Front Cover Progress

This is a photograph of the draft I drew up as a guideline for the front cover of my magazine.

This is a screenshot of the first steps I took to create my magazine cover. I used a photograph that I had edited, and cropped it suitably to fit the size of the page. I added my chosen title 'MYL' to the top of the page within the left third. I added a barcode with the month and price on to the bottom left corner, and placed 'Kasia' in large font and capital letters across the bottom of the page. 

Next, I added a coverline and a competition advertisement to the middle/bottom of the left third.

I changed the colour of the coverlines on the left side of the page, and added some more coverlines and features to the top right hand side. I also added the word 'exclusive' over 'Kasia' as it portrays to the public that the magazine is unique and has within it and exclusive interview that no other magazine possesses. This should therefore act as a unique selling point and help in securing sales of the issue.

I included another piece about Kasia in the space underneath the masthead, also next to Kasia's face as this will be easier for the reader to see whilst the magazine is on the shelf in the shops and allows the reader to see this is Kasia and she is one of the main features of this issue.

I felt as if the right side of the page looked a little empty, so I decided to add another coverline. I used a colour scheme similar to the rest of the features, and highlighted the word 'summer' as most people look forward to the summer, and many music festivals and concerts are held during the summer months.

After looking over the work I had done so far, I came to the decision that having two coverlines about the same artist (Kasia Stone), was unnecessary. I chose to remove the large one at the bottom of the page, keeping the one underneath the masthead, and next to Kasia's face. The reasoning behind this was that placing it directly underneath the masthead and within the left third, it will be easily noticed whilst on the shelf in the shop. I moved the 'exclusive' too, as that is an important selling line. I added another coverline to the right side of the page, fitting in with the others.

Finally, I replaced the large coverline I had at the bottom of the page with a new one, 'On tour with Taylor Swift'. I feel this is appropriate, as Taylor Swift is a similar kind of artist I have created 'Kasia' to be, therefor the readers of MYL will be interested in her, and her music. Being an article about her tour, it will be quite a large article, meaning it deserves a large space on the cover.

After printing off the hard copy of the front cover, I realised I had filled the wrong boundaries so that when it printed, the outside of the page had been cut off. I rearranged it so it fitted the A4 page perfectly when printed. 

Double Page Spread - Interview

For the double-page spread I am going to create an interview with 'Kasia Stone'. Kasia is a female artist I have made up for the purpose of this piece of work. I have taken inspiration from Taylor Swift to create Kasia, bearing the results of my questionnaire in mind.

I have read through various interviews to get some ideas about the sort of questions and answers usually found within the music industry.

This is the interview I have created for my magazine, using inspiration from other interviews I have read in current music magazines:

So Kasia, firstly, how are you!?

I’m really great thank-you, in fact—never better!

That’s good to hear! Is your recent success anything to do with it?

It is definitely a contributing factor! I can happily say I have no complaints about my life right now!

Your life hasn’t always been this way though ..

No it hasn’t, which makes me so, so grateful for what I now have.

So how has your life changed from what it used to be?

Well, growing up was far from easy. Living in a tenement block in central Glasgow with my mum and three younger brothers, it was very tough. I got in with a bad crowd at a young age, but thankfully realised what I’d got in to and decided to chase my childhood dreams of becoming a singer.

And now you’re the UK’s ‘hottest female artist’! How does it make you feel owning that title?

It is insane! (Laughs) It really is unbelievable! Little old Kasia Stone from Glasgow—the UK’s hottest artist!

Well you definitely deserve it! On to your music .. When is your new single set to release?

May 5th, I am so excited! It is one of my favourite tracks so far.

Not long to go then! What makes it such a special track?

It has a lot of meaning behind it, about my past, about the present and about everybody I love in my life.

Are we allowed to know the title?

You will have to wait and find out I’m afraid! (Giggles)

OK! While we’re talking about singles, congratulations on Fire of Love and Born Like That, the two number one singles of 2011!

Thank-you!

You’re very welcome! So, which festivals will you be performing at this summer, if any?

Yes, I most definitely will be performing at some of the UK festivals this summer! Glastonbury, The Isle of Wight festival and T in the Park  are the ones I will be at! I really cannot wait, this will be the first time performing to crowds that big.

Wow, so you must be feeling nervous?

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but the excitement is definitely out-weighing the nerves! I just can’t wait to get out there and show everybody what I have to offer to the world of music!

World of music—brace yourself! Who are you most looking forward to see perform then Kasia?

(Laughs) Oooh, there are a few people I’m really excited to see, but Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Ed Sheeran are definitely top three.

Who is your inspiration for your music?

Hmm, I don’t really have one person I use as an inspiration, I like to take inspiration from all sorts of people and events.

There must be one person you aspire to?

Ok, I do like Taylor Swift, however I would say I am a little more ’rock’ than she is. I just absolutely love her style, and she  seems like such a nice girl!  

