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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