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This month’s guest is China Forbes, whose voice is heard around the world. She’s the lead vocalist for the globe-trotting band Pink Martini. You might have seen her on Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show, or over 70 different symphonies. You can hear her voice on duets with people like Michael Feinstein, Carol Channing, and Rufus Wainwright. And she’s performed in venues from Carnegie Hall to Red Rocks, the Sydney Opera House to the Grand Rex in Paris.Our conversation takes us on a fascinating journey: from growing up with a bipolar father through her first musical endeavors as a student at Harvard (She graduated cum laude.) Meeting Thomas Lauderdale, her decision to give up a career in NYC to join a band way out in Oregon, and striking a balance between motherhood and art.We also talk about her solo projects, how to sing in 25 different languages, vocal fold surgery, and how to pack just two suitcases for a world tour.Buckle up and enjoy!For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Never miss an episode! Sign up for Vocal Notes — my once-a-month newsletter for singers.You can find China Forbes on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pink Martini’s website. The songs from today’s episode are (in order of appearance): Una Notte A Napoli, ‘78, Sympathique, Rise, and Hey Eugene and are from Hang On Little Tomato, ‘78, Sympathique, Rise, and Hey Eugene (used with permission.) To listen or download, go to Pink Martini’s STORE or HERE on Apple Music. Here's the link to the solo podcast episode I mentioned in this episode: Learn To Talk So You Can Save Your Voice For Singing. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He helps me edit all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks, honey!)Support the show

My guest this month has been called a poet of the vocal cords and "the Queen of Cabarets." Karen Mason originated the role of Tanya in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia and has had starring roles in Wonderland, Hairspray, Sunset Boulevard, and the first U.S. tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies. She's shared concert stages with Michael Feinstein, Jerry Herman, Chita Rivera, Luciano Pavarotti, Rosemary Clooney, Liza Minnelli, and John Kander & Fred Ebb, among others. Karen's performed with major symphony orchestras and headlined Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and London's Royal Albert Hall.  A 14-time Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs Award-winner, she received the MAC Award for Major Female Vocalist of the Year for six consecutive years and was honored with the MAC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Her television appearances include the hit dramas “Ed,” “Law & Order: SVU,” and, most recently, an appearance in the Netflix series Halston starring Ewan McGregor.  In our conversation, Karen talks about what the differences are between cabaret and Broadway and pushes back against those who claim that Broadway is the superior of the two. She also shares how she prepares for both types of performances and finds the story in a song. We discuss how to handle hecklers and how she works on patter - the talking that goes before and after songs. We talk about our crush on Ewan McGregor and what it was like to work with him on the series Halston, her new album of songs, Let The Music Play, and much more. Karen is an accomplished vocalist and actor and a delightful person. She's smart, thoughtful, kind, and laughs easily — the kind of person you'd love to have for a friend. I'm grateful for the time she shared with me and now, you.For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.You can find Karen on her website, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. The songs from today’s episode are Don’t Rain On My Parade, Steppin’ Out, and Let The Music Play, and are from Karen’s CD, Let The Music Play (used with permission.) You can listen to the entire album HERE. To purchase go HERE. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He helps me edit all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

My guest this month is a singer and songwriter who’s led an extraordinary vocal life, Tabitha Fair.  Tabitha was born and raised in Oklahoma, the daughter of a preacher and a mother who ministered through music. By the time she was five years old, Tabitha knew she wanted to be a singer and have a career in music. And that she has, eventually garnering a record deal and becoming one of the A-list backup singers in the industry. She’s recorded or sung with Sting, Cece Winans, Lady Gaga, Travis Tritt, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Wynonna Judd, Lee Ann Womack, Rascal Flatts, Rita Wilson, Amy Grant, Sam Moore, James Taylor, Bette Midler, Lenny Kravitz, Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, The Roots, Jennifer Hudson, Michael McDonald, Elton John, Mary J Blige, Snoop Dog — the list goes on and on. Besides numerous recording gigs and tours, Tabitha’s been a regular on the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors, The Jimmy Fallon Show, and America’s Got Talent. She’s also sung at the inaugurations of Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. An accomplished songwriter, Tabitha’s received the Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Ohlman Award. And she co-wrote a song with Carole King called “If We Get Through This,” which she later sang the lead vocal on in the movie “Sum Of All Fears,” starring Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman. In our conversation, you’ll hear about her trajectory from gospel singer to 20 Feet From Stardom. Plus, we look at life behind the curtain with some practical advice for singers on practicing and rehearsing for TV and touring. Tabitha is a delightful human being. Talking with her, I could see why she’s been one of the go-to backup singers for all the heavy-hitters with whom she’s performed. She’s got a strong work ethic and a voice that can sing anything, but she also knows how to take her bright light and shine it on others, supporting them both musically and energetically. I think you’re going to love her and our conversation.For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.You can find Tabitha on her website and on Facebook or Instagram. The songs from today’s episode are Soul-Full, A Man of His Word, If We Get Through This, and Fly (used with permission.)  Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He helps me edit all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

This month’s guest on Living A Vocal Life is singer-songwriter, Stephanie Schneiderman. Blending elements of folk, indie pop music, Americana, and electronic music, Stephanie’s songwriting is often compared to artists like Imogen Heap, Regina Spektor, and Jem. As a singer-songwriter, her solo career began with a coveted spot in the Lilith Fair. From there, she went on to receive extensive NW radio airplay, tour internationally, and earn music placements in numerous films and primetime TV shows. She’s played with some of the nation’s top touring acts- from Aimee Mann to Hall & Oates, Heart, and Train- and enjoyed ongoing success with popular NW all-female groups Dirty Martini and Swan Sovereign. She’s performed in the musical The Full Monty, appeared in major television commercials and films and produced a successful humanitarian concert series, Voices For Silent Disasters, that raised more than $70,000 for refugees in Northern Uganda. Stephanie’s released nine solo albums. Her most recent, Crossfire, has her stepping into the role of producer for the first time. I’ve known Stephanie so long I can’t even remember when or where we met! But what is embedded in my memories of Stephanie are our conversations — they’re always wide-ranging, inspiring, and fun. In this one, we talk about her career trajectory, her new album, what it’s like to stand up for yourself in difficult situations, and the joys and challenges of combining a creative career with parenting. We also dive into some deeper waters — and talk about why coming to terms with failure in one’s creativity and career is essential to living one’s life as an artist. For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.You can find Stephanie on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, or Twitter. The songs from today’s episode are from the album Crossfire (used with permission.) To listen or download, go HERE. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He helps me edit all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

My guest today is Lachi. She is a force of nature — a whirling Diva with non-stop energy who sings, writes, produces, acts, and is visually impaired.As she says in her YouTube series, Off Beat: "I'm a black girl, going blind, just trying to stay fabulous. I'm here to motivate. I'm here to educate." And that she does.In the Dance, Pop-EDM world, Lachi is a go-to singer-songwriter. She boasts millions of streams across platforms and has collaborated with A-list artists like Snoop Dogg, Styles P, and Markus Schulz. She's also received two nominations for her work from the Independent Music Awards.Lachi also uses her voice to advocate for disability inclusion in the arts. Forbes, Essence, The New York Times, the Huffington Post, and more have profiled her as an Inclusion advocate, with The New York Times listing Lachi as one of the 28 ways to learn about disability culture. She's presented for the Recording Academy and the National Endowment for the Arts and is a Recording Academy Advocacy Committee member. In addition, she serves on the NORA Project Leadership Council — an organization working to build inclusivity in classrooms. Recently, Lachi hosted the pilot episode of Renegades — a PBS American Masters segment that explores the cultural contributions of people with disabilities and how they've transformed America.In our conversation, we talk about how Lachi made the leap from a day job at The Army Corp of Engineers to making music full-time, the importance of a manager, mentor, and your team in the music business, and how she came out of the disability closet to become one of the leading advocates for disability inclusion in the music and recording industry.Lachi is going to rock your world.For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.You can find Lachi on her website or on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. The songs from today’s episode are DNA, Boss, Bigger Plans, and It’s Our Time. (used with permission.) To listen or download, go HERE. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He helps me edit all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

Josh Breckinridge is a triple threat, a singer, dancer, and actor, and he excels at all three. He's best known for his standout roles on Broadway and appearances on hit TV shows the Blacklist, Bluebloods, and FBI. Currently, he's a part of the Apple Original Films live filming of the award-winning Broadway hit, Come From Away, and will rejoin the cast when it returns to Broadway this September.  J. was living and working in New York City when the pandemic hit. As the shutdown stretched from days to weeks to months, he found himself alone in his apartment with restless, creative energy and a lot on his mind. So he picked up his ukulele and a writing pad and began to compose some songs. His passionate originals, expressive arrangements, emotional delivery, and fresh yet familiar melodies call to mind influences as wide-ranging as the classic R&B of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Smokey Robinson, and the current sounds of Bruno Mars, Michael Bublé, and John Legend.  In our wide-ranging conversation, you'll hear how a production of the musical Annie changed the trajectory of Jay's life from troubled kid to focused, driven, musical theater performer. You'll also hear how his time at the Cincinnati School of the Arts prepared him for the competitive life as a performer, the kinds of relationships essential to have in show business, and the importance of mental health for performers. After listening to this episode, you'll want to check out J.'s videos to see this triple threat in action. Just head to my website, valeriedaysings.com/podcast, for more. For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.You can find J. Breckenridge at his website, or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. The songs from today’s episode are MONOTONY (Reprise), Y.O.U., NOT FORGIVING YOU, HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS,  and MONOTONY, and are from J.’s CD Monotony (used with permission.) To listen or download, go HERE. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He helps me edit all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

