How to Interview a Musician

[@RayNaylor]

Thanks for this video. For almost 2 years I've been producing and hosting a KZbin show called "The Performing Songwriter". This week I uploaded my 49th Episode. You gave a number of questions that I haven't thought about or have asked only frequently. This is very helpful. One question I hear over and over again interviews of songwriters is: What comes first, the lyrics or the music? I so tired of hearing or reading this question. As a songwriter, what comes first, comes first. I don't care which, I'm just trying to write a good song. In the last two years I've studied video production on my own a lot. One of the things always said is to tell a story. I wondered how to tell a story in an interview. What I do (at least so far) is follow the three steps of a lot of stories: 1. Introduce the characters. 2. Discuss anything that is an issue or something that might be a challenge for them. 3. Resolution by a live performance by the artist, which is what it's all about anyway. I'm sure I'll find a better way to do it, but this is what I'm trying to do in my interviews (not so much in the earlier ones I've done). In terms of known people that I have interviewed, some are local (Philadelphia) and some are not. I don't mean "Bob Dylan" known, but known to some extent in the singer-songwriter world. Maybe the most accomplished artist is a songwriter and performer named Tom Kimmel. I've known Tom for a number of years. He spent many years in Nashville having some of his songs in movies, and others recorded by people such as Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, and others I forget. With Tom and a few others I've done the interview and performance over Skype, which presents it's own challenges. They need to be able to record their part on their end and send me the audio file. Otherwise, it will most likely sound like crap. Thanks again. Ray Naylor

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Thanks for the great comment Ray! It is definitely an art trying to find what questions are good and which are bad. There are definitely some questions (which I mentioned) that always get a similar and boring answer, so I cut that question. And a lot of times it is up to the musicians to give good answers. There are some fantastic people out there who have insightful things to say, and like you said, telling a story is a great format and can really get a steady conversation going. When that happens, you're not just reading questions off your list, you're having a regular conversation. Thanks again for the comment, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@THATdynamite]

his was so helpful i wish i could like this 100 times

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

I'm glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching!

[@skinhitters]

“I Love your Artistry and work.” ❤️❤️❤️

[@ruthmrnflx6461]

I’m about to interview my first rapper this weekend working on getting my first host job. I’m really scared and thank you for this video ❤

[@chinyereanyanwu2108]

I'm about to go through the same thing this year.A friend of mine who is a musician wants me to interview him on a TV show tomorrow..omg.

[@stephmetcalfe4378]

Thanks so much for the tips!!! I have my first interview with a band in 2 days and this had been super helpful!!!

[@Route66FarmandSanctuary]

thank you. I found this very helpful. I am getting ready to do my first true interview with a musician I have known for some time. He/the band knows me well so I feel it will be relaxed, but I want to be professional and create amazing content to promote them. The whole "questions" and how to present them is making me nervous, and your video is amazing!!! Thank you.

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

I'm so glad it helped! It can definitely be nerve-wracking, but you've got this!

[@assaltshaker6746]

I know this has nothing to do on interviewing musicians, but I'm planning on interviewing a voice actress soon. Thanks for the advice in the video! :)

[@ridikulazyoutube9977]

I just subscribed....dope informative video. I am a musician myself, I understand where you comin' from

[@Allaboutmepodcast]

I really enjoyed your video. It has vindicated that my co-host and I have been on the right track thus far and on top of all that I also took away a few pointers. This video and your energy is greatly appreciated.

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Glad to hear it! Good luck with the podcast!

[@ImWearingAWire]

This is super helpful, thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@lyricalwolfvonmisfit]

thank you for this video. I'm thinking of trying to interviewing some bands and hoping to grow my channel. Thanks for the advice.

[@crazy-horsecrazyhorse8543]

Mason, thanks so much for sharing your interview questions and idea’s, I too am a Musician so I really appreciate your approach to interviewing musicians, your interviewing system is the best. Peace Crazyhorse.

[@ashtv5399]

Really great video! You dropped some good gems in here to help me come up with some great questions.

[@thenextbigthing0938]

Thanks man this really helps. If just started my podcast and interviewing artist and bands and this really helps me keep it up

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

That's great! I'm glad I could help. Good luck with the podcast!

[@salimatouthiam8099]

Love this video. It's a game changer!

[@shadsworl4298]

I'm new in this and I'm really happy that I watched this video cause it helped me a lot. Now I think I'm totally ready for my first interview!😊

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Thank you! I'm glad it helped you! Good luck on your first interview, they are a lot of fun! :)

[@7SERIESfilm]

interesting video I'm just getting into interviewing and I was having a hard time coming up with questions. This video give me a starting point. I just subscribe and I will be checking out your videos more

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Good luck with the interviews! They are a lot of fun and you meet awesome people. Definitely look back at some of my interview videos for these questions in action. My most popular interview is with Doyle from The Misfits, and that is probably my best interview.

[@naughtieknotshaircare5416]

Great video, I've learned so much in this 19 min video

[@Batmonthesequel]

I only started interviewing musicians in the past 18 months out of my recording studio’s necessity (I don’t exactly LIKE it but nobody else here could/would so I ended up being the defacto interviewer) What I can say with absolute certainty is avoid the “what inspires you” type questions. They’re just the “where do you get your ideas from” question in disguise and that is easily the lamest interview question (R.I.P Norm Macdonald). That question never goes well and always ends up cut out of the interview.

[@gabrielrodriguez9697]

This was really helpful the band I am going to interview might remember me because I used to talk to each member before they become a band.

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Awesome! Good luck with the interview!

[@paleomokoena4689]

A GEM 💎 of a video. Thank you

[@850vet]

Definitely helpful good shit brodie

[@carlhansen4837]

Started interviewing for my channel and lined up a few more guitarista. Done one so far and this was super helpful thanks man!

