BANDS
A LOOK INTO BANDS’ JOURNEY SHARING HIS WORK THOUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHERE IT’S TAKEN HIM.
When I thought about what I wanted to dedicate my final project to, I was immediately inspired to cover something around social media within the youth culture. Social media is deeply embedded in the everyday lives of many within the youth culture but support different experiences and effects. The effects of social media are endless and quite contrasting. Not only has social media become essential to the current landscape of youth culture but has also transformed into spaces for entrepreneurs and creatives to make a living from sharing their talent and passions. When thinking of my subject for this project, I wanted to focus on someone who has learned to use social media to inspire and connect with others.
I chose to focus on music artist and creative director of WAV, Bands. I’ve had the opportunity to join and work with Bands along his journey as he created his music, collaborated with other Philadelphia creatives, and shared his passion for art and city culture through his social media accounts. So, we made a deal –Bands became the subject of my project and I helped provide behind-the-scenes content for his upcoming projects.
During our initial conversation about this project, Bands shared his thoughts and personal experience using social media as a 23-yearold artist and entrepreneur. This is what he had to say:
“Ever since I was a kid, I was always into fashion and music – and my mom always encouraged it. She knew how much I loved all that stuff, so she just kept surrounding me with it. I definitely was lucky to have parents who encouraged that side out of all of us – my siblings and me. Don’t get me wrong, people would pick on me when I was in middle school, but I just kept doing me. I know a lot of people get caught up in all that – what other people think of them. For me, at the end of the day, I just love making music and surrounding myself with art and fashion and other creatives. Once I started taking it seriously and showing everyone what I was capable of on the Internet, people started to notice. They started to message me and want to work with me. And I did. And I ended up getting to meet a lot of really cool people and – just share our art. And the city is starting to notice – we’re all going somewhere one day.”
Bands and Des shooting content for Bands’ close friend, Seth, in Philadelphia, PA.
After spending our first day working together, Bands gave his thoughts about social media:
“Social media is obviously different than from when we were kids. I mean, look at the kids from Philly who make it out … All because they put themselves out there online and show the world what they can do. I think we all get self-conscious and insecure, and with the way people post online now, everyone just flexes. But focusing on that doesn’t do anything. Doesn’t get you anywhere. So, that’s why I do what I do. I don’t really worry about what everyone else is doing. I kept to myself and put out my own work, and people know me for me. I’ve gotten to work with a lot of people I used to admire on Instagram. It’s definitely taken me further than I ever thought it would. ”
Bands taking a photo of a new custom painting created by a 23-yearold local Philadelphia artist, WHAR. Bands and WHAR connected via Instagram after discovering his music and became mutuals. He sent WHAR a reference photo of famous rapper, Future, at a party to be recreated. A few weeks later, they met when the painting was finished. He shortly posted the photo on his Instagram stories.
Bands and Smrtwrkr discussing a collaboration with Lite to create a monthly playlist with upcoming Philadelphia artists.
Lite’s March 2023 exclusive playlist curated by Bands and Smrtwrkr.
Philadelphia artists featured are Jahstar, OT7 Quanny, Poundside Pop, Moody 56K, Eli616, Rx Papi, Quadie Diesel, Cove, and more.
Bands on set with Smrtwrkr, shooting a music video with Lite in their photo studio in Philadelphia, PA.
Bands connected with the 25-year-old founder of Lite, Des, on Instagram and quickly connected to exchange creative ideas. Lite is an independent studio located in Philadelphia, PA that offers photo/video, branding, and creative direction services. Bands has maintained a strong relationship with the studio and continues to collaborate on videos and other creative projects.
Bands dancing around during a video shoot for “Green Goblin” in Philadelphia, PA.
Bands on set for his latest project, Next Time, in Lite’s studio in Philadelphia, PA. The idea behind the project was to shoot Bands getting his head shaved, as he states, “hair holds memories … this is a starting anew for me.”
Bands on set for his latest project, Next Time. When asked about the project, Bands stated:
“This is such a special project to me. I’ve never worked so hard on something before and I’m just really excited to share it with everyone finally. I’ve been sitting on this for so long.”
Bands getting his hair shaved during his photoshoot for his album, Next Time, in Lite’s studio in Philadelphia, PA.
Bands smoking a cigarette during his photoshoot for his album, Next Time, in Lite’s studio in Philadelphia, PA.
