Artist and Audience Research: Phase Two - Cigarettes After Sex

Artist and Audience Research: Phase Two

ARTIST PROFILE

Cigarettes After Sex - A Brief History

The band, an ambient pop group from America and formed in Texas in 2008, follow the genres of Dream-Pop and "slowcore". Currently comprised of four members, founder Greg Gonzalez released an EP in 2008 entitled "I", in which the bands most notable and memorable songs feature, such as "Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby" and "Dreaming of You". After relocating to Brooklyn in New York, Gonzalez worked in collaboration with the rest of the band and released their single, "Affection" in 2015, as well as a cover of REO Speedwagon's, "Keep On Loving You".

Dream-Core is a sub-genre of alternative rock, loosely relating to the genre of neo-psychedelia that was very prevalent in the 1980's. Songs that conform to the genre of "dream-pop" are commonly associated with brooding and atmospheric tunes, as well as a "dream-like" melody. It is often associated with the deep connection that the listener has when experiencing a song relating to the genre, and how listeners tend to "wander" through their own imagination, feeling a sense of release and serenity through their own
intense immersion.

In an article for VICE Magazine in February 2016, Christina Cacouris describes Cigarettes After Sex as "elemental, hazy and romantic, but with a noir edge underneath Gonzalez's androgynous voice" as well as "sweet and sentimental". 

The band's success is due to the sheet power of the Internet and social media, the band now has various social media accounts ranging from Instagram to YouTube that keep their fanbase in the loop of their new releases and album debuts. 

Partly inspired by Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat", Gonzalez uses people as influential tools in order to create music and he bases the feelings that are prevalent within the songs off past lover or friends. Although Gonzalex has been through his fair share of "broken relationships", the emotions felt were written into songs as a way that he could "feel release", it was a "cathartic experience for himself rather than one seeking a response, like writing a letter and putting it in a drawer" (QUOTED FROM ARTICLE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED). 

AUDIENCE RESEARCH SURROUNDING ARTIST

Through YouGov.co.uk, I was able to identify a similar artist that shared relatively the same audience demographic as Cigarettes After Sex. Damien Rice was found through suggestions and similarities through my own Internet research, therefore, it would be appropriate to investigate the research surrounding Damien Rice as an artist, in order to gauge the demographic that would perhaps listen to, and share common interests with that of the demographic for Cigarettes After Sex.

According to YouGov.co.uk, the demographics of gender lean more towards the female population, whereas the political stance leans more towards a left-wing attitude. However, what I have noticed is that the age demographic is significantly directed towards a younger audience, if I were to make an approximation as to what my audience demographic would be, it would most likely be engaged with by a relatively mixed aged demographic (i.e. an older demographic alongside a more contemporary demographic). I am making this approximation on the basis that Cigarettes After Sex covered REO Speedwagon's song, therefore as my aforementioned point stated, the older fanbase has already been established, and this particular demographic would be more than likely to engage with my music video. With this in mind, and considering that Cigarettes After Sex are a new and upcoming band (even though they were established in 2008), a younger demographic are more likely to be interested in their brooding and melancholic tunes with an increased amount of relation to their songs and lyrics.


Another similar artist that drew a strong correlation to Damien Rice was the band 'Snow Patrol'.

In comparison to Damien Rice, the age demographic of listeners for Snow Patrol is notably older, and the political stance of their audience are centre-right, as opposed to far-left like Damien Rice. Applying this to a real life scenario, this research correlates well as the majority of the older population that reside in Ilkley are right-wing Conservatives, whereas younger people are more likely to be in support of Labour, a left-wing party. Because of this, it will be interesting to see which demographic is more "attracted" to my music video based off two similar artists that are in close relation to my chosen band.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TARGET AUDIENCE

Strictly due to the nature of my music video, I would market it towards a middle aged demographic, purely based off the idea that an older demographic would be more attracted to the song and the lyrics, rather than the band. With this in mind, I would then market it towards a younger audience, for example, an audience ranging from the ages of 17-21 years old, purely because of the band, Cigarettes After Sex appeasing to more of a contemporary audience. Although I cannot be definite in which demographic are more likely to be impressed and satisfied with my media text, I can be sure in the fact that I will gather a lot of response, albeit positive feedback or constructive criticism, from each demographic that I have approximated.