How To Get Your Music Heard- Industry Tips from The Hoosiers

How to get your music heard! The Hoosiers talk about Music Industry Tips and advice! The Hoosiers will be playing live in London for  Live Fest, London’s biggest indoor festival. The indie rock band are on the bill alongside Tinchy Stryder, Roll Deep, Tempa T and many more. The Hoosiers give tips on how to get your music heard with Live and Unsigned. The band has risen from being unsigned to having a number one album in the charts.

The Hoosiers Live performance Tips

L&U: So Live Fest, are you looking forward to it?

Irwin: Nah not really. Was that the wrong answer?  (laughs) Of course we are. It’s always really exciting and particularly doing this one.  Festivals are always expected to be outdoors but this is a festival with a twist so it’ll be interesting to see what it’s going to be like.

L&U: As you say it’s an indoor festival, does that make it a bit different for you?

Irwin: Yeah it does. This’ll be the first of its kind we’ve ever played so it makes a big difference to the atmosphere. Obviously it’ll be really interesting and can’t help but make it more intimate.

L&U: It’s got a diverse range of headline acts, are you looking forward to being on the bill with the likes of Tinchy Stryder and Tempa T?

Irwin: Yeah it’s one of the most eclectic festival line-ups happening. I think it’s really interesting to see where pop music has gone and where it’s going. Definitely the guys on the line-up are at the top chart wise, it’s a really strong performance bill for lovers of pop I think.

L&U: What can people expect from your performance at Live Fest?

Irwin: Nothing but a life-changing pop affair. I have to make it sound big but in truth we’re going to be playing old and new songs as well as we can and try to put a smile on everyone’s faces and a spring in their step!

How To Get Your Music Heard

L&U: You spent 12 years trying to get picked up; did you think it was ever going to happen?

Irwin: Just before we were signed we were close to giving up actually. It just appeared like we were always getting passed over and some friends of ours had just got signed so the thought of getting signed seemed even further away. When you get signed you tend to think that’s the end of it but actually from every band signed per year maybe one or two make it to get onto radio and be a success that year. It was beyond our imagination

L&U: What’s it like when you realise you’ve made it?

Irwin: I don’t know. It’s funny with the words ‘making it’ because different people have different perceptions of where that line means. Even when the album was at number one it was really flattering and a great memory. It’s great that it happened and you’ve always got it but we just wanted to be good and now we want to be better. There have been rubbish albums that have got to number one. You’ve got to have your own internal meter of what makes a good album and how you’re proud of what you’re doing.

L&U: Did you have to work harder as a band when you were unsigned or signed?

Irwin: It’s a tricky one because labels will want to sign you. One of the hardest things for us, looking back career wise, is that in order to get signed you need to have something that’s fresh and captures people’s imagination; something that isn’t necessarily what’s happening at the moment. We were fortunate that it was quite a fresh sound we had at the beginning, but you later become aware that the hardest part is maintaining that because everyone is so fixated with the next new act and the new big thing. I think it’s really hard to keep people’s attention and that’s something we’re still struggling with. We’ve tried to progress the sound on the new album but with that you always risk alienating everyone that was into you in the first place. It’s tough to get the balance right.

L&U: What advice would you give to bands trying to make it?

Irwin: I’d say it’s really important to find your own voice and, particularly lyrically, and how you’re arranging the songs to try and find something that makes your band special and unique. It is good to be influenced by other bands.

L&U: What’s more important when you’re unsigned, perfecting your songs in the studio or getting out there and playing?

Irwin: I’d say it’s the songs actually, even more important than gigging. One of the reasons you start a band if you’re an artist is that you want to play live and get that real buzz, I think it’s important to do that for your own morale but the reason why you’re going to get a record deal or get anywhere is the strength of your songs. The way the industry works here, in the commercial pop sense, is about getting on radio which can be a bit gross because then you find that there’s lots of restraints to your music and they prefer songs to be 3 and a half minutes long and get to the chorus under a minute. There are these rules and you either play by them or you become something more alternative.

The Hoosiers Music Success and Music Industry Tips

L&U: What was it like when The Hoosiers first single Worried About Ray shot into the top five in the charts?

