A Fictional Story

A double-page spread, as analysed in my flat plans and deconstructions, largely varies depending on the magazine and the layout. It can have minimal text with the main focus being on the photography, or the text can provide lots of information and thus accompanying the image with equal importance. 

In my opinion, if an entire two pages are dedicated to one artist, a reader expects this space to be justifiable with sufficient text offering both unknown and controversial information regarding the subject. Otherwise they feel unsatisfied with the amount of insight gained into the artist's life. As a result, my double page spread will include a very prominent image as well as a detailed article. 

The problem, of course, is that I need an alias for my artist but also a topical focus for the article to revolve around. 

Alias

I considered using many different names and looked at artists for inspiration. Very common names included 'Keith', 'Bradley', 'Billy' and 'Johnny' but I think that these are too generic. For my own artist I wanted to have an appropriate but also unique title. Quite like my interest in country music, I have come up with the name 'Jax' from the television show, Sons of Anarchy.  It is a nickname or shortened version of 'Jackson,' another typically Western name. But I concluded that the shortened variation of 'Jax' was more memorable and offered connotations of youth. 

Surnames were far more difficult to choose from. The most frequently common American names that I found are examples like 'Hanson', 'Johnson', 'Shaw', 'Crawford', 'Smith' and 'Wade.' The patronyms like '-son' and '-ford' sound traditionally western for me. After experimenting with pronunciations and different possibilities I settled with 'Crowford.' I have intentionally adapted the 'Crawford' example because it didn't sound as impactful. Jax Crowford is the name I will be assuming. 

Backstory

I was torn between giving Jax Crowford a British origin and using him as a patriotic idol, or instead giving him a traditional American origin. I decided to go with the latter, principally because it carries more meaning to the reader. My regional audience will be the UK, so if the main feature of the magazine is from the UK, it feels like less of a feat because they are more accessible and local. 

On the other hand, if they are from the country that first defined the genre of country music and have offered to feature in a magazine that is based in another country, then their presence becomes heightened. For example, if Tom Hiddleston featured in a British movie magazine it wouldn't have the significance of a foreign sensation like Tom Cruise. 

So, I am going to allocate Jax Crowford a stereotypical country background; working on a ranch whilst having a family in the cattle business.  

Feature

If the article has a large word count, then it likely diverges into subtopics along the way. To give the story relevance, I want my artist to be talking about an upcoming album. This makes the audience feel engaged because it is like he is opening up about something that isn't yet public. To keep the story even more relevant, I am going to call the new album 'Charming Shores' in order to relate to the coastal setting where I took some of the photos. 

Additionally, to give my character a multidimensional personality, I will refer to how he hasn't come from a wealthy background and has had to work for a living, which resultantly makes him appeal to the masses through relatability with the working class. Finally, I think that readers engage with an underdog. Therefore I want to give Jax Crowford a quality of self-doubt,  humanising him beyond the extent music. 

The Complete Picture

Jax Crowford will be a Texan born country singer who worked hard with his family on a cattle ranch from a young age. During his teenage years music became a passion and he used to record songs independently with his friends. One of his songs, 'Embers' became an overnight hit on Youtube and attracted the likes of a music company (yet to be named) who signed him on. His first album will be called 'Ashes to Embers' because it highlights how he has started to burn brighter in fame. 

He has since toured globally and is currently in the UK doing his first tour (this gives the reader a sense of urgency because he will only be in the country for so long) but he is mainly being interviewed about his next album, 'Charming Shores', which differs from typical country settings and pays tribute to childhood holidays up the Miami Coast, thus offering a personal insight. He will also reference other country artists who he admires. 

In addition to this, all the quotes I will use of Jax Crowford will refer to themes like modesty, honesty, and appreciation.