After shooting at Lite’s studio, I sat down with Bands to talk to him about how he felt about the content and everything coming together, after he’d been working on the project for so long. This is what he had to say:
“The process of creating everything was so long. I mean the songs I chose ranged from 2021-2023. Some of them were easy to make because of the energy in the studio – At the time, I was working with my two closest friends, Seth and Benny, so everything felt close to home, and I was comfortable. It can be super vulnerable at times, and the longer I wait to share my music, the more pressured I feel. But now that I’m putting it out soon, everyone else gets to know my songs too. I mean, sharing online is only 1% of the process, but I feel a huge weight lifted off me … I’m really proud of myself and everyone who helped me. It’s not easy and it takes a long time. My favorite is Zay. The rest of the songs on my album is all flex and glorification of this kind of lifestyle, but this song hits home to me because at the time, I was stuck deciding what I wanted to do with music and sharing my passions with others. This song really made me sit back and reflect and listen to myself – and what I really wanted out of all of this. And really all it came down to is that I love what I do and I wanted to share that and meet other people who do the same.”
Bands getting his hair cut by Philadelphia hairstylist, Anya Dawson, in Lite’s studio in Philadelphia, PA.
Anya Dawson on set for Bands’ photoshoot in Lite’s studio in Philadelphia, PA.
Bands on set for his photoshoot at Lite’s studio in Philadelphia, PA.
After finishing Bands’ photoshoot for Next Time, we sent some photos to WHAR over Instagram. Immediately, WHAR felt inspired to make a recreation, which only took a few days. Featured is the final product of Bands smoking a cigarette while getting his head shaved, created with permanent markers and watercolor.
Another piece of Bands created by WHAR. Similarly, this piece was inspired by Bands’ photoshoot. This piece has led to conversations about a potential collaboration coming up.
Custom made painting of Bands featuring lyrics from his song, “Zay”, gifted by his friends, Seth and Benny. Bands has this hung in the living room of his Philadelphia apartment.
Shortly after we received the art inspired from Bands’ photoshoot, he felt inspired and invited me to join him in a studio session. In this session, he brainstormed ideas about future projects. Though he didn’t record any new songs this night, he mentioned, “It’s not always about creating something. Sometimes I just need time in the booth to get myself going.”
Throughout our time working together, Bands continued to bring me along to watch him work with Lite in their photo studio. Featured is Bands opening a moving bag that would become a prop during a photoshoot for a personal friend and client of Lite. Bands creatively directed this shoot and appeared on set for some shots.
Bands outside of Lite’s photo studio discussing how the photoshoot went and ideas for rolling out content on social media.
During the conversation, he mentions, “I’ve learned a lot from how I decide to roll my own work out. I hold onto everything until I’ve put together my vision - it’s not about just throwing them up on the ‘gram right away. We gotta think about the story we’re tryna tell.”
After working on set for other creatives and artists’ photoshoots, Bands has started dabbling in project management and creative directing. Featured is Bands working on set for his friend, Seth’s birthday photoshoot.
Bands exchanging ideas with his friends, Seth and Stef, for Seth’s photoshoot.
Bands discussing camera angles with Lite’s photographer, Brendan.
Bands, Seth, and Stef on set making final decisions about the first shots of Seth’s photoshoot.
Bands, Seth, and Stef on set deciding on outfit changes throughout the shoot.
Stef interrupting shots and whispering to Seth, giving him advice during solo photos.
Bands, Seth, and Stef while taking a break throughout the shoot.
Bands, Seth, Stef, and Tim on set for Seth’s photoshoot at Lite’s studio in Philadelphia, PA. Though Bands was creative directing the shoot, Seth insisted Bands take some photos with them.
For our final meet, Bands invited me to come watch Seth perform at a local bar in Fishtown. Bands started off the performance by hyping up the crowd and introducing Seth to the audience before jamming out to music.
Bands’ microphone moments before being dropped. Seth later went on to perform a couple songs that were received well by the audience.
After finishing his short set, we all left the bar and went outside. As I talked to Bands about how quickly our final day came working together, he gave me some last words of wisdom:
“I really enjoyed working on this and all of the other projects I have within the past few weeks. These have been some of the busiest and craziest times ever – but I love it. And after everything, all I really have to say for it all is that – Literally anything is possible. I never thought I’d be here working with such cool and creative people. Really – all because I started sharing my work. So, I guess all I have to say is that if you really love something, you should never feel bad about sharing it. You just never know where it’ll lead you.”