Sunday, April 18, 2021

That's it :)

 This has been a crazy journey since I got to face my fear and demonstrate that I actually can create a rock song. It will definitely be the most memorable thing about my last year of high school since honestly it was of what I learned the most throughout the whole school year, rock history. If that was an actual class I would ace it. Also, since we did only online classes, the time to socialize with my friends was given to band practice. So I appreciate every single aspect of it because it definitely was an experience.

Anyways, I am so happy with the result and I hope you enjoy it as well!

See you in the movies or Broadway :) 



Saturday, April 17, 2021

Critical Reflection (CCR)

 Throughout the years the rock genre has remained as a medium for controversial statements that either shape society or reflect the new social groups; therefore, the single “Memoria” by Flapper reflects this generation’s rock audience that does not take itself seriously.

When deciding on what to base my music marketing project, I even decided to go further by even starting a band to base the project upon. Consequently, on September of 2020 two friends of mine and I decided to form the feminist rock band named Flapper in order to pursue the Alternative rock genre of Grunge rock and Indie rock. The inclination to these genres was specially due to bands and artists like Nirvana, Hole, Mac Demarco, Foo Fighters and more; because they possessed the common theme of “unprofessionalism” meaning these artists created amazing music but they do not hold value in their career as musicians due to proficiency with their instruments but rather the soul they bring to it. When watching videos like “Ode to Viceroy” by Mac Demarco, “I’ll stick around” by the Foo Fighters or any performance by Nirvana, the theme of unprofessionalism stands for a “slacker” aesthetic or a “punk” attitude towards the craft of making music which commonly could be perceived as a method for appealing the audiences as seeming cool and rebellious. However, even though these artists are cool and rebellious, their aesthetic and methods are actually not to appeal the mainstream on such manner but rather to break the egocentric convention that usually rock stars possess, specially how it used to be like in the “Hair-metal” or “Glam Rock” scene of the 70’s and 80’s.

Consequently, Nirvana, Mac Demarco, Hole, Foo Fighters, and more artists set the foundation of what Flapper intends to be, which is a creative band of people who just want to joke around while doing great content. These objectives are essential for the band Flapper since this is what appeals the current target audience of rock listeners since the Generation Z, has been the only generation that does not have the rock genre at their top 5 genres of music most enjoyed, according to Webflow. Consequently, the approach of a rock band in this era is done in a different manner, and it is rather done in a more underground or independent culture, making the genre not expected of high finished productions and it is rather celebrated when the band represents a self-made aesthetic, such as the band “The Garden” represents it best.

In addition, since part of the demographic of Indie/Alternative rock listeners, the ratio of female listeners is of 34% of women, men being the 66%; leads our band to have a more specific target audience being women since the band Flapper is composed only by young women. Therefore, by men both dominating the ratio of artists and listeners of the rock genre, the band Flapper stands in a different side of the spectrum, primarily offering female representation in the rock genre, but also inviting male listeners by following the conventions of all male rock groups. As a result, the aspect of not taking the rock genre seriously with self-made productions, is essential to the band of Flapper due to our purpose of representing women in an unconventional representation of femininity or the overall fact of being in the light of the rock genre; for the effect of what the punk and grunge bands have taught which is that anyone could approach the artistry of making music; it does not even requires a message to be transmitted but rather it needs to be done for music’s sake.

On the other hand, when starting to create the single of “Memoria”, we decided to create lyrics based on sentimentalism such as a Goth would; primarily basing it on past relationship experiences. This aspect of honesty and vulnerability through the lyric is pivotal to the value of the song of “Memoria” since grunge bands like Hole did with their album: “Live Through This”. Where the lyricist, Courtney Love, exposed her open wounds of being a woman in the rock scene, specially in songs like “Asking for it” or “Doll Parts”. Consequently, by Flapper being a feminist band, we decided to approach the production of the song to reflect strength of honesty and vulnerability within the lyrics, giving room for attachment or understanding form the target audience since the song Memoria is based on the band members experiences of incompatible relationships; “Memoria” being the Spanish word of memory, referring to the fact of just remembering such experienced. Therefore, the band it is meant to create this aura of honesty being reflected since that is the identifiable aspect of underground rock music leading to being considered as “outsiders” or “counterculture”. Therefore, our social media in Instagram was designed to give the followers an opportunity of an insight on the band through posting small bios of each of the band members as well as posting the dynamics of the band, including actual videos of band practice; all with the constant theme of dark, gothic look for which we represent in the music video as in the Digipak.

 As we have established as a band, we want to create content that gives both the band members and the audience and authentic experience to watch, being playful and creative. Therefore, on this opportunity of creating Memoria’s music video, we decided to go all the way of playing around with the band’s identity since we dressed up in both of the aesthetics for which we identify or are interested in, choosing Indie and Punk/Goth rock because we thought of the production of the single as a great opportunity to play dress up with contrasting looks of the lighthearted Indie look to the dark and aggressive style of Punk/Goth to make references on each genre’s aspect from which rock lovers of our target audience would definitely appreciate when watching the music video. Likewise, taking in consideration the rock lovers of our target audience, we decided that for our Digipak by offering a Vinyl version of the single, it would offer a more exclusive and remarkable experience for the consumers since it goes with the tradition of classical rock albums.

