Supporting Commentary
Purpose
I’m still in the early stages of my career as a singer/songwriter but I believe people should know the person behind the music. If someone is going to listen to my songs or book me for a gig, they need to feel a connection with me as an artist beforehand. The EPK became my way of building that connection, and I wanted to reflect the same values that come through in my songs, such as honesty and vulnerability. My goal was to present something that acts as a foundation, an authentic introduction to my work and identity as an artist.
Structure
I structured my EPK with simplicity and clarity in mind. It’s easy to navigate, with key sections like an artist bio, press photos, and quotes from tutors and peers. I focused on making sure the EPK wasn’t overcrowded or trying to present a version of me that doesn’t exist yet. It appeals to venue bookers, collaborators, and music professionals, all of which are looking for a quick but genuine understanding of who I am and what I do.
Reflection
At this stage, not everything in my EPK is where I’d like it to be. While I’ve written songs for several years and developed a strong sense of musical identity, I don’t have a lot of performance history or press photos to include yet. I used a section as a placeholder for my upcoming single, which will be replaced in the future by the official song. Initially, the missing elements made me feel like my EPK was lacking in value, but I’ve realised this is only a starting point, not a finished product. My EPK is designed to grow alongside me and my career.
Branding
I chose an earthy colour palette to match the acoustic, organic nature of my music. The photos I selected weren’t heavily edited or overly posed, they were taken by friends and capture me in moments that feel real and candid. Furthermore, I avoided an overly commercial and excessive presentation style as this doesn’t match my overall brand.
I was especially inspired by artists like Lizzy McAlpine and Adrianne Lenker, who create visual styles that feel like an honest extension of their personalities and their music. As I gain more experience and opportunities, I plan to work with professional designers and photographers to improve my EPK, but the foundation will still be rooted in authenticity.
Instagram is a useful tool for exposure and engaging with listeners and collaborators, but the EPK is more appropriate for industry professionals and venues because it functions like a music CV. Everything is in one place, unlike Instagram where you need to dig around for information. It’s helpful if you want to give people an insight into your personality and grow your audience before you release any music, however, it also has downsides. For example, the algorithm doesn’t always work in favour of musicians, especially small artists without an established audience or label. From my own experience, everything has to look aesthetic all the time which can make it harder to be authentic or personal. While both Instagram and an EPK rely on visual branding, the EPK is more reliable in terms of clarity and intention. It isn’t built on likes, trends, or the pressure to post often.
Audience
I’m currently hoping to connect with fans and promotors, but also collaborators eventually. My EPK helps introduce me by clearly stating who I am as an artist, the inspirations that have shaped me, the genre I sit within, and the emotional tone of my music. Although I’m still building a listener audience, I imagine them to be introspective and emotionally aware people, mostly in their late teens to early twenties but potentially older. I’m hoping to reach listeners who find comfort in honest lyrics and soft soundscapes. Musically, my songs lean towards folk-pop, but I like to sit in the space between the two, occasionally exploring jazz harmony too. Therefore, my EPK needs to engage audiences drawn to artists whose music is rooted in storytelling and sincerity, regardless of genre.
I researched what other artists in my space are doing, like Adrianne Lenker, Lizzy McAlpine, and Tiny Habits. What I noticed is that their visuals are very genuine and warm, they include lots of natural tones like greens, browns, muted yellows, and soft film-style photography. It all feels unfiltered, and that’s something I’ve tried to bring into my own EPK. This kind of branding shows me that you don’t need to overcomplicate things for the sake of professionalism, it’s more important to stay visually consistent. I’m not drawn to designs that feel over polished or manufactured – in my opinion, they verge too much on trying to impress people rather than accurately representing who the artist is.
1. (McAlpine, 2025) 2. (Lenker, 2025) 3. (Tiny Habits, 2025)
Revenue
Right now, I’m hoping my EPK reaches venues and promoters before anyone else. Performing live is one of the most direct ways to gain attraction, build an audience of listeners, and eventually generate income. I’d love for this to also reach labels or other collaborators further down the line. Hopefully, it helps me feel more prepared when those opportunities come along.
