Valdyr interviews Simon of Pixelghetto about his webdesign work.
Valdyr: So if we can, let's start with you giving us a brief introduction about yourself and what services you offer to bands.
Simon: Well I do webdesign and graphic design primarily. I can pretty much do whatever type of website the client/artist wants. Same for graphics. My graphics tend to be focused on making logos, or doing cd layouts. I haven't really had the chance to get into it any further. It's basically down to the client, they'll ask "can you do this?" and I usually can or go away and learn it. And I try and learn as much as I can, to achieve what is needed.
Valdyr: So how did you first get involved with webdesign, specifically for bands? What was the first band site that you ever did?
Simon: I got involved in webdesign as I was a huge failure as a graphic designer. *joke* I didn't get into University for Graphics. So I managed to get a battered old PC (Pentium 1 or something) and a copy of Photoshop 4 and a HTML for dummies book. And I just started fooling around with stuff. It wasn't until I met a guy called Phil Sherry (freakindesign.com - did the old lunarclick.com website), that he clued me in on the right software I should be using. So I got that, and started learning. I started out, like everyone, with a fan site. It was a Deadsy fan site. That became fairly popular, as it was graphically good looking (content was kinda iffy). So I started with that, then by some random chance...started chatting to a guy called Jeremy on the Napster chat thing (remember that?) and was checking out his band called Jeta (which went on to become The Anix). Also I had been chatting a lot with J from a band called cUM (which changed their name to Vanity Beach), and he noticed that I was a huge fan of the band and getting good at webdesign and asked me if I wanted to help out with their website.
Straight away, I was doing a Deadsy fansite and working on Jeta's website and running and designing cUM's website!
Valdyr: That leads right into my next question: How did you come about working with bands such as The Anix, TBM, Orgy, and others?
Simon: The Anix like I mentioned, was via Jeta. And Brandon (The Anix's singer/writer) wanted a website and asked me if I wanted to help. So I did! And that was the infamous double helix website (I had no clue what a double helix was at the time!). TBM...well, I emailed them back in the day when they were Imagica and had their 2nd demo out and asked if they needed any help with a message board, as it was the one thing they were lacking, and didn't know how to do. So I set that up (the current board is in its like 6th incarnation actually, it’s been hacked twice, and died many times. But it’s still rocking!). And it just carried on; they would be pressed for time on certain things or didn’t know how to do something, which I luckily did. So I help out whenever I can. The thing with that band is they are all way too talented! Music aside, Mike F does video work, Aslan is an awesome Flash programmer (look at their website), Rainbow does illustration and graphics, and Chibi does a lot of drawing and illustration. Sometimes it’s hard for me to add anything as they are all so damn talented.
Orgy...I am not sure how I ended up with that one. I started talking to Lou when D1 was starting up as I was interested in the webdesign internships and then lost touch, and started up chatting like a year latter. Orgy needed a website, but I think a few people flaked on them. And I just did some designs they were into, and it went from there really. Lou has been really cool, which I wasn't sure about as it’s Jay's dad...its a bit mind blowing. Especially as I am a huge Orgy fan in a country Orgy have never played...but I did their website. It’s kinda weird...but cool at the same time. Still annoyed a little they cancelled their 3 shows in the UK for a TV show in the US! I had a ticket and everything for their show! Grr! But no, it’s a dream doing their stuff!
Valdyr: When you start designing a site or CD artwork, what are you hoping to help the bands accomplish?
Simon: Well, usually what the bands envision in their heads about what they want their website or artwork to be. Sometimes I don’t achieve it, but do something else that blows them away. Brandon is a great example of this. He has an idea, and I start on it and send him back what I come up with and he is like "OMG! Genius! That’s amazing". He is super good, and hyper and positive with my work. That’s what makes it so fun, when you get the clients overwhelming reaction! Not to say it always happens, sometimes I can turn in something that stinks, and it takes the client to kick my ass on it so I can get it to the next level, and present something they love as much as I do. At the end of the day, I won't hand in something I don't feel is good enough.
Valdyr: What are some of your upcoming projects?
Simon: Well, I am actually working on Pixelghetto v5.0 so I should have that up by the time people are reading this. As I haven’t redone my own website for years. But Ever's new website is top of the list of what's going on. So I’m hoping to have that ready soon. As they are great guys to work with - Jesse is the nicest guy I have met in a long time and has give me a free reign at things, basically. So that should be interesting. I am doing a website for a Canadian metal band called Scarlet Sins. I haven’t actually heard their music yet, but its an all female band. They are calling tonight to play me their unmixed CD. Kinda excited about that, as I am a big metal fan. Also Vanity Beach's new material, for their upcoming CD, "Vengeance". There is probably other stuff too, but I can't think of much. Oh, another thing which I have started up on…a musical project with this super talented musician out of Wisconsin. It’s going to have guest vocalists from all these cool bands I am friendly with, calling in favours. We have 5 singers on board already for it. He is doing 80% of the music, and I will do production, some music, and arrangement ideas, as well as covering the website, artwork etc. Ideally it will be mixed and mastered at Parr Street Studios (famous studio in Liverpool). I want it to be a real project, not just a bunch of mp3s floating around the net!
Valdyr: Do you have a favorite site you've done thus far, or a favorite aspect of a site that you're really proud of?
Simon: I have a bad habit of going off websites I have done quickly, as working on the same thing for months can wear you out. But I do like Vanity Beach's old website a lot (as they have a blog up now). And that was just done in a day, which was amazing. I have even seen websites that have borrowed from it, too. So I must have done something right. I love the Flash thing on the Anix's website where it says their names. It's cheesy but cool at the same time.
Valdyr: What do you think is the most important aspect of designing a band site?
Simon: To make sure the information on the website is easy to access and read. I see a lot of websites with tiny fonts, and I can't read that stuff. So I am probably not the only one. Then it's to make it look good, and to make the band look good. You don't want a bunch of spinning signs and flaming skulls like its 1994 or whatever. You have to present the clients in a way that makes them look as great as their products are.
Valdyr: In all of your work with web and graphic design, what advice would you give to aspiring web and graphic designers?
Simon: To keep it simple. Simple works. Don't be going crazy with tons of different things happening at the same time. Keep it simple, and clean. Most people get too focused on having it looking super badass that they miss the fact you can make something look cool with some simple touches. Whether it be a font choice, nice colours or whatever. Also, people seem so eager to Flash everything to death (flashterbation its called). Not everything has to spin and swish and swoosh to be cool.
Valdyr: What advice would you give to bands looking to get a site made or artwork done?
Simon: You only get what you pay for. A lot of bands and clients get turned off by prices. I think people forget that it is a skilled job. Just because they can download Photoshop and put bevels on their text, they think it’s somehow easy to do. It takes a lot of hard work, and time to get things right. Hire someone that you like, not because they are "cheap". You wouldn't do it with other services. Don't do it with designers. Plus, we gotta eat you know? Living off ramen isn't much fun! *j/k*
Valdyr: Well, awesome! That was all the questions I had for you, is there anything else you'd like to add?
Simon: I can't think of anything more. You did the hard work for me! Just that the kids keep supporting these up and coming bands and making the huge stars that they should be, and keep checking out RadioActiveMusic obviously!
Valdyr: Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview, and thanks for supporting so many good bands!