 From the point of representing different rock genres, we decided to play with all the aspects on clothing of both genres to each of us playing each other’s instruments in order to again create this lack of credibility and amateur look for the overall purpose to simply entertain with the song’s meaning of “misfit” because the song’s lyrics is meant to represent how the relationship being talked about is non compatible, but such is represented in the indirect manner of each of us not being the best at playing with each other’s instruments, giving the amateur look. Also, aspects of the song’s production such as the harsh sound and lack of being soundriven in the music video is to follow the conventions of the quality involved on Indie music videos and Grunge music, making it sound more “trash” or as the actual word Grunge means: filth. Likewise, to continue the band’s purpose of exposing ourselves as we truly are through a self-made production, which is just high school students trying to start a rock band, reason why we also went for minimalism in the production when it comes to camera movement, choosing only one location and most shots being hand held, for the self-made and even “slacker” look.

Overall, Flapper’s purpose with the single of Memoria is to represent young women in the indie/alternative rock scene through the lack of seriousness in the craft to entertain Gen Z rock dilettantes and demonstrate that anyone can rock ‘n’ roll.

Friday, April 16, 2021

Music Video

 Here is the final result for the music video!

May I present you an Independent Post-Punk/Alternative Rock group with their recent single: Memoria. Ladies and Gentlemen: Flapper!



With the music video, we intend to demonstrate the creative character that the band possesses through playing with the different rock genres to overall demonstrates the two sides of the band Flapper.

Again, I hope you enjoy our Indie and Punk/Goth music video of the single Memoria!



Thursday, April 15, 2021

Digipak is ready!

 So for the Digipak the final product was created again through photoshop, using the pictures made during the photoshoot of the music video, from which I had to change the color palette to the established colors by the band, since it appealed more to the dark genre. Also, the Digipak would a be a product both available on CD or Vinyl but either way, they possess the same content of having the track of Memoria and they possess the pictures of the band members within the decoration of the digipak.

Hope you like it!













Also, all these content has been posted in our Instagram account @flappertheband, check it out! since we have continuously posted the artwork of the band, memories from the shooting of the videos and even band practices. Therefore, checking out our feed would give an idea of the influences of the band, by seen of whom we make covers of, the Post-Punk/Goth conventions that we follow, and what our objectives with the band are by demonstrating how each band member is as a musician.

Check it out!



Saturday, April 10, 2021

Concept Art for the Digipak

 So as I have thought, and discussed and put together, now I have the concept for the Digipak regarding its look and of course the content was already mentioned.

For the whole piece I am looking forward on creating a collage that involves all the pictures made for the album cover since as I showed you, there were plenty of options to provide a grunge and street style look, but also needs to be really vibrant. So yes I will put them all together which will strive on the color palette of Jean-Michel Basquiat's piece of "Offensive Orange" as well as involve his aggressive strokes in the design since I look forward on doodling us in literally stick figures to create both a minimalistic but playful representation of the band, in which it will be obvious on how to differentiate each other either for the members height and length of hair (We have spoke about this concept since November 2020).

Offensive Orange -Jean-Michel Basquiat

On the other side, we have created a Google Drive folder in which each member will put in the picture of the band's photoshoots, that they want on the Digipak so I can have a clear idea on what they want to involve specially what picture they want me to put of them since there are some individual pictures. Consequently, I will have to wait on such uploads, design this piece and finally I need to start looking forward on starting the CCR essay, and planning out what are the requirements and give it my best shot.


Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Discussing with the band

 So today I met with Olga and Valentina in person, to mainly film an audition for us to play in Senior Palooza as Flapper. So just to let you know we recorded the song Breed from Nirvana and Juicebox from the Strokes since we look forward on the possibility of performing live for the first time by making song covers. We truly hope to get a response from the SGA since it would be a great opportunity and experience and if we get any info, we will definitely announce it on the Instagram page. But for now we will have to wait for a response.

I believe that by adding these kind of news on the Instagram is an interesting way to approach the purpose of the Instagram content that we will provide as a band by giving both important info of the band and also being able to provide goo entertainment content. Therefore, as I am here to tell you, during the meeting of the band, I would say the recording day for the audition that I mentioned, we got to discuss how the content on the Instagram account would be managed, and decided on have the strategy of posting the album options that we had creates (I don't know if you remember, but it was 2 posts ago) since such are the pieces I will use for the design of the Digipak, as background art and theme for the pictures of the band surrounding the discs (for LP and CD version will both have only 1 disc).

This is the example that I presented to the band members in order for them to grasp the concept of a Digipak, and what we needed to agree on. 



This is an Digipak on the LP version from which you get the songs, the disc and as you open it, great pictures of the band's performance and pictures of their concert tickets. As a result, we concluded that I will combine all the album ideas that we had in order to cut our small pieces and put them together with the purpose of overall looking like a collage. I will have to work on that, and also the video is already finished, finished, FINISHED. All together, added filter, added base. THAT'S IT!

So yes I have to work on posting more frequent on the Instagram account and start creating the concept art for the Digipak.


