Local Artist Spotlight Interview Tips

Preparation

1. Make sure that you have listened to the artists' music and have done research before the artist arrives at the studio. This will help to capture more relevant content during the interview, but will also lead to a sense of confidence in yourself as a station representative.
2. Begin by thanking them for their time and work to establish a rapport with generally friendly conversation prior to recording.
3. If they are not already familiar with the Local Artist Spotlight, explain the format to them and play an example if necessary.

Reminders

Mention to the Interviewees:

- That their responses will be condensed into 10-20 second sound-bites, so they need to be concise and speak in complete sentences.

- To speak one at a time.

- Go over using the microphone and headphones. Suggest that they will sound better by staying on mic and listening for quality.

- When there is more than one interviewee, ask them each to speak their name, in order, to help you recognize who said what and to pronounce their names correctly.

Begin the interview

As soon as the conversation begins leading into the music, begin recording.

Avoid yes or no questions. Here are some example questions:

- How did the artist/group get started?

- Where did the name of the group come from?

- For someone who has not heard your music, how would you tell them what to expect?

- Is there a primary songwriter in the group?

- Does everyone contribute to that process?

- What kind of things inspire them, what kind of process they typically go through when writing, etc.

- If the release is a studio recording, how do they think it compares to, or differs, from their live sound?

- Describe your musical journey up to this point, and where you're headed.

- What do you think makes you unique among groups that play similar music?

- What do you think people enjoy the most about your music?

- What asset of the band or of the recording excites you the most?

Improvise

Feel free to deviate from the suggestion questions above, but make sure that the quotes you are getting are usable.

Don't be afraid to direct your guest and guide them to a better response by re-wording a question. Keep in mind that if they don't make the point well, you can write it into the narration.

Above all, listen to what they are saying. If they go down an interesting path, go with them. If they are struggling to answer something, ask a different question.