Ever since the advent of the age of recorded music, bands have spent countless time and creative energy on crafting the perfect logo. It is, in a very real sense, a representation of that band and all they represent. Think of the most recognizable logo in rock: the simple tongue and lips logo of the Rolling Stones. It’s a simple design but it’s been instantly recognizable since its debut when the Stones moved to their own label in the early ‘70s – and its air of androgynous mystery has only added to its allure over the years.
Back in its earlier days, the lip and tongue of the Stones would go on everything from their instruments to all sorts of merchandise – and would prove so popular that many fans even went and got the logo tattooed on their skin.
In 2021, your own band’s logo has even more purposes than that of the iconic rock and roll band. It will adorn your website, show up as your profile picture on streaming services, and prompt people to check you out on Bandcamp. It makes sense that you can use online software such as the Wix logo maker to craft your logo. With this tool, you can find images and color schemes that suit your band, along with fonts that your fans will love. After all, your logo is what can best represent your band’s vision and values.
If you’re anxious about getting your logo just right, and it’s very easy to get it wrong, here are some helpful tips to get you on your way.
Identify your genre
There is an ongoing debate about the relevance of musical genres in 2021. After all, with DIY bands and bedroom producers, fitting into a specific type of music for the sake of a label is no longer necessary. If you want to make music that spans a range of genres, that’s great. And, honestly, it was never anything more than marketing in the first place.
Going back to the Stones, their rivalry with the Beatles is the stuff of legend, but whether in terms of personality, influences, and musical stylings, the two bands had more in common than the Stones’ manager made out to be when he forced fans to choose between the clean-cut pop of the Beatles vs the gritty rock of the Stones.
However, marketing was admittedly easier back then. But when it comes to finding fans, being “post-genre” can be something of a hindrance. Music lovers tend to try music which they think they will like. In other words, they will first look for music in their favorite genre. Even if they are adventurous, they will look within genres that interest them.
As such, it is worthwhile identifying the genre which best describes you. With terms like “post-punk” and “post-modern” increasing in popularity, this is not as hard as it sounds. When you have identified your genre, you can get a clearer idea of what your potential fans like.
Different genres are connected with different imagery, and certain fonts imply specific kinds of music. For example, you know a band is a metal immediately from their logo. Keep this in mind when crafting a logo that represents you.
Stylize your name
Before you get started on the logo as a whole, stylize your band’s name. The reason you should start here is that the length of your name will limit the space on your logo. While you can try a range of different images to fit in that space, you’re not going to change your name to accommodate the images.
Stylize your name in such a way that it is both easy to read and very recognizable. Be very careful not to choose a font that makes your name look like it says something else.
This also gives you a chance to change your band’s name. Occasionally, the more time you spend working with a name, the more you come to realize that it isn’t as catchy as you thought.
Be sparing with colors
You may be tempted to go with bright colors. Maybe you want something truly chaotic. However, your logo is going to go on everything, including your merchandise. A chaotic or colorful logo will work in some instances but not in others.
Muted logos tend to work best across mediums. They are perfect for t-shirts, posters, books, and even tattoos. By going for muted colors, you have the opportunity to add brightness in different settings.
Follow the music
It is all too common that musicians get caught up in imagery when crafting a logo and end up with something that screams anything but music. A skull might be popular among punk bands, but relying too heavily on that imagery today can make you look like a clothing brand trying to be edgy. Birds of prey might be very metal, but you don’t want to look like an ornithology collective.
Consider what your music sounds like. For example, if it is very guitar-driven, you may want to include a guitar motif. While logos are a visual medium, they are representing the music. There should be coherence. Don’t include images that have no relation to the music.
Have fun
Making music is a creative pursuit. So is designing. They may require very different skills, but both come from the same part of the brain. If you are creative enough to write songs, designing a logo does not have to be a slog.
You’re probably feeling anxious about dabbling in another sphere. That’s natural. Try to relax and let your creativity take over. When you are in a creative mood, the right logo will not be hard to find. Instead of settling on something good, you will strive for perfection.
Follow the above tips to craft the perfect logo for your band. It is not as difficult as it seems, and you can even use a free online logo maker.