How music bands can create a strong visual identity

In the last decade, few bands have been able to establish an iconic visual image that could be described as influential or powerful enough to define a distinctive sound or style. Museums and art exhibitions regularly display works of art by contemporary artists, yet these artistic pioneers rarely manage to create the same impact that mainstream bands have been able to establish through their use of color, light, and multimedia. This is because, for many people, music remains the most powerful visual experience in modern culture. For this reason, some people still think of Adele as being the only popular alternative act to hit the headlines.
However, a new trend in artist visual identity development has recently developed. In the past, how music bands can create a strong visual identity was largely about their ability to write good songs. However, as this type of vocal talent is becoming more competitive, the ability of a band to create a visual image or theme is also becoming as important. As a result, artists such as David Bowie, Kasabian, and LCD Soundsystem have all recently been able to build distinct visual personae that have become highly influential to their fans. So what makes a visual identity and how does it differ from songwriting or performing identity?
The visual aspect of a band’s music is generally its strongest element. For example, when you listen to a classic rock track, you will almost certainly identify the lead singer with the guitar, regardless of whether they are playing lead or keyboards. Similarly, an artist’s visual appearance can also have profound effects on how a listener identifies a work of art. A well-designed costume can convey both subtlety and strength; similarly, a strong, colorful painting can create a memorable visual image and instantly bring it to the forefront.
However, while visual images and costumes can have powerful effects on how we see and react to a work of art, it is often the case that visual identity is not enough. When a performer, musician, or group of people work together, they must come up with other ways to create a common visual identity. This can take many forms, from having similar hairstyles, wearing the same clothing, and sharing similar imagery. Some groups may even consciously attempt to forge an identity separate from their visual identity. This can be seen in groups such as the Yardbirds, who were infamous for sporting a white uniform during the early days of their popularity, and Taking Back Sunday, who were often spotted wearing white T-shirts and carrying signs advertising their own bands.
The most important thing about coming up with a visual identity is that it coheres. For instance, Taking Back Sunday actively rejected the notion that their image was a gimmick and instead chose to embody their brand through their looks. By doing this, they created a powerful visual identity that was strongly associated with their music.
As bands go through the process of creating their sound, they will also need to work on coming up with an image. Although this might sound like a mundane notion, it is something that can be difficult to master. For instance, when a rock band is making their record, they need to come up with an image that inspires their fans. This comes in the form of their stage name and visual image. If they chose a monochrome image for their name (like “The Red Hot Chili Peppers”), then their fans would have no way of identifying who they are.
However, it is worth noting that visual identity can sometimes conflict with music. For instance, the Backstreet Boys has an interesting visual identity as street kids and their music is very non-representative of what music should be like. However, their fans will always associate them with being part of the music industry and as a result, their image carried their association with music. Therefore, it is important for how music bands can create a strong visual identity to make sure their fans see them as real people and not just a part of a music band.
Of course, music bands need to be thought out well before they record their music. They need to decide what their image is and what type of image they want to carry from the start. The image that they choose will then become the basis for all their promotional materials, including their album cover. Music bands who have chosen to carry a theme through their image, whether it be music their lyrics or their visual image, should make sure that the theme is coherent throughout their music, lyrics, and images.