Monday, April 5, 2021

Thoughts on Digipak

Hello, since I have to create a Digipak for the band's son Memoria-The Last Rays of Lights, I had to research on how to produce a Digipak, what where its elements, etc...since I honestly did not have a clue. So by viewing this random video, I got to understand its elements. Therefore, as I have further researched and need to discuss with the band members, I am looking towards creating a Digipak both for the CD and LP versions since usually they possess pictures of the band members, artwork of the band and further content on their songs, such as the lyrics.


Consequently, my upcoming assignments to complete are continue managing and posting on the Instagram account @flappertheband, but mainly produce the artwork and design of the Digipak, from which I will have to discuss with the band members on how to approach it and what artwork and pictures they would like to involve and etc...

To do's:

-Speak to band members regarding Digipak design,
-Choose and obtain the band pictures,
-Keep posting on Instagram,
-Create CCR Essay.

That's it :)

Sunday, April 4, 2021

Album cover

 As I have experimented with certain pictures I took around my neighborhood, I found a filter on my Samsung called "Magic Pen" and it puts the opposite color of the palette into the object and creates a retro futuristic look of the 80's like the typical videogame or perception of what the future would be like in the 80's. 

Here I will display my first experimentation with the filters of the camera from which my band members rejected as concept ideas for the album even though I did accept them.






For your information this is a water post next to a rock colored in rainbows, which I found on my street :)

But the album cover that we decided on was this teeth that seems as if it is a radiography but in reality is a case where I keep my earrings. So by editing the actual colors of the picture, it had a really interesting look that fitted both an 80's "futuristic" look and also involves an unconventional object when it reality comes from a simple subject of a personal belonging. So we really found this interesting and I look towards this week continue editing the picture to add the logo of the band, from which I have not determined if I had to switch the colors of the emblem. I will have o work on that and keep you updated :)


For some reason the first pictures give me a feeling of Joy Division or The Smiths album covers.

Friday, April 2, 2021

Ideas for the Album cover

 Today I did a meeting with the band and we got to discuss how we wanted the look for the album. As I have researched many artists do either editing on a picture of the actual band like the Clash's "Combat Rock"; decide to approach it in a surrealistic manner by creating a piece through collage such as Tyler the Creator's "Flower Boy:; just display the band's logo like many Aerosmith's "Permanent vacation"; create an artwork like all Grimes's albums or approach it in the indie manner, which is to capture a simple element of the everyday life like Mk. Gee's "Over Here". Of course, there are plenty of ways to approach an album cover, but this is how I have summed it up according to the Alternative genres of either punk rock or indie music in general.

The Clash- Combat Rock


Tyler the Creator- Flower Boy



Aerosmith- Permanent Vacation



Grimes- Visions



Mk. Gee- Over Here


So as we were discussing we got to the conclusion that I should create a piece either by photoshopping a natural picture, like Mk. Gee's example or to create a mix media piece like my 2D AP portfolio is. For the idea that we are striving, it would be interesting to either include aspects of our personal identity such as the Venezuelan and Colombian background into a darker toner mixing the tropical environment with the punk rock aesthetic or for the natural picture, it would focus on an intriguing object that could be accommodated into an unconventional album.

So this weekend I will be planning on these concepts and viewing what matches better the band's aesthetic and the song's tone. Let's see what I come up with, specially how would I involve our logo.






Thursday, April 1, 2021

Music video and song

I have been working again on editing the video. I go back and forth to it. As I have checked it recently, the only accommodations needed for the video would be to fix on the bridge of the song, the drum beat since I messed up for a second which eventually affect all the sound. So, the way in which I am fixing this is by cutting out that mistake and instead placing the beat that was done continuously throughout  the song. On the other side, Olga finally finished her bass lines and already putted together with the whole song's audio completed. And if I forgot to mention, the song's vocals have the effect of the "telephone" from garage band since it goes better with the mood of the song and style of starting bands such as Alex Turner did most of the time when Arctic Monkeys started off such as in the song Teddy Picker.

Lastly, I think we are back again on considering a filter for the music video in order to incorporate this nostalgic tone to the video since the Generation Z has shown the tendency on social media of appreciating the "vintage" or "nostalgic" to an era that we did not get to actually live, which is most of the times the 80's. Therefore, in the music video I am looking towards adding a filter that would soften the visuals to me it seem as a video tape from the 80's. Striving for the camera quality of the music video "Little Girls" by Oingo Boingo; an actual music video of the era; or how the current punk band The Garden did on the music video of "Thy Mission" with Mac Demarco, whom has been a constant inspiration for the music video.

Little Girls -Oingo Boingo



Thy Mission by The Garden 

Also I found fascinating how the music video of Thy Mission made references to the Punk/Goth Scene of the 80's as our video, without having known of this band. Overall, this music video and the band itself reinforces the idea that there is a current target audience of indie music specially on the punk genre inspired by the 80's; exactly what our band Flapper is striving for.

AICE MEDIA Portfolio by Andrea

That's it :)

 This has been a crazy journey since I got to face my fear and demonstrate that I actually can create a rock song. It will definitely be the...