Wix Mumford & Sons website design

To make a website for Mumford & Sons that I thought would look professional I used Wix which is an online website allowing you to create any website you want weather it be to do with music, food, or advertising for your business.

 

 Both My website for Mumford and Sons and their original website are similar in that they both focus on promoting their most recent album ‘Johannesburg”. The overall vibe that you get from the two websites is pretty similar.

 Below Is My: http://saskiatarn.wix.com/mysite

 

Here is the Official Website











The official website uses a lot harsher font which is more bold and therefore arguably grabs that attention of the consumer more the mine does.  I would say the overall layout is pretty similar as the homepage as both websites share the bold title at the top then advertise the products below with various smaller images making the website very visual and attractive for the client.

As well as this the picture design varies significantly as I have gone for more natural imagery thinking they were an Indie Folk band therefore this would represent them however their new album is obviously more city orientated and they have gone for a different image then before. Most likely hoping to expand their brand and change their image up to keep the appeal of diversity on them. The official website instead contains a lot of block colour such as the background being mainly Black with brightly coloured font to stand out. Then the newest album Johannesburg is the main focus of advertising. I think if I had the opportunity to re-do my website I would try and focus the main attention more on the advertising of the latest album ‘Johannesburg’ instead of focusing on the bands general ideologies, which may prevent their new album being sold so successfully.

However I think I went for a more Indie Folk look which has meant that mine is a lot lighter in colours then their official website. It is more soft and gives of a natural imagery unlike their website which is bold, black and there to make a statement. I actually had to try out lots of different backgrounds to find the most appropriate one that fit the genre the best. 

For instance I tried photos such as these ones:  

Having tried these I decided to go with this one and the darker sunset lighting felt more suited to get the right website look. 

For instance in reality Mumford and Sons fall in Richard Dyers theory that stars are a commodity and their website suggest they are constructed in a way that would appeal to a large audience of various ages and genders. The image constructed that is easily marketable falls under Dyers Paradox one which means the star in this case  (Mumford and Sons) is simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary for the consumer. For instance their new album advertised on their website shows the band laughing and chilling out making them appealing to the consumer. However the professionalism of the website through its font and colour scheme shows they are extraordinary at what they do and very talented. Making both websites equally represent the Star image that is so largely desired globally.

I do think the genre appears obvious in both my website and the official one. They are both different in the way they show the pictures and the layout therefore suggesting to a viewer that these websites are indie and folk, instead of a crazy chaotic bright pink website that someone like Britney Spears advertising pop may choose to use.

My Music

Personally I listen to all sorts of music from Taylor Swift topping the charts with Shake it off and Biffy Clyro to less known music from Quito Rhymer a local legend from the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean who performs Reggae. However my favourite types of music are lighthearted folk music that bands such as The Kooks perform and The Sweet Serenades.

I do not own any album covers as I usually use apple music to download music. I would love to go and see both The Sweet Serenades and The Kooks live however haven’t had the chance. I think the reason I like them so much is because it’s the type of music that I refer to as “easy listening”, great for chilling out with friends and chatting over dinner. It is also pretty upbeat which I find puts people in a good mood particularly The Sweet Serenades 2012 album Help me! Which has to be the top for me. The reason I like these two bands and artists like these such as Milky Chance and Quito Rhymer the reggae artist is because their music is super chilled and low-key therefore you can listen to it anywhere at anytime. 

I started listening to The Sweet Serenades and The Kooks after I heard my older brother playing the albums and since then I have been addicted to their songs. Having grown up in the Caribbean Quito Rhymer was the type of music playing at our kids parties when we were young so since then I have been attached to that type of music and that is why I really enjoy R.City because it is Reggae fusion which puts all my favourite type of things together. 

The Sweet Serenades music videos such as ‘Can’t get enough’ are pretty stereotypical in that they are the band playing their instruments in some sort of garage but to change it a bit they have an old man mouthing ‘can’t get enough’ I do like the simplicity of them though as you focus on the music this is also true with The Kooks music videos. Some one like Quito doesn’t do music videos he hasn’t done that many albums and is not celebrated worldwide however his live performances on YouTube are good enough to keep any fan satisfied. The Sweet Serenades and The Kooks have a large commercial website that is easy to use showing everything from their biography to the latest news. 

Quito has not got a website for his music specifically however he has recently opened a restaurant and Inn and within that website there is information about his music and career, and advertising for his latest album. I think what is so great is despite him not being famous worldwide to those of us who do listen to his music we can appreciate how organic and real it is. 

I think unlike some bigger more known artists The Kooks and The sweet serenades are pretty down to earth although I am not completely naive in thinking they don’t care about the money, of course for any band making a living on their music they need an income but despite this I would say they do enjoy the music they make and unlike some groups, making good music does comes first. Similarly with Quito I believe his ideologies as an artist are not at all fake and he enjoys making music and does it because of the gratification that it gives him not for any superficial reasons such as money as he doesn’t make that much a year and paints as well as sings.

Below are the photos I have taken whilst at Quito's place in the evening, you can see local artwork hanging on the wall, and the fake palm trees that help create the chilled relaxed vibe that Quito and his music represent: