Before conducting an interview, research any information related to the topic of the interview. You can also research the background information of your interviewee so you know what questions to formulate. You don’t want to sound ignorant, and some interviewees don’t have time to explain everything. If you’re done doing your research, read and try to absorb the information needed for you to make your set of questions. You can also ask them additional questions that are not part of your research just to get additional background information from the person. The best kind of questions is open-ended questions that invite the interviewee to talk about themselves. People love it when you ask them about themselves or their interests. They can freely talk about it if you make your questions convenient. Make sure your interview has a purpose. If the purpose is to elaborate the craftsmanship of the singer-songwriter’s musical abilities, then stick to it. Don’t ask them about any other topic like their personal life or how many pets they have. Make sure your questions (and the follow-up ones) don’t stray from your main agenda of the interview. Don’t forget to simplify your questions to avoid confusion from your interviewee. Once you’ve formulated your questions, it’s time to prepare the materials you need in conducting your interview. Prepare the following materials you may use; smartphone, tape recorder (to record your interview but ask permission first if it’s okay to record your interview), pen, paper (for note-taking), notebook (where you keep your questions). Don’t forget to keep their contacts and their phone numbers or e-mails just in case if you need some clarifications from the interview. If you’re not used to giving out interviews– practice, practice, practice. You may practice with a family member, a friend, or anyone who is willing to sit down and help you out. This way you’ll get to see whether your questions make sense, you’ll be aware of how you conduct your interview and make some changes to your pre-interview questions. That way, you won’t make a fool out of yourself once you get to do the actual interview.