How to Talk About Your Music (So People Actually Listen)

Every artist wants to be understood. But here’s the truth most people never tell you - your music won’t speak for itself. Not anymore.

In a world where thousands of new tracks are released every hour, what cuts through isn’t just sound... it’s story. And I'm on something of a personal mission to get artists talking differently about it!

I’ve seen incredible songs vanish into the noise simply because the artist couldn’t explain what they stood for. And I’ve seen average songs travel far because the story behind them made people care - really care!

The ability to talk about your music, clearly, confidently, and with heart, isn’t a marketing trick but a vital part of the craft. When you learn how to communicate what your music means, you give people a reason to listen.

Why People Don’t Listen (Even When the Music’s Good)

Most artists and their teams have had this moment: you send the track to someone - a playlist curator, a friend, a label rep - and they never reply.

It’s easy to assume they just didn’t like it.

But often, the problem isn’t the song, but the context.

People don’t engage with what they don’t understand.

If they can’t grasp who you are, what you stand for, or where your music fits, they won’t know how to connect with it. In a world of constant content, clarity creates trust.

When your message is vague - “I just love making all kinds of music” - people don’t know what to latch onto. But when you speak with purpose - “I’m building a world where Arabic melodies meet UK electronic textures” - they lean in.

The clearer your story, the easier it is for others to remember, share, and champion it.

The Myth of “Let the Music Speak for Itself”

“I don’t like talking about my music - I just want it to speak for itself.”

That mindset worked when music discovery was limited to radio, record stores, and gigs. Now, most people meet your art before they hear it - through captions, bios, thumbnails, or TikTok clips.

Your words are the doorway to your sound. And you don’t need to sound like a PR statement. You just need to sound like you, with intention.

Think of it this way:

Talking about your music isn’t explaining it. It’s translating its energy into language.

It’s how you help people feel what you feel, before they even hit play.

You’re Not Promoting, You’re Positioning

There’s a big difference between self-promotion and communication.

Promotion shouts. Positioning invites.

When you can describe what makes your music distinct, you make it easier for other people to advocate for you.

Here’s a simple way to start:

Ask yourself three questions:

1. What emotion or idea drives my music?

2. What world or culture does it live in?

3. What kind of people connect most deeply with it?

If you can answer those three clearly, you can start every conversation - every bio, every post, every pitch - with purpose.

The Artist’s Communication Framework

Let’s make this practical - thats how I lead programmes at Xpandr, such as Identity Mode, where we cover this and much more.

You can use this framework anywhere - social captions, bios, interviews, or even when introducing yourself at a networking event.

1. Start with what you stand for, not what you sound like.

Don’t lead with genre. Lead with intention.

“I make music that helps people process chaos.”

“I build sonic spaces for reflection.”

“I create modern soul for a generation raised on electronics.”

This sparks curiosity before you mention production details.

2. Anchor your identity with reference points.

Use cultural touchstones, not comparisons.

“If Massive Attack grew up in Cairo.”

“Where spoken word meets synthwave.

These phrases don’t define you, they just orient your listener.

3. Describe the experience, not the process.

People connect to emotion, not equipment.

“It’s the kind of track that hits when you’re driving home after a long night.”

That paints a picture.

4. Speak in headlines.

If your project had a headline, what would it be?

“A love letter to losing control.”

“A soundtrack for modern restlessness.”

Headlines are memory hooks - people share what they can repeat.

Applying This Beyond the Artist

This skill isn’t just for artists looking for people to listen to thier music.

Managers, producers, marketers, and even educators need to communicate meaningfully.

Managers must know how to translate an artist’s story into partnerships.

Producers must articulate their sound so the right artists find them.

Publicists, label teams, educators - all need clear, human language that makes ideas land.

This is why communication training sits at the heart of Xpandr’s programmes.

Inside Identity Mode and Fan Growth Lab, we teach how to build artist narratives, translate values into language, and align messaging with audience psychology - so your story becomes part of your strategy.

Because clarity attracts the right fans, partners, and opportunities.

The Psychology Behind It

Humans don’t connect well to facts; we connect to patterns and emotion.

When you talk about your work clearly, you help others form a story they can hold onto.

A clear narrative builds trust. And trust builds time - the thing most artists never get enough of.

When your audience understands your mission, they stop needing convincing and start believing.

Building Your Language Bank

Here’s a simple habit that changes everything: build a language bank.

Every time someone describes your music in a way that feels right - write it down.

Every time you find a phrase that captures your energy - note it.

Every time you explain your work and someone’s eyes light up - remember what you said.

Those words are clues. You’re not inventing your story - you’re uncovering it.

The Future of Artist Communication

The next generation of artists will win not because they’re louder, but because they’re clearer. As attention spans shrink, meaning becomes the filter.

You don’t need to shout over the noise. You need to speak with intention.

If your music is good but you’re struggling to make people care, the answer might not be production or promotion but communication.

Your story is the bridge between your art and your audience.

It’s how people find their way to you and why they stay.

Learning how to talk about your music isn’t a marketing task. It’s part of becoming the artist you’re meant to be.

If you’re ready to refine that story and connect it to real-world strategy, consider joining the Music Creator Accelerator Series at Xpandr, combining Control Room, Identity Mode and Fan Growth Lab and reposition how you see yourself, and how the world sees you back.