Yes, I can see where you’re coming from there! So should we be expecting a Kasia/Taylor mix up any time soon?

Wow, wouldn’t that be amazing! (Giggles) We’ll see. Let me get my music out here in the U.K. first before we think of anything State-side! Although that does not mean I’m saying no!

We’ll look forward to that then! Do you have any plans to release an album any time soon?

Yes, I am currently in the middle of my first album, well, more towards the end than  middle actually!

Ahh, great news for you fans then! Do you have a release date yet?

We don’t have an exact release date yet, but hopefully it should be end of June, start of July—watch this space!

Not long at all then! What kind of thing s should we expect from this album?

No it isn’t long now, I can’t wait! Ooh now that would be telling ...

Go on ...

Alright then! There are fourteen songs on it, 2 of which you will already know—Fire of Love and Born Like That, and then twelve other songs obviously!

And are the other songs anything like what we’ve already heard?

No. I have tried to make each and every song original and different to the rest. Although, they may sound different and have different meanings, but all of them do have their own special meaning behind them.

Bring on the release! I cannot wait to hear this now! Do you write all the lyrics yourself?

Yes, all my songs have been written by me. I feel that way the meaning behind them is true and easier for people to relate to. It is also one of my favourite things to do—there is nothing better than settling down at night with some chocolate and a bottle of wine and writing song lyrics.

There’s nothing better than songs written from the heart is there? Well Kasia it has been an absolute pleasure having you in today, and everybody here at MYL would like to wish you all the luck for the future (not that you need it), and I can assure you I’ll be first in line on May 5th!

Thankyou so much!

Photographs (Un-edited)

During some free time I had with my sister, we went to two locations; a church and a woods, to take the photos for my front cover and magazine article. I chose to use the chuch as it had white walls and I wanted my front cover to have a white background. I chose to use the woods as the setting for the photographs for the double-page spread/interview as the scenery is suited to the genre of music my magazine is based upon.

Here are a few of the photos taken. These are the photos straight off the camera, un-edited.

I used a guitar as a prop in most of the photos as it emphasises the fact to the readers that it is a music magazine, and the acoustic guitar shows the type of genre of the magazine.

I thought carefully about what sort of clothing and accessories I would ask 'Kasia' to wear, as this is a big reflection of the type of artist she is. I chose the long black dress and it is simple, and doesn't draw attention away from her or the guitar, but stands out well against the black backrgound. The jewellery adds a touch of 'girly'.

Analysis of Music Magazines

I have chosen to analyse the front cover, contents page and double page spread of various issues of Q magazine.

Analysis of Front Covers

- The masthead for Q magazine is simple, but striking and is always positioned at the top, left hand side of the page in the left third. The colours are always red and white (red background with white 'Q'). This is different from most other music magazines, enabling it to stand out amongst others whilst on the rack in the shop.

- Each cover has a different style of shot, depending on the artist or band. In the issue featuring Lady Gaga on the front cover, a medium long shot has been used, whereas the issue featuring Florence uses a close up shot.

- Each shot has been chosen to fit with the style of the artist. For example, in the shot of Lady Gaga, the outfit is the factor that is going to catch peoples eye. Therefore a medium long shot has been used as it allows the outfit to be shown off to it's full potential. The shot of Florence has been chosen as her make-up is the main attraction. A close up allows the image to focus upon this and her face, rather than her body or what she is wearing.

- The main colour scheme for the covers of Q tends to be red, white and black, in according with the masthead.

- On every issue there is a barcode with the price, date (month and year) and the Q website address: www.qthemusic.com.

- The main cover line tends to be white, however will sometimes be either black or red. It is always large and links to the main cover image.

- The coverlines are placed down the left third of the page with some also on the right side. These are also either red, white or black.

Analysis of Double Page Spreads

- Q magazine carries on the colour scheme of red, white and black throughout, as is shown in both of these double page spreads.

- It often fills one page of the double spread with an image, with the other page featuring the article linking to the image.

- The article is usually presented in columns in a simple font, allowing it to be easily read by all readers.

- It tends to have the name of the artist subtly on the page, using the image to grab people's attention.

- Drop quotes are sometimes included, although Q magazine does not use them in every article.

Analysis of Contents Pages

- Q magazine spreads it's contents across two pages. This may be over a double page spread, or a page back-to-back.

- The design and layout of the contents are easy to follow, with two sections; features and regulars.

- The titles of the articles are in capital letters, allowing them to stand out to the reader, with the information underneath in lower case.

- The page numbers are white, surrounded by a white box. The page numbers that link to the photographs on the contents page are larger than the ones listed in the features and regulars columns.

- There are approximately 4/5 images on each page, all of which relate to the content of the issue of magazine.

- As with the front cover and the double page spread, the contents page sticks to the colour scheme; red, white and black.