My personal website

[Blizzard]

After researching on Saturday of ways how to better sell my music, I came across a few sources that said I should put up a personal website. Since several sources mentioned that, I guess it would be a good idea to do that.

http://blizzard.chaos-project.com/

Obviously I haven't started yet. Anyway, this is primarily for my music. I have already a good idea how I can let people access 30-seconds streams of my songs (or full versions of my older songs) and how I'm going to link to online shops where they can buy my music. The only thing about which my mind is blank is the site layout. ._. Any suggestions or layout ideas?
Also, should I stick to PHP or HTML? It's not really going to be much of a dynamic site so I'm considering pure HTML + CSS for it.

[Aqua]

Maybe use php for include?
Hm... layout... layout... layout...

Do a futuristicy, technoy thingie since that's what I remember your music being like XP
Maybe a black background with lots of neon-ish other stuff?

[Blizzard]

I was actually thinking of a bright-blueish/cyanish background, because that's how I see my music most of the time. xD

[Aqua]

Then do that! :x
The layout should reflect what you want/feel your music to be.

[winkio]

Have you considered using flash, or at least making it fully interactive?

[Blizzard]

What do you suggest? I don't see much interactivity possibilities in letting my music play. #_#

[Starrodkirby86]

Why, that's easy to do.

You can attract a lot of users if you take a photo similar to the great Frankmusik.

Er, mildly NSFW?: ShowHide

All joking aside, if you're going to advertise your music there, perhaps you should see a lot of official bands' websites and look at a common thread or interest...? Or go with your own awesomeness, since, well, we know that even your toilet waste is a work of art. 

[winkio]

Here's some examples of flash sites: http://www.youthedesigner.com/2007/10/29/10-awe-inspiring-interactive-websites/
They are basically themed, interactive websites.  It's not as much content specific as theme specific.

They tend to draw a lot more people in, the only downside being loading times.  I'm not saying you have to do it, it's just something you might want to look into

[Ryex]

well if it is a site purely for music I suggest making it very simple in concept. one column for text/media, a horizontal link bar ect. a good example is Pretty Lights' site http://www.prettylightsmusic.com/#/home their sight is flash but a similar effect could be achieved through html and javascript

[Blizzard]

@winkio: I'll consider it. If I can put together something nice quickly, then it's worth it.

@Ryex: It looks a bit like trying too hard. o.o;

All joking aside, if you're going to advertise your music there, perhaps you should see a lot of official bands' websites and look at a common thread or interest...?

That's a good idea. I'll definitely take a look at what others have to offer.

Or go with your own awesomeness, since, well, we know that even your toilet waste is a work of art.  

As soon as NAMK said "oh shit, this is being logged", I knew this was going to bite me in the ass someday. xD

EDIT: I put up a widget for now where you can listen to The Storm is coming so the site isn't completely empty. #_#

[Ryex]

You can listen to some music meanwhile.

works better grammatically as

meanwhile, you can listen to some music.

just thought I'd point that out.

also, it appears I've never listened to the newest versions of your songs. I'll have to buy then so I can... when I get some money that is.

[Blizzard]

Actually I think it works both ways since you can put meanwhile at the end of a sentence or at the beginning. Grammatically they are both correct. They are even semantically correct. But I agree that the second one does sound better because it sounds like "But meanwhile" which simply sounds better here.

[Spaceman McConaughey]

You can listen to some music meanwhile.

works better grammatically as

meanwhile, you can listen to some music.

just thought I'd point that out.

also, it appears I've never listened to the newest versions of your songs. I'll have to buy then so I can... when I get some money that is.

lol! That's coming from YOU!?

[Ryex]

I'm a very competent writer. my grammar is fine, it is my spelling that sucks.

[Blizzard]

Lol!

Well, I hope you'll buy my album then. xD

[Ryex]

dam I have $10.03 on my itunes but it won;t let be buy your album.... dam I'll have to get another gift-card or something

[Blizzard]

O_o Why is that?

[Diokatsu]

Lol!

Well, I hope you'll buy my album then. xD

i remember buying your album.

[Blizzard]

Who else bought it?

Were you one of the two guys who left a review? xD

[Diokatsu]

Who else bought it?

Were you one of the two guys who left a review? xD

Just wrote one XD

[Ryex]

i think it's because there isn't enough money to pay the sales tax or something

[G_G]

I'm gonna buy your album as soon as I get another itunes card. I just haven't had the money to get it.

[Blizzard]

<3

[Sally]

D: i would buy ur music but i have no money.

[Blizzard]

Lol, ask your mom if she's gonna borrow you some. xD

[Fantasist]

I'm gonna rip the music from your site (j/k) I like that player widget.

[G_G]

I finally got a 15$ itunes card, going to buy your album now <3

[Blizzard]

<3

[Blizzard]

Alright, I decided to use gay flash. I figured out the basic stuff within the hour and the rest isn't so complicated as well.

http://blizzard.chaos-project.com/test/

When I find a day or two of free time, I'll sit down and make this work. Putting together a music player and using an additional song selection via buttons in a separate menu isn't much of a job.

[Ryex]

nice.

[Blizzard]

The glow-blinking buttons are kinda awesome. xD

[Blizzard]

I've been working a bit on it and I like the current result. I still need to implement a proper music player and add some links where you can buy the songs and some bio/contact info. I will also overwork the background a bit and probably make the grey area completely white blending in with the background.

http://blizzard.chaos-project.com/test/

Also, the cover for Perfect Chaos isn't fully done yet.

[G_G]

You are verd'y sneaky sir!

I love the design its awesome.

[winkio]

the pulsing flashes are really annoying to me personally.  Everything else is looking good though.

[Blizzard]

You think? I think it's fancy. And it isn't shown all the time, only on mouse rollover. Do you have an alternative idea what I could use? Anybody else find it annoying?

[WhiteRose]

You think? I think it's fancy. And it isn't shown all the time, only on mouse rollover. Do you have an alternative idea what I could use? Anybody else find it annoying?

I think it's pretty cool; it might be better if it just lit up on mouse-over rather then pulsing, but I'd probably have to see the two and compare to pick which I like better.

[G_G]

I'm curious. Was this by chance made in Flash Catalyst?

[Blizzard]

Adobe Flash Builder 4.

[winkio]

I think if it didn't go away completely, it would annoy me less.  Like, pulse from 50% to 100%, instead of 0 to 100.  Or maybe have a different color when it pulses.  Just have it do something noticeable when it's not pulsing and I'm mousing over.

[Blizzard]

http://blizzard.chaos-project.com/test

It's almost done. I only need to add some info and make demo versions of all my songs.
Also, Flash is a bitch. It's great for animations, but sound, reading data from external files and dynamic GUI creation is horrible.

[AliveDrive]

I like the pulsing buttons.

[Blizzard]

I also put up the work-in-progress demos of Perfect Chaos, Fields of Mirrors and Synthetic Dreams for now.

EDIT: MWUAHAHA, it's done!

http://blizzard.chaos-project.com/

I will add the demos of 4 songs from Perfect Chaos tomorrow.