I mentioned in previous posts that I was a little torn about how to categorise based on colour psychology. I had to decide wether to
- attach colours to already existing genres with the use of colour psychology, so depending on the emotional effect and mood the genre in question creates will be paired with an appropriate colour that match in effect.
- remove genres as we know it and create a completely new categorisation purely based on colour psychology, emotion and mood.
I tried to determine what other people think so I was looking at Quora where I found a discussion about colours and genres.
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-colors-of-each-music-genre-as-you-think
Here are a few screenshots of what people said in the discussion:
After reading a fair few of opinions I realised, even though certain colours and genres are generally being paired by majority of people, everyone has their own perception. Wether this is due to synesthesia or personal/visual experiences through ones life.
For example almost everyone / the vast majority pairs brown with folk music. Classical music on the other hand is being paired with different colours by different people. And though I do agree that folk music has an ‘earthy’ feel to it much like the colour brown, when I think of and listen to someone like Loyle Carner, who is an R&B/Soul singer I would pair him with the colour brown, or a cappucino brown.
I also remembered that spotify attached colours to their available genres. This is a screenshot I took on my iPad. I soon realised that not all genres are attached to a colour, just the most popular ones.
I began to wonder how many genres are actually out there (in terms of music). The results I found were overwhelming.
http://everynoise.com/everynoise1d.cgi?scope=all
And this is just on spotify.
COLORS STUDIO
During the first session, when we presented our initial ideas and it was decided that I will be focusing on colour, new colour categorisation and colour psychology, Ansel mentioned Colors Sutios.
I have never heard of them prior to that day. It was explained that they basically removed genres and pair well known and upcoming talented musicians with colours.
I went on youtube and checked out their page. I thought their idea and visualisation is amazing. So simple and elegant but fun and unique. Their simplicity of putting the artist in a colour room (appropriately paired prior to recording) with just a microphone draws you in. It’s just the colour, the music and the artist. They are the heroes of their stories.
At first I thought they only featured upcoming or not ‘so well known’ artists. But then I’ve seen names appear that I recognised, such as Jorja Smith, Billie Eyelish, Dennis Lloyd and so on.
I was thrilled to find Loyle Carner featured by Colors Studio.
Recently I have been listening to a lot of his stuff. Just a lot of R&B/Soul in general. I was even more thrilled to find that the studio featured Tom Minsch too.
Misch and Carner have made a lot of songs together. Slightly different styles. I would happily explain the difference but I believe the colours they are paired with speak for them.
I thought Loyle Carner being paired with a beige colours is so perfect. His sound is smooth and warm, it speaks to your hear and soul and fills it with a mellow cappuccino touch. In comparison Tom Minsch tends to make more upbeat happy songs and beats. Him being paired with yellow is equally perfect. Listening to his music just makes you happy.
The way colours studio paired their artists with colours helped me decide on the new categorisation and how it should be paired.
I began to analyse and further learn about colours and their psychological effect. Synesthesia and pairing already existing genres with a colour can’t be generalised. Everyone has a different view on what should be paired with what. However, due to music also having a psychological and emotional effect on us, I decided to consider the feeling the song/album triggers and pair that with an appropriate colour that matches the effects.
I decided to pick originally 3 artists and 3 different colours. I kept considering and considering which artist to feature. I wanted to work with different colours to represent my project better.
In the end I decided to use 2 artists and 2 colours.
Tom Misch – Orange
The 1975 – Pink
ARTISTS REPRESENTING THEMSELVES, ALBUMS AND SINGLES WITH A COLOUR
Why orange and pink? Why pair those artists with that colour?
Great question.
I have noticed, especially the past few years it has become increasingly popular for artists to have a minimal colour scheme within their album covers, very often with just one dominant colour. I have also noticed that the colour choice for the album represents the mood of the songs and the whole feel of the soundtrack.
Also a lot of artists have been coming out with singles, instead of complete albums. Usually these singles have a very minimal colour range, often just using one colour that ‘visualises’ the artist and the song.
This realisation made my thinking process and decision making a lot easier.
Whilst listening to Tom Minsch to pin point my colour choice for him based on colour and music psychology and emotional response I noticed that most of his album covers and videos he surrounds himself with warm colours, mainly yellows, reds and orange. In terms of psychological effect the colours perfectly match his music (and most likely his personality)
In a way the artists have chosen their colours for me, which made things very easy. Tom Minschand his music is definitely a bright, energetic and happy colour.
I decided to feature The 1975 for two reasons. They are a ‘different genre’ and their music has different effects, therefore they would be a very different colour. I applied the same method, listened to their music and analysed the colour choices for their albums.
While their albums usually feature a lot of white and has a very intriguing minimal style with a sense of spaciousness – almost to trigger and stimulate the mind with the minimal features and colour choices and having lots of white space to let the viewers’ thoughts roam around and join the dots. The perfect example for this would be ‘A brief enquiry to online relationships’. My theory this album cover conveys the message of the songs. This album took a very environmental and political turn, and tho it addresses serious issues it is a ‘wake up call’ and motivation to change on things while we can. Therefore the cover is playful and spacious.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND OPINION
As I was listening to songs by the two artists of my choice I was able to picture movement and pattern linking to their sound and colour. At this point I began experimenting and focused on Ansel’s suggestion to focus on how sound moves through colour and pattern. Listen and picture it. Then I began experimenting.