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Glad to hear it dude! Good luck on your channel!

[@Highnyguy]

Made some really good points. Thank for taking the time

[@isabellanicolas4402]

You're surely a good interviewer and could be a great teacher! Thanks

[@puymao]

Thank you. Your tips are practical.

[@ChuckShute]

Some great advice, nice job.

[@carlsonedwincreated]

This Guy has helped me a lot. Thanks..

[@lukaszkludczynski]

I'm going to interview someone soon thanks for support

[@JackalGoldKick]

Thanks for the advice and tips I never done a interview before but might be doing one soon.

[@Rrealmds]

I’m an upcoming Toronto artist. What if we try to work together for an interview?

[@JuanAlvarezMusic]

Awesome information, thank you for sharing!

[@modupeayodele2128]

This is an impact to me. ♥️♥️♥️

[@djangoamadeusoconnell5987]

very good advice... thank you for posting this.

[@kaitlynramirez5085]

This helped a lot. Ive been interviewing a lot local punk and metal bands in southern California to give them that free promotional i wanna go to the bands ive already interviewed and apply what you had to say thanks so much for making this yay!!

[@heyarche]

Great video!!

[@stokesy2006]

Thank you for this mate I've got my own show which will soon have interviews and I needed this info

[@majerofirestarter6703]

Amazing bro,,,I like what you do

[@MetalBere]

Great tips

[@binktvonline]

Thank you so much, you help me a lot brother. God Bless you.

[@hugglies]

Great vid man! Thanks a lot

[@merriellegatlin2714]

The iheart radio interview with the Arctic Monkeys haunts my nightmares. Wish she had of seen this video

[@SheronLoftus]

Thanks for this, so glad i watched this before my interview :)

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Thank you, I hope it helps! Good luck! :)

[@enobongekong5391]

I am a malians but I don't know what to do now, because no one interview me before serious,

[@yaboyrobheth3255]

Really helps! Thank you

[@RhaplordRevelation]

Thanks man I love this

[@sheeplydia1329]

Thanx for sharing. It helped a lot!!!!!!🥇

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Glad it helped!

[@254hometv]

I like this

[@MyWhiteFair]

thanks a lot!!! this helped me so much

[@princezoegar5152]

I really love this

[@nkrumahpatience8825]

thanks.. I need more of this

[@zoemorehead7515]

my favorite question to ask is "WHat do you hope your listeners will take from your music?"

[@sandeepsinghtausdilrubapla230]

Thats Great

[@Mbrown1123]

Great info, but use the "noise reduction" edit on audacity to get rid of that nasty ground loop ya got going on.

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Yeah I've learned a hell of a lot about audio production since making this video, it's kind of embarassing watching this video now.

[@lewisfindley123]

Thanks for the awesome video. It's definitely made tomorrow less daunting!

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

I'm glad you found it helpful! Good luck with your interview.

[@pataillancesobad4017]

Thank u pretty much! Im going to interview a band called SPANK for my school newspaper. I'm hella nervous xd

[@poponade3958]

very nice

[@SHESHANTV]

Nice thanks boss ✊🏾👋👋👋

[@lilrailshortrail608]

Please watch and avoid awkwardness right

[@mariogarcia6481]

Bro, you hear buzzing on this video. Ijs

[@RiNGERMANTV]

Great Video

[@lizwanjiku5954]

very helpful, thankyou..

[@charizard4249]

This could be mt first time Interviewing a Musical Group, and It's Mayday Parade

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

That’s awesome, Mayday Parade is good! Let me know how that goes.

[@charizard4249]

Masonzero Digital Works they called off the interview last week. It was going to be today

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Ah, sorry to hear that!

[@charizard4249]

Masonzero Digital Works there concert was lit so can't complain

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

That’s awesome, I’ve seen them twice and they do not disappoint. Glad you had a great time.

[@mariogarcia6481]

I fucking SALUTE you sir!!

[@wvntvwevibenetwork5240]

Great video!

[@lifeascece]

thank you this helped

[@joshjosh25694]

Having my first interview on Wednesday

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Good luck dude!

[@NicoleTheAlchemist]

Thank you 😊

[@liabp6]

good video

[@mcwanu268]

Thanks men

[@baharal-samarrai455]

Thank you!

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Thanks for watching!

[@c-willharris3782]

I'm really thinking about getting into this field what's your advice on getting the Artist to do a interview with u.

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

Sorry for not seeing this comment sooner. I worked at a college radio station, so I was working directly with artists and promoters. But if you don't have that connection, I would start by messaging smaller artists on Twitter or Instagram or email and just asking. You might also want to start with small local artists in your area. As your channel grows, you can attract bigger artists, since they will see more value in being featured on your channel.

[@c-willharris3782]

@@MasonzeroDigitalWorks This what I been doing it works just thought it was something else I could do right now

[@773tv8]

🔥🔥🔥

[@damianmedina6375]

bouta interview Mario Judah in a discord server this helped

[@marijastojadinovic43]

I almost stopped watching when you said "Ask them what's their name". I understand your point, but I believe it's a low key insult. Instead, the interviewer should introduce the person to the audience, that's much more professional and is literally within your role as a show presenter. Other than that, really loved your video.

[@MasonzeroDigitalWorks]

That's fair. I mainly say that because when you ask someone to give a basic intro of themselves, they will often include their name. Like, "Hey I'm John, I play bass in this band, and I like skateboarding". That being said, I think I presented everyone in my actual interviews, and then asked them to introduce themselves. I'm glad the rest of the video was helpful!

[@jonaszimmermann3239]

älllllllee

[@assaltshaker6746]

I know this has nothing to do on interviewing musicians, but I'm planning on interviewing a voice actress soon. Thanks for the advice in the video! :)