Irwin: Yeah it was really surreal to the point it felt like we were in a little bubble. It was hard to believe that it was actually happening to us, it was a real buzz. Hearing your song on the radio is amazing, kinda weird as well especially being so close to fame. That wasn’t the most fun side and I think that’s important to keep your focus on the music and your feet on the ground.  It’s good to know why you’re doing it.

L&U: Your first album then got to number one in the charts that must have put you on top of the world

Irwin: It did but you have to make the most of it, nothing lasts forever. There’s only one way to go after that. The only way is up.

L&U: You were trying to make it at a time when downloads and social networking sites weren’t as prevalent, did that make it harder?

Irwin: There’s a far less ‘album buying culture’ than when we first started. I think people are more likely to cherry pick certain songs from an act so I guess that’s why we can all exist on the same bill. You might find that someone has a Tinchy Stryder song and a track by us that they can have on one iPod. 

L&U: What do you think makes an act stand out?

Irwin: I think it’s between the songs you’ve got and the production. The songs need to be of a really exciting calibre so when you hear a small piece of a song you recognise the artist it is, not because it sounds tired but because it’s a signature sound. It’s a really hard trick to get right but when people do, you get an artist like Beyonce or even a band like the Arctic Monkeys where they’ve got something that people recognise. It really strengthens their reputation and progresses their growth.

Get Your Music Heard

L&U: Where should acts perform to get recognised?

Irwin: We were mostly in Reading when we first started. When you’re in satellite towns that don’t really have much of a music scene and you literally have a choice of three venues that you play at mercilessly, you become more recognised and even appreciated. It’s important to get some practice playing together as a band and as long as you find somewhere that has a high-quality sound system that makes you sound excellent, that’s when you invite industry officials to come and hear you. It’s really important that they hear something which represents your sound.

L&U: How important are competitions like Live and Unsigned?

Irwin: We did a couple of ‘Battle of the Bands’ type shows as we were starting out. When we did play at these shows we got advice from a professional panel and that for me is most valuable. What really made a difference for us was being surrounded by people who knew more than us. This was vital and I put that over performing live. It’s important to be able to take constructive criticisms.

The Hoosiers On Music

L&U: You’ve played some amazing gigs and festivals down the years. Who’s the best act you’ve shared a stage with?

Irwin: N.E.R.D were incredible to watch in terms of professionalism. They’re the only band I’ve seen with two live drummers that really made it work and justified it, not just a gimmick; they were amazing. Also Ben Folds from ‘Ben Folds Five’ is so underrated. He’s solo now and has been for a few years but he’s one of the best musicians. I remember when we performed at Glastonbury with ‘Vampire Weekend’ and they really epitomized that fresh sound and totally justified people sitting up and saying “what is this?”

L&U: Best festival played at to date?

Irwin: Glastonbury was really memorable because we had a troop of dancing girls; it made the set stand out…well for us and hopefully the audience! I’d say some of the smaller festivals like Gratitude and Secret Garden Party had the nicest atmosphere. With some festivals if you get it wrong it can feel like “am I going to get stabbed and have my clothes stolen while I sleep?” The smaller ones had a nice warm, family feel and everyone had a great time, it wasn’t too hectic. I like the smaller festivals because you can take your time and we have the opportunity to spend the whole day at the festival and watch the other bands whereas with some of the larger ones, though they’re fun to be a part of, sometimes you feel like you’re on a conveyor belt and you literally go on stage, perform your 40mins set and then you’re off stage and back in the bus making your way to another festival

L&U: Best gig you’ve ever been to?

Irwin: I’ll have to say Midlake when I saw them perform at the Roundhouse. They’re like an amazing old folk band. I love the album as well.

L&U: Any up and coming acts under the radar that you are tipping for success?

Irwin: There’s one young singer/songwriter called Liam Bailey. He’s really got something, he’s got soul and he’s definitely special. I just hope that the industry, in its current state, can still support an artist like that. I hope there’s space for him

Don’t miss The Hoosiers at Live Fest on July 23^rd. Buy your tickets for London’s biggest indoor festival here www.livefest.co.uk