After a year of practicing alone, making music again with others is a joy. Yet, for many of us, rehearsal is a means to an end—a necessary chore to get to the main event — performing. What if rehearsals were something you looked forward to? What if they gave you energy rather than depleting it? What if they had the same potential as performance for creating connection and community? What if they were actually fun?Whether you’re a seasoned pro or in the beginning stages of your music career, this unprecedented time is an opportunity to reset, a chance to re-imagine the way you rehearse with others.Recently, I asked my musician friends what made their rehearsals productive and enjoyable.From mindset to preparation, communication to practical tips, here’s what they shared with me — everything that will make your rehearsals the best they can be.For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE. You can find me on: Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.For a deeper dive into stagecraft, check out master teacher Tom Jackson’s work over HERE.If you’re interested in how much time it takes to rehearse for different types of performances, I have a blog post for you on my website: From Practice To Performance Part Two: How Often & How Long To Rehearse? I’ve also included a simple formula you can use to calculate the time you’ll need for yours.Find out more about my new course, Creative Practicing For Singers, right HERE. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

My guest in this episode is Ara Lee James. Ara has a voice that can sing anything and a way with words that is truly transcendent. Her voice is powerful — in its strength and its tenderness. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.Music Presenter, Sue Svendsen, wrote, “Ara Lee is the best singer I’ve ever heard. Period. But what she does is more than that. To hear her live is gut-wrenching, heart-soaring - it’s a spiritual awakening.”Gary Grainger, an award-winning Independent Blues Broadcaster from the UK, says, “No matter what tribe of the world you align yourself with, Ara Lee’s music will speak to you at a primeval level, awakening emotions and spirits from your past, from our past.”And Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “I’ve never heard anyone sing like that in my life.” But it’s not just Ara’s voice that’s incredible. Her story is too. It starts in New York, where she was born, moves to Appalachia, where she cut her teeth singing harmony out of a church songbook, and then back to NYC. It was there, just as she was starting to find herself as a young woman, that she lost her voice and her way — for thirteen whole years.Ten years ago, Ara walked into my vocal studio, student information sheet in hand. Part of her story was on that sheet — but until this interview, I only knew the barest outline of what she was working through.Her story is about a voice lost and found — the rebirth of a singer’s soul that, along with her voice, will take your breath away.I highly recommend putting some headphones on for this episode. You won’t want to miss a word or a sound.For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.You can find Ara Lee James on Facebook, Instagram, or on her website. The songs from today’s episode are called BORN, and AHO from the album BORN. The single NASTY WOMAN. And OPEN SONG Part 2, PAPER WALLS, and DEEP BLUE from the Stand & Sway album DEEP BLUE (used with permission.)  To listen or download, click on the album titles. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He helps me edit all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

The guest on this month’s episode of the podcast is Jeanette Jurado — one of the members of the multiplatinum-selling group Exposé.  From 1985 to 1995, Jeanette, Gioia, and Ann ruled the Top 40, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts in the US and throughout the world. Their albums garnered seven back-to-back Top 10 hits on Billboard’s US Hot 100 — more Top 10 hits than any girl group besides the Supremes. In March 2015, Billboard magazine named the band the eighth most-successful girl group of all-time. When the ride ended in 1996, they took some time off to raise families and work on other projects. Jeanette's appeared in films, on stage, and released a solo EP, "Lovely." She also married and has a beautiful family with two college-age boys.  In 2006, Exposé jumped back into touring. We met when Nu Shooz joined the lineup of 80s acts on the Freestyle Explosion Tour in 2013. Jeanette, Gioia, and Ann are some of my favorite people to hang out with on the road. We’ve had some fantastic conversations about music, the music business, and the tension between family life and career.  We talk about all that and more in this episode.For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.You can find Jeanette on: Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. The songs from today’s episode are called Lovely and Your Kiss and are from Jeanette’s Solo EP “Lovely” (used with permission.) To listen go HERE. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He edits all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) For information about the online course mentioned in this episode, just head to Creative Practicing For Singers.Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

