JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum How to find a great artist name???

Hi everyone!
I am brand new on this forum, I think I read about it in some book about songwriting and now I searched on Google for songwriter forum and then I joined.

I have a question about artist name. My name Anders Eriksson is very, very common and it's not good for branding, at least not in Sweden. I think if you want to get fans people don't just look for good music, they want an artist that they want to bond with and to join its "tribe". So they need a great image overall- Sade is a good example. It's great music but also a lot of other things that people are drawn to and it's even a part of their persona to show other people that they like for instance Sade.

An artist name should be easy to pronunce and easy to remember

I have been thinking about my name. I tried to write it in different languages or mix last name and first name:
Rikoh, Rick A, Andix, Rex (Erik in greek), Rix, A Rixo, Rexo, André Rexo, André Rixo, André Rikoh. I got feedback that RIKO or similar sounds like I am from latin america.

Also some ideas are just a word like "Journeyman" or "Traveler" and build an image around that, but now I found they were already taken. It's sometimes difficult for me to realise what is a good name because English is not my first language.

I would not like to have a typical american name because I am from Sweden. (some Swedish artist got names that sounds like american or british names, but I think it's a bit ridicolous)

If you have some comment or feedback or want to share your own process in finding a good artist namn I would be thankful.

Anders
http://anderseriksson.bandcamp.com/

A friend of mine has a boring last name so she uses her first and middle name in reverse order and spells them in an unusual way.

You could be Andy (insert middle name) or Eric Andrews or Rick Andrews, or name yourself with a band name. There are lots of pages on line with band names. To be unique, use two words that are rarely used together - August Crow for instance.

thanks!

I like the hook of "AndE Eriksson" or just "AndE" (Andy is fine too but not as cool looking as a logo)

So what is your genre, who do you sound like, what is your message and who are your fan base? Those answers would help a great deal!

Welcome to JPF. We hope to visit Sweden on our next Euro Tour.

Brian

Anders....

I would think your work would be first and foremost...if your tunes are memorable your fan base won't have a problem with any handle your choose..but if you want a name to draw attention one word can draw a crowd.

Good Luck with your endeavors...

Cher

thanks a lot! hope you can make it to Sweden;)

... and thanks everyone for fast replies...

Brian has a good point. Genre is important. So:

Pop: Ricoh

Country: Rex

Bluegrass/folk: Andy

Rock: Rick

Trance: André Rixo

You get the picture

Scott (aka Scotty, SW, Campbell, C, Soupy.....)

How about Erik Andersson or Erik Andreeson?


whatever you finally decide-best of luck to you in your music career..

welcome to JPF


Tom

Read ----- Just start reading magazines or books and watch for words that you like ---- Keep it short.

How about "Son of Erik"?

I think that is memorable. Different. Acurate. a good conversaton starter.

Good luck!

- Mark The Harper, Bronx, NY

G'Morrning Anders...(VERY likeable/Distinctive First Name ya've already got..as far as an American hearing it goes...)

Consider adding a COLOR... "Clint Black" comes to mind....He's Easy-to-Remember...because of the Color there.

I wasn't overly-fond of my last name..so I picked a CITY...(One not too-small/not-too-big..heh..& as luck would have it, one that I've lived in for 39 years, now.) Lucky for me, the City's Grown in Size/Reputation...& I've done my share too...heh!

DO like that "One Word" gimmick...& ya could get Instant memorability/recognition with a handle like "Wiseacher" or "Sidewinder" or whatever else you can think up that works.

Good Luck at the Name Game...

Best Wishes & a Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

Names are fun and important. But let's take a step back... it's more important and relevent to become a great artist first and THEN worry about the name, which could be about anything if you're good enough, but which may work differently based on what type of talent you really are once you're ready to enter the commercial market place.

Brian

Anders,

Good to hear from you. I am a big fan of ABBA, Roxette and Ace of Base and have spent lots of time in Sweden.

Jim

when I think about how important names are, I'm reminded
of "Engelbert Humperdink"

End Of Argument


But, nothin' wrong with a cool name.