Research of Genres

I have researched Indie pop, indie rock, pop, r&b, soul and psychedelic rock as they are the genres of music which I enjoy listening to.

-African

-Arabic music

-Asian

-East Asian

-South and southeast Asia

-Avant-garde

-Blues

-Caribbean and Caribbean-influenced

-Comedy

-Country

-Easy listening

-Electronic music

-Folk

-Indie rock

-Indie pop

-Hip hop

-Jazz

-Latin

-Pop

-R&B and soul

-Rock

-Classical music

Preferred genres:

Indie pop, indie rock, pop, r&b, soul and psychedelic rock.

Indie pop:

It is a genre of alternative rock that originated from the UK in the mid 1980s with roots from the Scottish post-punk bands. Indie Pop differs from Indie Rock as it is more melodic, less abrasive, and angst-free.

Settings

•Indie Pop music videos are known to be lowbudget. Main settings are in studios, cities, parks, woods etc. These locations create mystery which makes the audience focus more on the performance and music.

Performance

•Most Indie Pop music videos include a live performance from the artist which makes the audience focus on the talent the artist has. It makes their career about their passion for music rather than success

• Live performances promote the artist/’s too.

Narrative

A narrative is used to tell a story by using a sequence of images and videos related to the song; not literal, but still enables the audience to understand why it was given that certain narrative which links with song

• As technology advances, music video directors are able to create a variation of storytelling created by special effects making the video a lot more interesting for the audience and keep them engaged in the music video as the scenes are always changing.

Mise-en-scene

•Indie music videos are generally simple. Props, costumes, make up etc. are linked to the scene.

•A prop can complete a scene as audiences are able to physically see what the character/artist is doing and helps understand the lyrics.

Sound

• Dialogue is often used in music videos either at the beginning or at the end to tell or conclude the story. Diegetic sound is also used when filming scenes: to match the lyrics with the actions.

Camera

•Extreme close-ups are the most common shots used as this introduces the artist or the antagonist to the audience. They are used to express emotions.

•Long shots and establishing shots are used to show the setting of the video and the character, and helps the audience understand the message behind the video and lyrics

•Tilts and pans are used to either move along the scene or cut into another scene

•Handheld shots are often used to show a memory

Editing

•Filters are often used over the top of clips or the entire video to give a certain idea to the viewer, such as memory or age. It can also show the clip in a positive or negative light, inducing the desired feeling to the viewer.

Indie rock/Alternative

Setting

• Indie music videos are known to be quite low budget: the main settings of the videos are in the studios, cities, parks, tunnels etc. These are places which can be accessed easily and give the option to create a very mysterious atmosphere. The settings are kept simple because it is a typical convention of indie rock music videos to focus more on the artist/performance.

Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is a very important factor in the indie rock genre as it helps to portray the narrative much better. Indie artists often have a retro look which can be created through their costumes and makeup. There could be additional actors in the music video, helping construct the narrative. Costumes give people different identities making understand the media text easier and also helping to distinguish them from everyone else. Props are also very important to ensure that the music video looks realistic. For the indie rock genre the key props would be instruments (e.g. drum kit, guitar etc.) which shows that the artists are actually the ones playing the song.

Performance

It is very common to include live performance as it is a way to focus on the main artist, showing them doing what they really enjoy. It is very typical in indie genre to focus on the actual talents of the artist. However, over the recent years it has been really popular to include a narrative in-between the performance to give more meaning to the music video. It helps the audience relate to the lyrics of the song.

Narrative

It has been increasingly popular to include a narrative in the music video as it helps to tell a story which the audience could relate to. Usually the narrative will link in well with the lyrics which leaves room for more imagination. This would make the music video stand out more. Narrative has become really popular because it holds people’s attention longer compared to a music video of live performance. It makes it much more interesting as there are more variety of shots used.

Sound

For a music video, sound is a very important aspect, especially during the live performances where the audience can directly hear the instruments being played. If the music video adapts to a narrative it might have diegetic sounds to make the scene look realistic. The diegetic sounds might be much clearer and louder at the beginning before the vocals start and at the end when the vocals end. Sounds might overlap e.g. the vocals could still be playing but the audience can hear someone crying as well. Effects can also be added to the sound either to fade it or increase its volume to convey emotions.

Camera

The most typical camera shots used in indie genre music video would be close up shots as it introduces the star and it helps to advertise him/her. Close up shots highlight the artist’s talents when they are singing and they also show their passion and emotion. Crane shots are also popular when filming live performances as it allows different angles. Long and wide shots are used as establishing shots to set the scene of the narrative in the music video. Medium shot and Low angle shot are also popular.

Editing

Editing is very important to make the video interesting. Most indie genre videos have special effects to either make it run smoothly or to create an effect that makes the audience feel as if they are in the music video. Shots are usually cut either fast or slow to reflect the pace/beat of the music, which links in well with Andrew Goodwin’s theory. It makes it much more comfortable to watch. Effects are usually added over the top of the video to create an old and worn-like video. The black and white effect is also very popular as it makes the video very old fashioned giving it a classical and sad feeling.

Pop:

Artists are clothed in fashionable, stylish and mainstream outfits .

• They are portrayed as happy, enjoying and content with life.

• The lyrics are normally based around love or relationships

• Often bands express the unity associated with teens, which is the main target audience for this genre.

• Music genre is normally conveyed through the video, dressing and setting.

• Pop magazines are often themed with bright and bold colors which are normally associated with positive vibes

• The songs are usually between 3-5 minutes long with a set structure and a consistent beat.

