Brand Your Band With Style

JJust like any business start-up, a newly formed band needs to establish a brand. A sense of style is just as important as musical talent, a distinct sound and poignant lyrics. Fashion may sound like a superficial element to focus on while making a name for your group, but the clothes you wear can actually have a profound effect in the music business and help determine your future success.

Style for Band Branding & Music Marketing

Your style is a representation of your band’s musical personality and identity. And not only can it represent your essence, it resonates with fans just as much as those indie harmonic tones and heartrending lyrics. Although your sound is what truly determines your success, you have to approach your dreams as business endeavors — your look is like the storefront that brings in customers. Fashion enhances your identity and creates a bond with your fans. As visual beings, we also create connections based on shared self-expressions of style and aesthetic energy. The more emotionally connected your fans feel to you, the more they’ll emulate the role of “loyal customers,” who stick by, and share, your music, increasing your the awareness of your band’s name.

Fashion and style help influence your on-stage presence during a performance as well as enhance your authenticity and credibility. Fans, like customers, will always know what to expect when they connect to your Facebook page or follow your Twitter account, from the songs you promote to the photos you post. In addition to your music, your style — your brand’s representation — reinforces an original and dependable identity that’s recognizable and consistent throughout any spectrum. 

Photo credit: Andrea Sartorati

Bands With Definitive, Marketable Style

Beyonce is defined by her fierce style and glamour, which reflects her pop music and tenacious tunes. Beyonce’s definitive style differs greatly from Adele’s somber and enigmatic looks. Adele’s beautifully stark and black cocktail dresses represents her soulful music and profound on-stage performances. Fans form relationships with these leading ladies and not only do they appreciate their music, but they connect with their style as well.

These following band and musicians are on top. They exude a consequential and relevant style that increases their marketability and everlasting appeal:

• Mumford & Sons: Grammy award-winning Mumford & Sons are easily recognized by their laid-back, understated style that includes “checked shirts, waistcoats and muted colours,” as described by FashionRocks.com. With western detailing and urbane flair, Mumford’s fashion sense keenly reflects their rock, folk and bluegrass music background.
• Fun: Vintage jackets. Flooded skinny jeans. Suspenders with white tees. Striped shirts with thick-rimmed glasses. Fun.’s wayward style is as unpredictable and eclectic as their “vintage pop music and quirky, melodic hooks,” which is how music critic Andrew Leahey describes the band’s unique tunes, Billboard reports.

As bands grow and become more established in the music business, naturally music and fashion styles will evolve. Keep in mind though that your physical appearance, from the clothes worn for a performance or an interview to a signature hair style and tattoos, help brand your identity and market your music.

Erin Porter is an art student who plays the saxophone and writes music reviews for various blogs. She lives in Pittsburgh.