If you thought artist statements were something only visual artists and writers had to worry about, think again. Every creative professional in search of grants, residencies, or exclusive workshops looking to advance their career will need a powerful artist statement that summarizes what they do, and why they do it, in order to apply.
However, fine artists and musicians alike have a similar struggle on their hands when it comes to writing the perfect artist statement: how do you put the ineffable into words? We know that, as a musician, you communicate with the world through sound, so here’s what you should know if you’re looking to translate all those thoughts into a few engaging paragraphs.
What is an artist statement?
An artist statement is a summary of your artistic practice that delineates your creative ideas and the inspiration behind them. It defines the reasons for your formal choices — why you use that specific drum machine in your tracks, or why you add saturation or distortion to your instruments — and the larger philosophical ideas that might guide your artistic life and choices. The artist statement isn’t a bio, where keeping things short and sweet is a must, but instead, a chance to get creative when describing your music.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try to begin this process like this: what are some questions you would love to be asked by an interviewer? Write those down, and answer them. Hey, if it feels more natural, try doing it aloud, record it, and transcribe it later. Then, use those answers as your starting point.
What should an artist statement include?
Artistic Influences
The artists that have influenced your music, and even specific albums or songs, are one of the most important things to include in your statement. But don’t simply list them out: provide context for them by telling your reader how they have influenced you, and their relationship to each other. Try and create a family tree of your artistic influences and see if there’s any connection between them, or a common thread you can draw on to explain how these artists come together to shape your music. If you’re inspired by non-musical artists, this is also a great opportunity to mention that — is there a book or a movie that has inspired you in some way? In what aspect of your music can you hear that? These are all things to consider.
Genre and Techniques
In connection to your musical influences, what are the genres of your music and the production techniques you use? You should provide the reasoning behind why you connect to the music genres your music fits into. When it comes to the techniques you use in your production, feel free to get a little technical: you’re applying for opportunities within the professional world of the music industry, therefore it’s safe to say whoever reviews your application will easily be able to follow along, as well as being genuinely interested in knowing what you can do.
Themes
The major concepts inspiring your work. This may be directly related to your artistic influences and doesn’t have to be a separate paragraph, but you might want to spend some time reflecting on the recurring underlying ideas your music carries, especially if you write lyrics and not just instrumental tracks.
Goals
What is the intent behind your music, and behind the particular project you are applying to this grant or opportunity for? This is important as it offers the reader insight to the meaning of your music, and helps them navigate its layered complexity.
An Origin Story
Tell them why you began making music in the first place. This can be extremely short, just a couple of sentences long, like famous visual artist’s Yayoi Kusama’s artist statement example: “My art originates from hallucinations only I can see. I translate the hallucinations and obsessional images that plague me into sculptures and paintings.” No, it doesn’t have to be as intense as all that, but it’s important to give honest insight into where your artistic impetus comes from, and create a personal connection with your reader and audience.
How to write a powerful artist statement
Don’t use a ready made template. It’s tempting to save time by using a formula you find online that promises to be tried and true, but there are no easy fixes when it comes to writing an artist statement. The last thing you want is for your statement to sound like the last five a reviewer or juror has looked at! You want to grab their attention, so it pays off to be thoughtful and showcase your unique voice and point of view.
Brainstorm. You don’t have to pressure yourself into writing a few perfect paragraphs in one go, in fact, it might be best not to. Try to ask yourself those interview questions like we discussed at the beginning, and then jot down the major keywords and concepts you see come up from those separately. Look at them on paper, is there anything else that comes to mind in connection to those words? Begin a draft only after you feel like you’ve gotten everything that was on your mind on the page.
Freewrite. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and using the notes you took while brainstorming as a foundation, begin writing your statement and don’t stop until the 10 minutes are up. Don’t worry about structure, spelling mistakes, or run-on sentences: this is your first draft.
Edit, edit, edit. Read your draft with a critical eye and rewrite it! Now you can take structure and clarity into account, and shorten your artist statement removing any cliches, repetitions, and things that on a second or third read through turn out not to be super relevant. Asking an industry peer or two for some feedback is also strongly encouraged.
Artist statement examples
If you’re still unsure as to what your artist statement should look like, here are some examples of musicians who have managed to put their unique vision into words:
FAQs
How long should my artist statement be?
It depends on the word limit of the opportunity you’re applying to, but an artist statement can range from around 200 to 500 words. You should have a couple of different versions of your current artist statement at the ready, so there’s no need to go through the process of creating a brand new one every time.
How do I start my artist statement?
Begin with a broader overview of the themes and genres of your music and how these relate to the goals you have when it comes to your music’s message. Share your creative vision, then explain the influences behind them.
What makes a good artist statement?
A non-formulaic, thoughtful, and concise description of your artistic practice is all you need for a good artist statement. As long as you’re sharing your artistic influences, genre and production techniques, your music’s themes and intent, as well as making a personal connection with your reader, you’re doing great! Keep it down to a sensible length, and you’re sure to keep their attention.
What’s the difference between an artist statement and a bio?
A bio is about you as the artist, much more than it is about the music you make. For example, a bio would discuss an artist’s trajectory and achievements, whereas as we’ve seen, an artist statement is focused on the artist’s creative process. Think of the bio as focusing on the external aspects of your music career, while the artist statement is more concerned with your inner world and practice.
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