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I'm less than a month away from releasing my first solo release. For nearly 2 years now I've been trying to figure out what sort of name I'd release under. My name, a monicker, a band name??? No clue. I've looked up about 200 names and just about everything is taken that I'd be interested in using. I guess there are plenty of 3 word combos, but I really dislike long band names. Problem is, my parents didn't make it very easy for me either, real name is so-so haha.

How many of you just release under your given name, who has their kick ass DJ/MC name, and who goes by a band name by their lonesome?

I've got 3 options that top my list as of now:
Tyler Darnell- wish I could have a sweet name like the so many euro ambient guys seem to- maybe my name would be cool to people in Asia or something (yeah right hha)

Nerve Noise (band option to throw other players into the mix)
Beach Borg and The Bugman (2 monikers for myself to confuse people when I'm the only one playing live- though obviously a bit derivative)

Leaning towards just using my name, but would love to see how you guys have solved this problem for yourselves.

I like the fake band thing. Allows me to credit the drum machine ala Big Black, though my drummer would be Roger (as in Linn), not Roland.

In the "band names" thread a while back someone had suggested "Three Word Band Name" which, at four words, is just perfect.

I've been using "Boring Machine" for a dozen years or so now.

Of what you mentioned, "Nerve Noise" might sound a bit too generic industrial-whatever to me, the others (including your name) are fine in my opinion. And your own name usually sounds lame to you because you're used to it but is probably fine for anybody else .

I vote for your name. Mostly because there's no genre bias in it. Always kind of liked hearing more idiosyncratic music that comes from someone with a 'normal' name. Sometimes burying a project under a name that tries to communicate something about the music means that 1) folks are driven away from it; 2) it's a genuine joy to hear weirdness associated with someone brave enough to sign off on it. No hiding.

--Invisible Man

oscillateur wrote: Of what you mentioned, "Nerve Noise" might sound a bit too generic industrial-whatever to me, the others (including your name) are fine in my opinion. And your own name usually sounds lame to you because you're used to it but is probably fine for anybody else .

This.
Your name is kinda cool man.
If I saw that on an album and you made the cover like all Cloud City sci-fi art, I'd think you were some electro-chart douchebag producer.

But then I'd be pleasantly surprised to find that you weren't.

If you don't want to use the name your parents thought long and hard about when choosing it, then maybe think about what the music you make causes you to feel like when you are playing it?
Like, are you Tyler? Or are you the Last Robot Lord of the Sky Tower, defending yourself against the onslaught of vicious giant insects, seeking to make their hive in your thermo-nuclear heated pillar of steel with the threat of oncoming global winter?

Man, I gotta go back to writing stoner rock.

I'm a big fan of nom de plumes. Ever since I was a kid, I'd think of pseudonyms for different purposes...I think it started with Dragon Warrior, River City Ransom & Final Fantasy. Then I'd think of names to tag and graffiti, DJ names and so on.

As far as using your real name, you''ve got a gift & a curse if your name is already associated with a famous artist. Like being named Michael Jackson, George Harrison etc. Your stuff will turn up in search results but you will never be the go-to association for your own name or bigger than the legend who came before you.

I like the Aphex Twin approach. Multiple names for pursuits, exploration through different projects & styles. But entire discography associated with 1 name, basically [RDJ]

I think having a project name also helps you stay focused on what works for that aesthetic and what doesn't.

I have been doing it for way too long. My fake band name was cool when I came up with it. I am always coming up with new band names and wonder why, since nobody's heard my stuff in all this time, shouldn't I just change it? i guess I'm stubborn. Mine is in my sig. Please PM me if you want more ideas.

How about Darnell Tyler III?

D.o.S. wrote:I think having a project name also helps you stay focused on what works for that aesthetic and what doesn't.

True. Can be limiting, though.

"Psyre" is cool.

Invisible Man wrote:

D.o.S. wrote:I think having a project name also helps you stay focused on what works for that aesthetic and what doesn't.

True. Can be limiting, though.

Yeah that's sort of the point, though? i.e. If I was going to put out an acoustic record, I wouldn't put it out as an Escapecraft album.

Thank you for explaining this to me.

It's filled under "no shit" in my mind so..

Sunflower Correspondence (see sig)

It's a reference to Pamela and Mr. Williams' means of communication in Samuel Richardson's "Pamela; or virtue rewarded" for you literature buffs. Although the book is pretty daft, those two words striked me as beautifully poetic. Youp.