Assets
I built my EPK using Bandzoogle, which usually requires a monthly subscription. Luckily, I’m using their 30-day free trial to host and use the platform. I’ve mainly relied on friends and myself to take photos, which has kept it budget friendly.
In the future I’ll want to invest in professional press photos and videos, especially when I start performing more or have headliner shows. At the moment, buying a personal website domain doesn’t feel necessary, but as I grow and have more content to display, I plan to invest in that too. Down the line, I’d like to have a designer help me create a more polished look for my EPK, but for now, I’m taking a gradual approach and improving it as I go along.
Intellectual Property
Since I wrote my songs and friends took the photos, I have the right to use and share them. Therefore, I have control over my music and how the images are distributed, which protects the integrity of my work. I haven’t trademarked my artist name yet, but I understand the importance of doing that if things progress in my career. Trademarking would protect my brand and avoid any confusion with other artists that have similar names. I have secured matching handles on TikTok and Instagram, and plan to do this on Facebook and Twitter in the near future. Keeping things consistent makes it easier to find my profiles and music which helps strengthen my brand across different platforms. Although copyright is automatic upon the creation of my songs, I still plan to register them with PRS for Music once I officially release them. This will ensure I receive the correct royalties and have legal support if my work is ever used without my permission. Overall, understanding intellectual property rights is a vital part of developing my on-going career.
Group Work Evaluation
Throughout the group sessions and my peer discussions, we explored the purpose and structure of an EPK, focusing on how to present our creative identities in a professional way. One key takeaway for me was the importance of keeping the bio concise and focused, rather than delving too much into our backstories. This helped shift my thinking, realising that less is often more when trying to create something that feels genuine but is still professional.
Early on, I considered creating a business plan for an EP instead of an EPK. However, throughout conversations with peers and my tutor, I recognised an EPK felt like the more suitable choice because I’m still a developing artist. It allows me to present myself clearly to potential venues and collaborators, especially as I begin sharing my music publicly for the first time. As someone with limited performance experience, I discussed this during seminars with both my group and my tutor, he suggested I focus on potential performances in the future at venues like Oporto and Hyde Park Book Club, offering realistic next steps that still show ambition.
A challenge I faced during the group work was balancing my own vision with those of my peers who had different musical backgrounds and goals. At times, it was tricky to stay focused on what felt authentic to me while also considering the feedback and perspectives of others. However, this helped strengthen my own understanding of what I want my EPK to represent. Our group had varied musical backgrounds and ambitions, from performers to aspiring music teachers, but it was helpful to share our perspectives and refine our individual approaches. I also enjoyed helping others shape their artist bios, especially one peer who shared my taste in music and had similar career aspirations, we worked together to appeal to our desired audiences.
Some of the most impactful feedback came outside seminars. I spoke with a third-year songwriter about how empty my EPK felt at first, she reassured me that it doesn’t need to feel complete – instead, she encouraged me to see it as a foundation. She said, “as long as your artistry shines through, in colour scheme, press photos, tone and visual warmth, venues are likely to see the potential.” That helped me let go of that initial perfectionism and anxiety surrounding the EPK. I also talked to a third-year drummer who works in live events, he told me that a lot of support acts start with very little experience, which was really grounding to hear. A friend on jazz gave me some helpful feedback on the visual side of my EPK. She felt the tones were “too muted and serious” which didn’t reflect my warmth as a person or as an artist, this encouraged me to alter the layout and design of the EPK.
Initially, I was feeling pressure to present an overly polished version of myself. However, by having these conversations, I’ve come to understand that this EPK is more of a representation of where I am now in my career, it’s a foundation for growth rather than a final product. My hope is that this can become a blueprint for a more polished EPK in the future.
Bibliography
McAlpine, L. (2025). Lizzy McAlpine. [online] Available at: https://www.lizzymcalpine.com/ [Accessed 27 May 2025].
Lenker, A. (2025). Adrianne Lenker. [online] Available at: https://www.adriannelenker.com/ [Accessed 27 May 2025].
Tiny Habits. (2025). Tiny Habits | the Official Website of Tiny Habits. [online] Tinyhabitsofficial.com. Available at: https://www.tinyhabitsofficial.com/ [Accessed 27 May 2025].
