Okay, before you dive head first into the world of labels, you need to lay the foundations. And by foundations, we mean your universe. It's THE foundation of your label, the essence of your musical identity. If you really want your label to rock, it has to reflect who you are, what you're passionate about, and most importantly, what you want to bring to the music scene. Come on, let's dig a little deeper into this, with style!
🌎 1.1 – Define your musical universe: your vibe, your essence
Before you get carried away with a logo or a name, ask yourself: what do I want to bring that's different to music? Maybe you want to create a label that embraces the 90s techno underground with a modern twist. Or maybe you want to promote a tropical electro vibe for those who live their best life with their feet in the sand. Maybe you dream of a hyper-authentic rap scene, that goes back to the roots, with slamming lyrics and minimalist productions.
This is important because it is what will potentially make the public interested not only in an artist but also in the label that produced them. This does not mean that a more generalist label cannot work, but having a strong identity can bring a fan base that identifies more easily with the different artists on the label.
🧑🧑🧒🧒 1.2 – Imagine your audience (in chill mode)
When you have an idea of the musical atmosphere, think about your audience. Who is your label aimed at? It could be fans of soaring house music looking for meditative sets, fans of raw and committed rap, or fans of garage rock in a "back to basics" way. Thinking about your target audience will help you refine the musical style but also imagine the visual and communication.
Try to visualize yourself on stage or in the studio: what would it be like? What kind of people do you see in the audience, really into your vibes? Your answers will give you clues to define yourself even better.
🧠 1.3 – Brainstorm the perfect name (a name that has style!)
Now, we're tackling the big part: the name of your label. Finding a cool name is an art, but also the most fun step! So, take a breath, get out your best playlist for inspiration and start brainstorming freely. The motto: nothing is too weird, everything is possible.
Some tips:
- Keep it simple and memorable: a label name is not a Wi-Fi password! It should be short and punchy.
- Think about references: sometimes, a little nod to one of your musical inspirations can be a great base (but avoid names too close to big existing labels, of course!).
- Test words that sound good together: merge words, play word games, or even make up a word. Examples: Blazing Beats, Cosmic Groove, Le Son Vert.
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- The ultimate test: say it out loud! If it sounds good and makes you smile, you might have something good. If it sounds like something you typed by mistake, go back to brainstorming.
And a little tip: before you fall in love with your name, check on social networks and streaming platforms to see if no one is already using it. This will save you administrative hassle and a possible name change at the last minute!
Where do you think MaAuLa Records comes from? It sounds exotic, right? That's good, the label's motto is "exotic music for exotic people". Well, in reality, they are the first two letters of the rivers that flow in each of the cities where the label's three founders live. Maine, Aubance, Layon! Not very exotic in truth! But it works and it sounds good.
1.4 – Design the aesthetic (your visual universe, basically)
Your name is cool, but the visual identity is the cherry on the cake. It's what will immediately make people say: "oh yeah, that's definitely your name here." So imagine your logo, your visuals, and even the tone of your future album covers. Do you want something minimalist and geometric? A retro look with VHS filters? Colorful visuals that pop like neon lights? Take the time to do a few tests, play with styles, and why not get help from a graphic designer friend.
If you have the budget, even call on a professional directly who will design a graphic identity for you. That's what we did at MaAuLa with Antoine Gadiou (it's a good thing he's also a friend!). Logos, album covers, he's done it all.
And to tell you the truth, it worked because if partners (distributors, record stores, etc.) agreed to work with us from the start, they all told us that the visuals had something to do with it.
There you have it, with all that, you have all the bases for a label that has style and a name that rocks! Once your universe is well defined, everything else will flow naturally. Ready to move on?