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This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Tema Siegel and Zach Blankstein of the band Couch. Tema is the singer and Zach is the guitarist/manager of this seven-piece soul-pop band from Boston. Their explosive live shows and fully DIY approach have helped them sell out major venues across the country. Formed from lifelong friendships and built during the pandemic, Couch has grown into a globally touring act while self-producing their acclaimed debut album ‘Big Talk’.
In this episode, Tema and Zach break down how they built an engaged fanbase without label support, the logistics of touring as a seven-member group, and the creative and vulnerable writing process behind ‘Big Talk’. Ari dives into their ad strategy, their partnership with the Salt Lick Incubator, how they secured major support tours with Lake Street Dive and Cory Wong, and what it takes to balance musicianship, management, and sustainable growth as an independent band in 2025.
http://instagram.com/couch.theband
07:16 – Adding the seventh member & early chemistry
09:15 – Touring as an introvert and finding group balance
12:19 – Managing a 12-person touring party
16:34 – How fans are reacting to the new songs live
18:22 – How the band uses VIP sections to build superfans
19:40 – Collaborative songwriting process & Temma’s Notes app
22:19 – “Middleman” and the band’s unexpected EDM influence
26:22 – Self-producing the entire album & working with mixers
27:15 – Living in Boston and breaking out beyond the local scene
32:56 – Growing during the pandemic while in separate cities
36:32 – Early viral video & their online strategy
40:07 – How Couch finances the band with day jobs
41:24 – Why Zach became their in-house manager
55:52 – Opening for Cory Wong & Lake Street Dive
58:44 – Deep dive into their ad strategy
Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
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