Another convention of Pop music is that within the music industry it tends to follow current trends rather than being independent and making something new, unique and different to hear.

• The form of the song normally follows a verse-chorus-verse structure and uses hook lines; which are catchy. This makes them stay in the audience’s mind.

• Pop music promotion is via radio stations and magazines. In the UK, Pop songs are guaranteed to be heard everyday on well known radio stations.

Imagery

The songs usually include beats that are very dance-orientated.

• They stereotypically are associated with people in their teen years as youth enjoy partying, clubbing and dancing, which is exactly what the purpose of pop music is for.

• A lot of the imagery created is based on sex or partying as this is stereotypically what teens enjoy.

Artists represented in pop

Artists are expressed in a very sexual and seductive way, trying to lure the audience in; very show/staged like. Current artists choose to dress in provocative ways portraying a sexual atmosphere.

Hair and Makeup

Current day hair and makeup is used to commutate the artist’s feeling, views and express a message; it plays a major role in pop music videos.

Technology

Technology recently has been used as a major part of a music videos. Animation is used greatly to create an exciting, loud and lively atmosphere.

R&B/Soul

Hair and Makeup (Male)

Males in R&B music videos are usually seen topless to appeal to the female audience. The clothes that males wear are always very fashion-forward, for example low baggy jeans which show their designer boxers. Many of the males seen in R&B videos also have tattoos. Tattoos are seen as cool and males with tattoos are desired by the female target audience. Male R&B artists also tend to wear jewellery, however their jewellery tends to be more subtle and lower key than jewellery worn by artists in the hip hop genre.

Hair and Makeup (Female)

Females in R&B music videos are usually seen in minimal clothing to appeal to the male audience as desired sexual objects. Accessories such as high heels and lots of big expensive jewellery are also worn. High heels are worn to elongate their legs; so that they appear taller, and big expensive jewellery is worn to show the audience that they are desirable and not cheap. Females also always have flawless hair and make up to support the idea that they are perfect.

Imagery

Sexual Videos: Many videos in the R&B genre are sexual (showing males and females with little clothing). Older generations do not approve of many R&B videos, but the videos are aimed at the younger generation who like to break the rules. Many of these sexual videos are in a grey tone which adds to the mysterious and sexual atmosphere of them.

Representation

Breaking R&B Stereotypes- In R&B there are stereotypes depicting what males and females should be. However, the genre R&B is also about breaking the rules, so many R&B artists, mainly females, will break these stereotypes. One example of this is Beyoncé. Females in R&B videos are mostly only seen as sexual objects, but Beyoncé promotes herself as a strong and independent woman who is all for feminism.

The Camerawork

When it comes to Soul or R&B, medium shots are thoroughly used of the artist to promote their type of clothing or to reinforce the type of genre it is. However, the camerawork tends to change meaning between genders. This is because with the male singers, the camerawork is usually of them looking topless (if they are aiming to target the younger age range of women – maybe mid teens to mid 20’s). Then for women, medium shots are used when they’re wearing provocative clothing to target the age range of men from mid teens to late 20’s/30’s. Then when they want to target the more mature audience, they start to use closeups of the clothing; clothing that is more sophisticated and makes them look more like an object of power more than an object of desire.

Editing

The way most soul/R&B videos are edited to create a reality between the artist and the audience. They also create a fantasy for the audience to enjoy and maybe relate to. To create a sense of reality, the artist is usually part of the narrative, like Steve Archer said, “the artist (especially the singer) will be part of the story, acting as narrator and participant at the same time.’

Mise en scene

Lighting – The lighting is usually high key with a black and white/greyscale or sepia tone filter on top to create a soft tone to video; therefore creating sensual emotions. However, the sense of sensuality can change if the brightness turns to a more low key grey to increase and create a more dreamy feel to it. If the grey falls more into the dark side, this could then create a sense of darkness (emotionally) in the narrative or power in the actor/actress in the video.

Setting

The videos are usually set either in the bedroom or a restaurant/diner – In a soul music video: to reinforce the sensuality that the artist is trying to portray about themselves. Then in an R&B music video, the setting changes to a more party-like one: like in a club with the artist surrounded by beautiful women – this is done to suggest that they are a 'pimp' and that with their music, they can get any woman they want.

Psychedelic Rock

It was influenced by the 1960s psychedelic culture in which many people used psychedelic drugs such as LSD and mushrooms to experience visual and auditory hallucinations while listening to music; the psychedelic music attempted to recreate the experience or at least enhance it, this perhaps explains the visual aspects of psychedelia. The music has spread from influence of Western rock and folk bands - especially in the US and UK - and some bands incorporate many other aspects of different genres, most commonly electronic sounds and effects.

• Vibrant and/or contrasting colours within the palette

• Surrealistic or otherwise whimsical imagery that isn't necessarily realistic

• Often extreme detail within the illustrations

• Kaleidoscopic, fractal and paisley patterns (which can be moving within videos)

• Specific focus on colour and shapes - often using spirals, circles or other recurring imagery/motifs

• The typography for the art is often warps or hand-drawn/lettered, the font is also usually extremely serif or complex in its design

The front covers of the albums usually featured just the title, the artist/group name and a straightforward photo portrait. The back cover was usually text only, with a list of song titles and occasionally a few short paragraphs of publicity material about the artist. However the album cover design was revolutionized in June 1967, with the release of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Beatles and their collaborators created an innovative package that far surpassed anything previously attempted in pop music. The glossy, vividly colored "gatefold" sleeve was fronted by the iconic group portrait of the band.

This genre’s video conventions are usually just involving editing like colour splashing. The storylines can vary completely from artist to artist.