How to rethink your song introductions.

The best way to avoid  chasing trends and doing dances as a content creator is to become a master storyteller. Songwriting is a form of storytelling, but many artists are missing the most important part of the story; the introduction. 

Songwriters often start with an assumption that the listener actually cares what the song is about... And so that is more often than not how they deliver the plot of the song; "This song is about [blank]".  The truth is that music listeners only care what a song is about if they already like the song. So the introduction to a new song is critical even with existing fans. Here's three tips to introduce your song in a more engaging way.  

1. Set the mood. Start by saying something like, "picture that you're..." or "have you ever felt...". By inviting the audience into the mood or feeling you create a bridge between your creative mind and theirs. It asks them to use their imagination to connect to what's about to happen. But, it's grounded in something relatable to everyone. After you've built that bridge, connect to the song quickly by saying something like "I sing this song when ever I feel..." or "I wrote this song in a..."
   

2. Tell the real story first. "When I was sixteen I met..." or "One time I..." or "This one summer there was a...". Rehearse the opening line and make sure it is a very intriguing start to the story. Then make sure that it can move through the intro, plot, conflict and resolution in under 60 seconds! Finish by saying, "this song is about that summer." Bonus Points: Make the song the resolution.
   

3. Connect it to Pop Culture. "Do you remember that scene where..." or "I'm a big fan of...". Fans need to quickly investigate if your music and themes will resonate with all the other things they enjoy. So making the connection between what you like and what they like helps them quickly realize you are an artist that will resonate with them.

Really working on your introduction to your songs will go a long way for your live performances, but what does it have to do with content? Short form video content relies heavily on hooks and layers for keeping the viewers attention. Putting the work into your song intro's will double as copy for your captions, hooks in your TikToks, and text layers over your videos.

For more tips follow our President, Nathan Dohse onTikTok orInstagram; here's a recap of last months videos.Post your thoughts or responses in our new Zero To 60 Facebook group.