit down with Evie Hart to discuss the highlights of her career so far. 

We arrange to meet Evie at her favourite cafe in Brink Lane, she offers to buy us a drink each, we are completely taken aback as it’s normally the other way around, while we settle on a can of coke, Miss Hart keeps it British by having a good old cup of tea!

Anthem: It’s lovely to finally meet you!

Evie:  Thank you, it’s great to meet you too!

Anthem: I know this last year has probably been absolutely amazing for you! What’s been your highlight so far?

Evie: Talking to you of course (laughing)

Anthem: (It feels like we are old friends meeting again after a long break, she is such an easy person to talk to) Haha, apart from this!

Evie:  Well now you’ve really put me on the spot here! I’ve been able to do some unbelievable things and meet so many of my idols this year it’s been crazy. I don’t even know where to begin! I think the best is yet to come though! 

Anthem:  Why don’t you tell our readers how it all started then? It is true you were scouted just at the start of last year?

Evie:  Is it already a year ago?! Wow. It’s gone so quickly! But yes that’s true! It started when I was at an open mic night that my friend was taking part in for charity. I’ve always loved music and song writing, but I had decided that night to have a day off from all the singing! Anyway as the night progressed pretty much everyone in the club had sang, apart from me. Everyone was already fed up with the various renditions of Gloria Gaynors “I will survive”, so of course my friend dragged me onto the stage and picked for me to sing “Here comes the sun” by the Beatles.  As we were leaving at the end of the night, the bar manage approached me and told me he had heard me sing. He said his uncle worked for Polydor Record-which is the label Ellie Goulding is signed to. Anyway we got talking, I gave him my number and a couple of days later I was at the studio creating some demo tracks.

Anthem: I guess you were in the right place at the right time!

Evie: I know, if my friend hadn’t dragged me onto the stage I’d probably still be at uni.

Anthem: So you debut album “Behind Progress” comes out this month, tell us a little bit about it.

Evie: When I entered into this industry, I knew exactly what type of sound I wanted. All the songs are oringal, apart from the odd cover song, but you’ll have to buy the album to see what they are!

Anthem: Many artist in the music industry expand their carer and create clothing lines, or appear in films, do you think you’ll ever do anything like that?

Evie: It’s only ever been about the music, I’m not going to say never, but at this moment at time music is the thing I was to concentrate on, who knows what the future holds?

Anthem: Exactly. There has been a lot of talk over the past years that the music industry is dying, shows like the X-Factor are taking over the charts, illegal downloads are bigger then ever. What is your opinion on this?

Evie: I personally don’t watch the X-Factor so I can’t really say too much about that, I think if people want to watch it then do, and if people don’t like it then that’s fine, I don’t understand why there has to be a big riot over it every time something happens! The music industry is going through an interesting patch at the moment. So many people are now listening to bands their parents used to listen to, I’ve tired to capture the vintage vibe in my music and my style, I’m really inspired by that.

Anthem: You have a lot ahead of you for the next year, you’re touring America, what do you think they’ll think of you?

Evie: I’m not sure! It’s a little bit scary to be honest with you! I’ve also never travelled on my own without my family before so it’s defiantly going to be quite a big jump! I hope they like me!

Anthem: Im’ sure they will! You’ve been dubbed as the next Florence Welch, what do you think about that?

Evie: I don’t understand that! She has so much experience behind her with loads of number one singles, I would love to one day be as talented as her, but for the moment I’ll stick with what I’ve got.

Anthem: Well we all wish you the best of luck, looking forward to hearing your new album!

Evie: Thank you!