Website critique

[Problem]

Hi everyone!

So I finally got some webspace and built my long-overdue website. Essentially it's a simple online portfolio, and I'd like to get crit on everything: design, layout, text, colors... just tell me what you like and what you don't like, and if everything works as it should. I'm a non-native speaker, so please report any spelling and grammar mistakes, bad phrasing etc.

http://www.problematic-music.com/

Thanks!

[cat]

A few things I noticed:

*) You really look like your avatar
*) In the music portfolio the letter i looks like 1 to me which is a bit confusing
*) I like your music

The layout itself is neutral and didn't attract my attention, neither in a good or bad way.

[Anian]

Maybe you should put the music in front of everything, as in don't open with a page about you, but about your work. I think the usual train of thought is "oh, I like this tune, I wonder who made it" and not "I wonder if this person does some music I like, because they seem like a good person".
Yeah, what cat said, layout is kind of bland, but I wouldn't say it necessarily bad.

Also, you might want to make a twitter account (and connect a feed to the page) or something, if you're not doing a blog, not because "everybody does it", but it also lets people know that the page is actually active and that you're still updating. There's a lot of dead webpages around the net, so maybe just think about it. You don't have to be active on twitter that much, maybe pick a song of the day each day or something silly. 

[Problem]

Thank you for your comments!
The design was meant to be neutral. I like it when websites have a clear structure that doesn't detract from the content. Don't know if it's too neutral though. Any suggestions?

@cat: You're right about the font in the player, but I'm afraid I can't change that. The only thing I could do is use a different player.

@Anian: Putting the music in front is an interesting idea. The portfolio (as it is now) would appear strange as a front page, so it should at least have a short introductory text. But I like the idea, so maybe I'll do it that way.
Actually I'd prefer a blog to using twitter. The website is made with wordpress anyway, so that would be easy. I'm not yet sure if I really need a blog, but I'll consider it.

[selmiak]

maybe use some subtle gradient as a background for the whole rest of the site outside of the wrapper.
and a nice favicon is never wrong.
As Anian said, maybe add a Blog with some updates, even when it's just a post about something you did for a tunecontest in the competitions and activities forum. This shows some activity on the website too and you are using wordpress for the page anyways. If you don't want to I wonder why use wordpress, except for the many available themes to style the website.

[Problem]

Thanks selmiak!
I tried gradients but didn't like it, so now I use a semi-transparent background. What do you think?
I used wordpress, because with wordpress it's easy to expand the site. I wanted a small static site, but didn't want to rule out the possibility to add a blog and other things later on. But you guys have convinced me anyway, so I'll add a news section.

[Blue]

I like the colors of the design, and the semi transparent boxes. My only "issue" is that it's very "box in a box". It would help a lot if you'd let the stone background fill the entire background and get rid of the black background. It would open up the design so it doesn't feel so tight. Since your website is about your music and you aim for video games, perhaps you should consider adding some of your music to indiegamemusic.com as well? It's free, and helps getting your name out there. :-)

[Problem]

Thanks, Blue! I didn't know that site, but it looks interesting.

[selmiak]

I just noticed you don't have a title for the portfolio in the title tags.

and I'd open the links to the tools (that are on another server) in a new window/tab. just add target="_blank" to the links within the <a link declaration.

[Problem]

Fixed. Thank you once again, selmiak