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How to Have an Amazing Radio Interview as a Music Artist

Writer's picture: lilpreshbobolilpreshbobo


 

Nerves kicking in quick, head buzzing with possibilities, and nagging voices in the back of one’s mind. Such is the feeling that might flood in before a radio interview. Is this you?

Experienced or not, these feelings are sure to trickle in at some point nearing and during the interview especially if it is your first radio interview in a while. In order not to get all doomsday and all, in essence, radio interviews are for you to have fun and to let in listeners on your story as a music artist, not just to promote your latest music or upcoming gig. Few music artists share this misconception but if that were the case, you wouldn’t be needing a radio interview to solely promote your music because that would be counterproductive given the immediate number of listeners one could pull from a radio interview. Instead, you are giving the listeners a chance to form an opinion about your music through your story and vibe on the interview which if all goes well is sure to bring a more productive yield for you as a music artist wanting to build a fanbase that feels like family.


So how do you have a great radio interview as a music artist? Here are some helpful pointers you should follow to have an awesome radio interview:

 


1. Come Prepped – Come Prepared

Although this might sound cliché and thrown around so much often, this is an important step you should not overlook if you want the interview to go as seamless as possible. As soon as a date is set for the interview, you should start making mental notes of how you want the interview to go.



Everyone has an exciting and intriguing story at some point given that it is foreign to the audience listening in. You just have to dig deep to tell the story as it is. Dead air and ums don’t look too good on your part so have answers that are relatable and drive to your point. As a note of caution, you don’t want your answers to be too brief that you come off as automated or boring. Yes-No answers would not cut it for an interview even though the questions might be close-ended.

  • Try to include short anecdotes or phrases to your responses in order to lay out the emphasis the audience might require. On the other hand, you should not let your stories or answers run for too long to the extent that the radio host might have to cut you off.

  • On the outside world, this would not look too good and could be a downer for those listening or watching. If the radio station needed a motivational speaker or storyteller, they probably would have gotten one instead.


Keep your answers not too brief and not too long. It is understandable that as a music artist you might want to tell all the stories about your struggles and whatnot, but as a tip, you could pick up from the expressions of the radio host if your story or response is lengthy or too brief for a question.

 

2. Try your best to build rapport with the radio host on and before the interview.

On the grounds of still coming prepared, you would want to do a little research on the structure of that specific host’s radio interviews. It is not left on only the part of the radio host to carry out a research on you, but also on your hands to carry out research on the show itself to help you come better prepared.

  • Watch a couple of previous interview videos of other music artists who have been on the show if available. Nowadays, most radio stations have video content of interviews put out on platforms like YouTube which is easily accessible. Doing this instead of walking in blindly would give you an idea of the format and likely questions you would be asked on your interview.


Depending on if it’s the radio host who reached out to you or your team, you would want to ask a couple questions to the host concerning the direction of the interview. If not, on getting to the venue, say hi to the host before the proper interview would start. Radio hosts are usually open to music artists they have come on their show and what better way to create a vibe or lasting first impression if not this way.

  • Whilst making a rapport with the host, you might want to cross-interview the host and ask questions such as how long have you been doing this and how has the experience been so far for you?

  • Chip in that you watched past episodes of the host’s interview and let them know what you liked about those episodes. This would lead in the way for you to ask questions concerning what to look out for in your interview such as what likely questions might throw you off and if you would be asked to freestyle which you should have prepared for with short melodies and phrases you could repeat on a freestyle.



 Coming off as open and welcoming would make the radio host more receptive to you. On a plus side, you might even be allowed to choose the beat you would freestyle before the interview if your approach is right. After all, the radio host would not want an artist they probably hand-picked to look bad on their show.


 

3. Go with people you are comfortable with.


To make a radio interview lively, you would usually need other people like your friends or team physically present so you could rub your energy with them. Going as a loner might require you to carry so much of the weight in the room which is hardly advised.

  • You would want to make it seem as though you are having a friendly conversation with familiar faces so you can exert the right energy to the audience listening to your story.

  • As a side tip, you should go along with a fellow music artist you could ricochet vibes with when the time to do something off the top comes about.


Although taken with a pinch of salt, it is advisable to mix the genders in the room in terms of people you invite to give that balance in the room for viewers to resonate with. Also, if possible, air the interview on your live video perhaps Instagram to drag in as many engagement points you could from the interview and for your fans.

 

4. Have fun!


Following from being comfortable, even though the air in the room might seem serious, have fun in the interview and don’t be afraid to use humor once in a while. The audience would enjoy you more, the more you enjoy yourself on air.

You might as well stand up when your music is being premiered and vibe to your song like you are on stage. If you can dance and your music is a jolly vibe, why not? The endpoint is for you to move your body and show character in some way that signifies you are not stiff and boring.

  • If doable, dropping a few skeletons in the closet, fun facts, and shortcomings may make you come off as more relatable and open to the audience. So, don’t be shy to let a cat out of the bag at least once in the interview.

  • Ask the host a question or two, most likely guess what questions that would bring out the conversational energy needed in the interview. For example, “guess how many songs I wanted to have on my album?”

  • Also, remember to pay a compliment and thank the hosts for the opportunity immediately you are introduced and at the end of the interview. Who knows? You might just hit a home run there.

Hydrate regularly as your mouth starts to dry up faster in situations like this, and you don’t want to sound awkward on air. Have a glass of water or something that would do about the same job.

 

On a parting note, ensure to bring the conversation back to you even though it is okay to digress a bit.


Want to learn more and see a visual representation of what an amazing radio interview should feel like? Watch this video of Lilpresh, an Afrobeats Fusion Music Artist whose groove is ready to make waves on the block:


 

Do you know a music artist who might need this?

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