R+P Post 13: Influences and inspiration from art, fashion and culture

We wanted Layla to embody the 'stereotypical' London creative. From her dress sense, to the themes of her music, we wanted Layla to be perceived as an open minded millennial. Whilst researching we saw particular ideas that we thought could help achieve this...

The Afro has often been seen as a symbol of empowerment for black women. This connotation of strength is something that we wanted associated with our own artist. We really felt that this look would be eye catching and memorable.







We took inspiration from artists such as Erykah Badu's album art. For example, we thought that the use of hand written notes on her album was extremely effective as it was a quick way for the audience to be let into the mind of the artist and make it feel more personal.







We were also inspired by the Vintage clothing trend that is common among many Londoners. This culture encourages the individual to wear unique pieces of clothing and effectively treat their wardrobe as a work of art.

R+P Post 12: Artists/bands that have influenced my ideas

Amy: Soul

Amy Whinehouse is a legendary figure in the music industry and was known for her unique and soulful voice. Amy's voice had the ability to captivate an audience without the need for any extravagant productions. We would also like our artist to concentrate on their singing and the meaning behind their words rather than dancing or anything that may distract from their message.

Beyonce: Political messages

Beyonce is an international figure which means that her music and therefore her feelings/ opinions reach many. Recently, Beyonce has used this platform to bring awareness to important issues such as the Black Lives Matter movement and feminism. To the left I have included a video containing the feminist message that Beyonce played during her Mrs Carter world tour. We thought that this was very admirable and would also like our artist to speak out on important issues such as police brutality.

A still from Beyonce's video 'Formation'

Erykah Badu: Style

One of Erykah's unique looks

As well as her music, Erykah Badu is also known for her extraordinary style and is considered a fashion icon by many. Her unusual clothing and make up ideas have created an image for her which stands out from anyone else in the music industry. She is able to express herself through her clothing which is a trait that I would also like for my own artist. I would also like to experiment with the make up of my artist with elements of Badu's look.

Examples of Erykah's tribal like make up