Your music is always first. It’s your contact point for new fans, and the reason you’re still here. Your story is an important part of your art. It provides context and can make a casual listener a long-term fan. It’s a great way for industry professionals, influencers and journalists to connect with your band. When my musician friends ask me how I get media, I tell them lead with great songs and a better story.
Remember that your story is not the same as your band bio. While the bio contains facts about the band, and may include elements of the story if necessary, your band’s story is far more important.
It might be simpler to see your story as the culture of your band when you think about it. There are many ways that this culture can be represented. You could use it as an anecdote or a statement to live by. It can also be a guideline, a principle, or a way of thinking that influences the music and your world view. Your life experiences and life story are what the story is about. It doesn’t have to revolve around one major life event. You could write about a book, a song or a vision.
For inspiration, look to your heroes. Kanye was in an accident with his car, 50 Cent was shot nine more times, and Bon Iver was left in a log cabin in winter after a split. The backstory of an artist is crucial in genres such as Hip Hop and Punk. The artist’s story is what solidifies their place in the wider genre culture.
A great story doesn’t have to be limited to one genre. It’s also not about sharing content. His story was basically a non-story when The Weeknd first appeared. The Weeknd’s story was essentially a no-story. There were no social media posts, photos or videos of him…just his music. The story was missing, so the only thing that provided the story and buzz was the lyrics and the album art.
Your ability to create a compelling story is all that will limit your story. Your story can be real, imagined, or absurd as long as it is true to your artistic vision. It’s only important that it is your own story and authentic to you.
How do you create a compelling band story?
Take a look at your life, music, experiences. Try to see them through new eyes. Take a fresh look at your style, sound, and motivations with a beginner’s eye. Find a common thread. Easy, right? You might not realize it, but it is likely to be much more obvious than you may think. If you are having trouble, ask trusted friends or fellow musicians.
The point of any story is to grab people’s attention before they hear the music. You can get them to visit your website and listen to it the next time they come across it. You can hook them with a compelling story and make them believe in you and your music.