How a short 10-minute talk by Elizabeth Gilbert finally clarified my troubled relationship with music and the music business and why what I learned might be helpful to you too. Elizabeth Gilbert’s talk helped me to see that career and vocation are not the same things. A career is not the beating heart of the true self I already possess. It’s a part of my life, but only a part. Is the dance between career and vocation difficult? Yes. Is it worth it? Only you can answer that question after living into your own story, but I would say it’s worth a try. For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE. You can find me on: Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.Find out more about my new course, Creative Practicing For Singers right HERE. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

As a songwriter, Los Battey’s career has been extraordinary; he and his brother Steven have penned hits for artists like Madonna, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown and Bruno Mars. They’ve been nominated for a Grammy Award four times, winning in 2010 for their contribution to Madonna’s “Revolver” remix. The Battey brothers, or Jackie’s Boyz, the name they gave themselves in honor of their mother Jackie, were far from an overnight success. Their story began in Savannah, Georgia, when they were just teenagers, busking for change on the pier. After their parents’ death, they made their way to another pier, this one on the opposite side of the country in Santa Monica, CA.  For five years, four to five days a week, they performed on the pier and the streets of L.A., using what little downtime they had to hone their songwriting skills. The hard work finally paid off when they got a chance to record a demo for a new artist named Flor-ida. The song, “Sugar,” went on to sell 1.5 million copies. A publishing deal with Universal came next, and the songwriting team was off and running. But Los has always been a singer first. After a health scare in 2016, he felt called to finally write and record for his own voice. And what a voice it is.  In our conversation, Los generously shares his story; the love that inspired him to follow his dreams, made him resilient in the face of tragedy and continues to keep him moving forward while giving back to the next generation of young artists.Links: For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE. You can find Los on: Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter or his website. The songs from today’s episode are: When My Love Ends from the album RevivalAnomoly (Single)Do It Again w/Shawn Stockman from Boyz ll Men  (Single) (all songs used with permission.)  To listen to Jackie’s Boy’s discography, head to his Spotify channel.For information about the online course mentioned in this episode, just head to Becoming A Singer. Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He edits all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

Singers love to sing. But sometimes, listening gets neglected. If you want to be a good listener (and a better singer), it’s essential to practice listening. In this solo podcast episode, you’ll discover how you can learn to listen more deeply to other singers, the world around you, and your own voice as a part of your vocal practice. Links:For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE. You can find me on: Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.Practice Planner/Journal This free practice planner will help you plan and keep track of what you’re practicing. In it, you’ll find Yearly, Monthly, and Weekly calendars, plus a Daily Practice Page for journaling, a Master Song List, and Song Sheets for capturing all the details about the tunes you sing. Download the practice planner HERE.Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. (Thanks, honey!)Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

My dear friend Duffy Bishop is my guest on Episode #14 of Living A Vocal Life.Duffy and I have known each other for a long time — 20 years, or maybe even more. Offstage Duffy’s a bit of a homebody, a creative maker who’s always drawing, painting, and sewing. You notice her when she walks into a room not because she tries to draw attention to herself, but because of the way her eyes light up with love when she greets you.This quieter demeanor makes it easy to forget that the woman is an absolute powerhouse when she takes the stage. Her voice and presence are huge. You can’t help but be drawn into her every move, riveted by the raw emotion she transmits through the music she makes.Her humble nature belies the fact that she’s won a bevy of blues awards. She was named Best Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year by the Northwest Area Music Association and the Washington Blues Society. The Cascade Blues Association named her Best Female Vocalist for five consecutive years, eventually renaming the award “The Duffy Bishop Female Vocalist Award.” She’s a member of the Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame, the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame and the Oregon Hall of Fame.Duffy’s a lovely human being, and I’m so grateful for our friendship.I’m excited to share our conversation with you!Links: For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.You can find Duffy Bishop on her Website or on her Facebook page.The songs from today’s episode are called: Hey Linda from Fly The RocketYou Don’t Own Me from I’m Gonna Do What I Want Everyone’s Comin’ To A Party from The Queen’s Own BootlegI’m Gonna Do What I Want from I’m Gonna Do What I Want  (All used with permission.) Click the links above to listen to more and download.For information about the online course mentioned in this episode, just head to Becoming A Singer. Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He edits all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks, honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

My relationship with practicing is a love/hate kind of thing. I’ve tried a gazillion strategies over the years and tested some of them with my students.  Here’s what I’ve learned about staying connected to why I practice in the first place and some strategies for finding the time to do it. Links: You can find me on: Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.Complete show notes and more resources for singers can be found on my website. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. (Thanks, honey!) Resources Talked About In This Episode: Evernote Evernote is one of my favorite tools for organizing, well, just about everything. It’s a cloud-based system you can use to capture ideas and inspiration in notes, voice, and pictures. Perfect for singers!   Practice Planner/Journal This free practice planner will help you plan and keep track of what you’re practicing. In it, you’ll find Yearly, