Meet Jaimee Makes: an elementary school art teacher-turned-full-time freelance illustrator who spends her days "collaborating with bands, brands, and everyone in between."

The New England-based graphic designer has a knack for hand-illustrated typography and visual storytelling, working on merchandise designs with artists such as Noah Kahan, Jonah Kagen, and, hopefully someday, her dream artist of Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

Softside had the pleasure of chatting with Jaimee to learn more about her creative process, design partnerships, and overall thoughts on band merch as a whole.

Hailing from Houston, Texas, Khruangbin is a three piece band that has steadily built an exceptionally passionate fan base over the past decade. The genre-bending group have won over listeners with their bass-heavy psychedelic rock tracks that provide a floating, escapist listening experience that one may say is what you'd “hear inside a lava lamp,” as perfectly described by the New York Times.

Since their 2021 tour, Khruangbin has been praised by their fan community for commissioning both local and global artists to design different posters for each of their shows.

This week, Softside had the opportunity to chat with Mokshini, one of the visual artists the band has commissioned for their tour posters, to learn more about her inspirations, thought process, and creative work.

Seeing and hearing relatable, authentic portrayals of LGBTQ+ experiences on stage, on the radio, and within the broader entertainment landscape is critical to not only affirm those lived experiences but also to normalize, break stereotypes, and promote a more inclusive society that queer artists & fans alike feel comfortable in.

In celebration of Pride month, we highlighted three queer artists who are making waves in their respective genres, and ultimately, the music industry at large.

Selling merchandise is not just a revenue stream for artists but also a way for fans to connect with their favorite music. Beyond the physical keepsake, merch provides an emotional attachment as well, cementing a memory that the fan can associate with specific tours, albums, and "if you know, you know" moments.

Creating immersive and intimate fan experiences is key to driving both sales and overall engagement — and artist teams with their ear to the ground are well aware of this. In response to evolving market trends, we've noticed artists increasingly branch out their merchandise offerings, delivering thoughtful, creative memorabilia that reflect the products & experiences superfans are looking for.

We’ve highlighted some rising trends in artist merch and those who are executing on it brilliantly.