---
name: persona-development
description: Create comprehensive artist personas including identity, backstory, artistic voice, visual aesthetic, discography arc, and character traits for consistent music generation
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, WebSearch
id: SK-MAC-004
---

# Persona Development

Create rich, believable artist personas that guide consistent content generation across songs, albums, and visual materials.

## Overview

This skill provides frameworks for developing three-dimensional artist personas that inform all creative decisions. It encompasses identity creation, biographical storytelling, artistic voice definition, visual aesthetic design, career trajectory mapping, and personality profiling.

## Capabilities

### Identity Creation
- Generate compelling stage names
- Create real name and demographics
- Define core identity statements
- Establish musical identity foundation
- Design naming conventions

### Backstory Development
- Write origin stories and backgrounds
- Define formative experiences
- Create key relationships (mentors, collaborators)
- Identify pivotal career moments
- Document struggles and breakthroughs
- Map early musical influences

### Artistic Voice Definition
- Specify primary and secondary genres
- Define signature sonic elements
- Characterize lyrical themes and preoccupations
- Describe vocal style and delivery
- Establish production aesthetic preferences
- Identify era and artist influences

### Visual Aesthetic Design
- Create color palettes with hex codes
- Define fashion sense and typical attire
- Design iconography and symbols
- Specify typography preferences
- Describe photographic aesthetic
- Note stage presence and live visuals

### Discography Arc Mapping
- Define distinct career phases/eras
- Describe sonic evolution between eras
- Identify breakthrough moments
- Establish current artistic position
- Suggest future directions
- Note side projects and departures

### Character Traits
- Define core personality traits
- Describe public vs private persona
- Identify values and beliefs
- Document quirks and habits
- Characterize media presence
- Note contradictions and complexities

## Usage Guidelines

### Persona Document Structure
```markdown
# [Artist Name] - Artist Persona

## Quick Reference
- **Name**: [Stage Name]
- **Genre**: [Primary Genre]
- **Era**: [Influence Period]
- **Signature**: [One-line description]

## Identity
- **Stage Name**: [Name]
- **Real Name**: [Name]
- **Age Range**: [Range]
- **Origin**: [Location]
- **Identity Statement**: [1-2 sentences]

## Backstory
[Narrative origin story]

### Formative Experiences
- [Experience 1]
- [Experience 2]

### Key Relationships
| Name | Role | Significance |
|------|------|--------------|
| [Name] | [Role] | [Impact] |

### Pivotal Moments
1. [Moment 1]
2. [Moment 2]

## Artistic Voice
- **Primary Genre**: [Genre]
- **Secondary Genres**: [List]
- **Signature Sounds**: [List]
- **Lyrical Themes**: [List]
- **Vocal Style**: [Description]
- **Production Aesthetic**: [Description]

### Influences
| Artist | How It Manifests |
|--------|------------------|
| [Artist] | [Influence] |

## Visual Aesthetic
### Color Palette
| Color | Hex | Usage |
|-------|-----|-------|
| [Name] | #XXXXXX | [Use] |

- **Fashion**: [Description]
- **Iconography**: [Symbols]
- **Photography**: [Style]

## Discography Arc
### Phases
1. **[Era Name]** ([Period])
   - Sonic: [Characteristics]
   - Themes: [List]

## Character Traits
- **Core Traits**: [List]
- **Public Persona**: [Description]
- **Private Self**: [Description]
- **Values**: [List]
- **Quirks**: [List]
```

### The MUSIC Framework
- **M**otivation - What drives the artist
- **U**niqueness - What sets them apart
- **S**ound - Signature sonic identity
- **I**magery - Visual aesthetic
- **C**haracter - Personality and persona

### Quality Checklist
- [ ] Name is memorable and unique
- [ ] Backstory feels authentic
- [ ] Voice is distinctive and consistent
- [ ] Visual aesthetic is cohesive
- [ ] Discography arc is believable
- [ ] Character has depth and contradictions

## Integration Points

### Related Skills
- SK-MAC-001 (lyric-writing) - Voice consistency
- SK-MAC-002 (style-specification) - Sonic identity
- SK-MAC-003 (cover-art-prompting) - Visual aesthetic
- SK-MAC-005 (album-conceptualization) - Career context

### Related Agents
- AG-MAC-004 (persona-designer-agent) - Primary executor
- AG-MAC-001 (lyricist-agent) - Voice application

## References

- Character development frameworks
- Music industry biographies
- Brand identity principles
- Personality psychology models
