How do you build a persona around your band? It’s often a long-winded, experimental process that evolves over time. Look at Harry Styles as an example. He used to be known as an adorable, kid-friendly boyband member — and now, critics hail him as “the world’s biggest young rockstar” due to a successful rebrand.

These identities are essential because fans prefer to buy into more than just a musician. They don’t only want to listen to your music, especially when other indie, rap and pop musicians share your space. It’s your responsibility to set yourself apart.

Here are a few ways to build an image that resonates with audiences.

1. Strive for Uniqueness and Originality

There’s never a need to copy anyone else. It’s OK to draw inspiration from your favorite artists, but you shouldn’t mimic them. If your band appreciates David Bowie’s style, for example, you need to figure out a way to be equally as expressive and experimental on your own.

It helps to do a little research with your band members to determine which path you want to follow. How do you want people to know you? Combine your interests and goals to discover a unique and original persona. Many fans will see through anything inauthentic.

2. Explore Demographic Factors

Try not to stray too far from what you and your bandmates want. It’s easy to succumb to pressure from labels and managers to act or appear a specific way. That’s why your band should always have a say in important decisions.

There are times when you should listen to your audience, though. If you use demographic segmentation, you can discover what your fans prefer brand-wise, based on factors like age and location. It’s even possible to make connections between personality type and music preference, which you can use to craft your image.

This approach will always be only somewhat effective because you can’t predict what people enjoy. There might be a 35-year-old male who loves your dance-pop sound. However, you can still learn a lot from your target market as you form a brand.

3. Find a Certain Style

If you want to develop a brand, you need to consider your band’s style. It’s unnecessary to wear coordinated ensembles — but you should think about how you want to look during concerts, photoshoots and more. This approach has been impactful for many musical figures. 

After all, you can probably picture Nicki Minaj’s vibrant wigs and Elton John’s eyewear collection from memory. It’s all about how you can build recognition through your appearance. Be sure to develop a personal fashion sense that aligns with your band’s goals.

4. Share Your Personal Journey

If you’ve ever browsed artist pages on platforms like Spotify, you’ve likely come across musician biographies. These blurbs are usually outlined across band websites, too. Essentially, your fans want to learn about your band. Why not create a band page to give them more insight into your band’s pursuits?

This profile doesn’t have to be overly wordy. Instead, you should just describe where you got your start and your band’s past and future discography. Feel free to list any awards or recognition you’ve earned, as well.

If you take a personal approach to your brand, you should connect with more fans. People want to be able to follow what happens next. Those who don’t reveal anything won’t end up as successful. While you don’t need to unveil your deepest secrets and memories, you should be at least a little transparent.

5. Remember to Be Consistent

This point can be a bit tricky, as most musicians evolve. It’s important for artists to grow as singers and songwriters for various reasons. They need to keep fans interested, explore new sounds and consider different trends. Miley Cyrus’s recent jump to rock from country and pop serves as an example.

However, you still need to aim for consistency — especially when your band doesn’t have a persona at all. If you pitched yourself as a funk R&B group today but pivoted to EDM tomorrow, you wouldn’t make much sense. Try to be consistent with your image for now. There’ll always be time to grow later.

Use These Tips and Examples to Create Your Band’s Persona

If you want to position your band to have a long and flourishing career, you need to prioritize your image. It might take a little time and energy, but you need to learn how to differentiate your music and persona from everyone else. This approach will set you up for success.