Everyone loves a good interview, but not enough people ask good questions when it comes time to start the interview.
So many interviewers ask the same dull, boring, uninspired questions that a singer will likely not be excited to answer since they've heard it a million times before.
Related Post: What's The Difference Between A Vocalist And A Singer?
Want to spice up your next interview? Here are over 60 questions that will pull out some deep thoughts from the singer so that the audience can really get engaged and learn good details about their background.
These questions will mostly work for other types of musicians like rappers, producers, songwriters, and instrumentalists as well.
What is your main goal in your music career?
How did you come up with your band name?
Which skills have you gained that help you perform effectively as a musician?
What separates you from other artists?
What are you most proud of to date?
What is your dream venue to perform at?
Describe your creative process when you write new music.
What’s an average day like for you?
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans.
When performing and the crowd is singing along, how does that energy make you feel?
What’s the biggest highlight of your career thus far?
What made you want to become a musician?
What's your process for dealing with performance anxiety?
Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? Why?
Which famous musicians have you learned from?
What makes a performance/song good? How do you judge a performance/song?
Describe your worst performance. What did you learn from this experience?
What’s your motto or some good advice that you live by?
Do you collaborate with others? What is that process?
How often and for how long do you practice?
How do you balance your music with other obligations - mate, children, job?
Describe your favorite and least favorite part about being a musician.
Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to sing as a career?
Who helped you most in your journey?
Have you ever participated in any music competitions? Did you win any prizes?
Why do people NOT listen to your music?
What would you do differently if you were to start over again from day one?
What social issues are you most passionate about?
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
How do you handle criticism and negative feedback about your music?
What was the first instrument you learned to play, and why did you choose it?
How do you stay motivated and inspired to create new music?
How has your music evolved over the years, and what has influenced that evolution?
What's the best advice you've ever received about pursuing a career in music?
What do you think is the biggest misconception about being a musician?
How do you balance creative expression with commercial appeal?
What role does technology play in your music-making process?
How do you choose which songs to include on an album or setlist?
How do you handle disagreements within your band or team?
What do you hope people take away from your music?
How do you stay connected to your fans during times when you can't perform live?
What is the most meaningful song you've ever written, and what inspired it?
How do you handle success and fame, and what are the downsides to being in the public eye?
What legacy do you hope to leave through your music?
Get your singer to choose about ten questions from an extensive list if you are allowing them to think about their answer beforehand.
Don't forget to proofread, but don't proofread too harshly! A lot of singers and musicians will bring their own style to the interview, and you want to keep it authentic.
Encourage them to give you long, well-thought-out answers, especially if the interview is text only. A lot of singers are very chatty, but it's not the same when it comes to written content.
Don't give the same questions to all the singers. Try to formulate these questions in a way that's unique to their overall brand for a unique interview.
Please include contact information so a reader can find the singer easily. I've seen written interviews that don't even include a link to the singer's website. Are you even interviewing a real person?!
Get a good amount of info on the singer before you even interview them. This encourages the singer to put a lot of effort into the interview process if they interact with someone they know has heard their music before.
As a session singer, writer, and producer that has worked with over 300 clients to provide high-quality jingles, singles, and features, Yona spends her time creating and marketing new music and helpful resources for creators. Check out Yona’s latest releases on her Spotify, her Youtube and share if you like it!
If you are in need of singer, songwriter or song producer services, see what Yona Marie can offer you on her services page.