Starting a band is both exciting and challenging. A music band is more than just a group of people playing instruments—it’s a team with shared vision, creativity, and chemistry. Whether you’re dreaming of forming a casual music group or aiming for public performances, the keys to success are clear: define your sound, find the right members, assign roles, and practice consistently.
You must identify members who share your vision. Look for musicians who bring complementary strengths and dedication to the cause. Having secured your band, christen it in a manner that reflects your identity, rehearse your craft, and begin performing—either at small gigs, school events, or private performances. Playing small gigs is a great way to develop confidence and stage presence, while recording music promotes cohesion within the band.
Is it easy to form a Music Band?
Forming a music band seems easy at first glance—just put some musicians together and jam—but to form a harmonious, successful music band takes much more than that. It takes having band members that share your musical vision, musical taste, and level of dedication, and develop high chemistry and trust among them. Every member needs to bring complementary skills, either singing, instruments, or lyrics, so the band can play a balanced and engaging sound. In addition to talent, a band needs regular practice, effective communication, and harmony to secure gigs, write original songs, and overcome conflicts. While the process is complicated, having the right set of people and an awful lot of willpower, setting up a band can be one experience that’s both creatively and emotionally rewarding.
“Nostalgic Playlist” Band Interviewed on Creating a Band and Providing the Vibe
One great illustration of that in practice is “Nostalgic Playlist”, a group which repurposes hit songs and re-arranges them in a fresh jazz setting. This is their story, straight from an ONQ Live interview:
Band Members:
- Darryl Joseph Dennie – (Leader/Keys)
- Anthony Wisdom – Bass
- Joseph Callender – Saxophone/Flute
- David Richards – Drums
Interviewer:
- Mark Santourdjian – (Founder – ONQ Live)
- Mark (ONQ Live): Okay, we’re on location in the studio, everyone’s set up, and we’re going to read questions. So, question number one. Say hi and tell us about the band.
Band (Darryl): Nostalgic Playlist is kind of a modern, new spin on jazz. Folks connect with one another more when we exchange familiar songs in a jazz context. We borrow our classic playlists and reinterpret them jazz-fied. It’s basically reviving music that people grew up to love.
- Mark (ONQ Live): If you had to state it in one sentence, what would it be?
Band (Joseph): The name says it all: Nostalgic Playlist. We were born between the late 80s and 90s, and we perform songs of the artists we grew up listening to—Usher, Aaliyah, Ashanti, Pharrell, Ja Rule. They’re old-school classics remade fresh today.
- Mark (ONQ Live): How did the band come together?
Band: Darryl had been working on this project in his head for over ten years and kept going on and on about it. His wife then prompted him to just stay quiet about it and eventually agreed to let it come out on a scheduled date. Darryl brought us all together because we had all established unimaginable trust over the years. Everything fell into place naturally because everyone was so talented.
- Mark (ONQ Live): Anthony – You play wonderful bass. Who were some of the individuals who influenced you as a child, and how do you fit into this band?
Band (Anthony): I’m from a gospel background, and that’s what shaped the sound. Andrew Boucher, Marcus Miller, Tim Williams, Joe Cleveland. Over the years, I learned to play any type of style, and this is ideal for it. A no-brainer to board up.
- Mark (ONQ Live): Is there a song that you enjoy playing with the band?
Band (Anthony): Smells Like Teen Spirit, reinterpreted by Robert Glasper. It is not a jazz tune, but we make it a jazz tune. Each time we play it, it’s something different—sometimes it turns into a 10-minute improvisation. The eclecticism of the cultures of the band members is what makes it different.
- Mark (ONQ Live): David, as a drummer, what would you like the audience to feel when they hear you perform?
Band (David): I hope that it is somehow like biting into a roti that reminds one of their childhood years spent in Trinidad. When we are on stage, I hope people remember their own memories using our music.
- Mark (ONQ Live): What do the fans not know about the band?
Band (Joseph): We don’t always have any idea what tune we’re playing. Darryl will surprise us in the middle of the performance, and we’ll improvise. The crowd doesn’t know any better; they think it’s a setup, but it’s just us responding and playing in the moment. Another thing about them—is that they don’t think they’ll like it as much as they do. Those people who tell you that they don’t like jazz always end up saying, “That was amazing.”
- Mark (ONQ Live): If you had to choose one word to sum up the band, what would it be?
Band: Spontaneous. Fresh. Creative. Familiar. Engaging. Memorable. Exciting. Family. Intellectual. Nostalgic.
- Mark (ONQ Live): That’s it. That is what it’s all about. You guys are doing some truly great work. We’re so honored to showcase your talent and bring more people to your attention. When agencies and artists like us collaborate, magic occurs.
Band: Thanks for having us. It was a great conversation.