Comparing two websites: Låpsley Vs Disclosure

Websites and home pages are both of significant importance to some artists but also to others they are of deliberate subtlety. For instance, a website and homepage can reveal crucial information about the artist, for example through their website and homepage it can suggest who the target audience are and their needs. This becomes of high importance, as the website and homepage products need to be successful in order for fans to be attracted and engaged to. A website is useful for fans as it stereotypically should and needs to include regular updates on relevant information, such as tour dates, merchandise, images and it keeps people educated with artist’s new music.

However, some artists are so engaged with the echoes of their music, some deliberately don’t spend ages on designing or creating their websites or homepages. For example, some artists have a very simple and basic webpage, including quick and relevant information where necessary. This can show some artists spend more time or prefer to spend more time on making their music instead of attracting viewers through their website, as some artists believe its music people are more attracted and engaged to and not their website.

I wanted to focus on comparing two different artists, who hold two different music genres. For instance, comparing a synthetic act and an artificial act, following Negus’ theory. Both Disclosure and Låpsley follow very different styles of codes and conventions; we can clearly see this through their websites and homepages.

For example, primarily Låpsley is a singer/songwriter of electric, ambient and alternative R&B. Låpsley’s website visually focuses on creating positive responses through the light, clear and mature site, this could connotate a younger more youthful audience. For example, I feel through the use of the clear, basic and neat site of the artist could suggest to audiences she is concentrating more on her music rather than making her site extreme. It could also suggest Låpsley spends more time on writing and singing her music, and therefore I feel this is shown and communicated through her website, however other artists could be different. Through the website design and layout, I feel Låpsley’s audience would be aimed at all ages of girls, ranging from teenagers to young adults. For example, the use of complimentary blues and whites force this aesthetically pleasing site.

However, in comparison to Låpsley, a singer/songwriter, the duo Disclosure is a combined Brother duo fitting into genres of house, synthpop, future garage, UK garage and UK funky. Disclosure’s website and homepage is visually demonstrated and successfully communicated. For example, each element to their website is carefully thought out and considered, showing valuable time was spent on creating their website and homepage. 

Although Disclosure spends a lot of time on their music, they successfully also spend time on creating their homepage. However, some aspects of the site can be quite overwhelming for users. Disclosure’s homepage and website uses darker colours and the site tightly fits the whole space, holding close and enclosed proxemics’, compared to Låpsley’s use of positive colours and space. I also feel viewers that would visit Disclosure’s site would be both female and male, ranging from teenagers to adults through the use of their conventions for instance, the diverse colours and layout.

Låpsley’s homepage echoes colours of plain whites but also contrasts with complimentary tones of blue, this differs to Disclosure’s use of dark colours. By including a large 600 pixel image when immediately entering Låpsley’s site, viewers can instantly recognise Låpsley is a solo artist and this can connotate an understanding of the synthetic act against the pure white background; by using colours of pure white it can connote she is aiming to project characteristics of an empowering, strong and innocent feministic creature. The homepage has clear direction to the top right hand corner, including relevant links, such as recent albums, videos, live and also ideas to connect.

However, in comparison to this, Disclosure’s entering homepage is very different to Låpsley’s as Disclosure’s site directs you to purchasing their music before you have to click to enter their official site. I feel the purpose of their website is for individuals to spend money, however I feel Låpsley’s site is more organic and follows of conventions of a naturally flowing site, for instance, not set up web. Disclosure’s homepage is jam-packed with 6 accurate boxes, overflowing with linked relevant content.  The layout is very different to Låpsley’s site and therefore this differs and separates their different genres. As Disclosure has many different images as you enter the site, it reflects there is more than one artist in this group and it could suggest the artist is leaning on the artificial side of the industry. Also as Disclosure doesn’t have a single large, dominating image on the homepage, this differs from the solo artist, Låpsley.

However, both sites include relevant and aesthetically pleasing images and clear links. For instance, Disclosure presents links both across the top of the page and through the boxes, including their blog, music, photos, live, store and video. 

Therefore both sites include links to live, videos and their music. However, from the information presented, I can clearly tell Disclosure cares more about the money they get then Låpsley, as Disclosure takes you to a purchasing links for their music before you reach their official website and also has clearer main links to their merchandise then the solo artist does. Although Låpsley has links to her debut album and access to where a fan can purchase it, the information is not stored as a main element in the site.

Overall, I feel both Låpsley and Disclosure follows typical conventions of a successfully communicated website and homepage, however both achieved in a different way. It is effective for artists to present their products in a particular way, as it differs them from other artists and through symbolic codes and conventions it spills further information and representations about themselves.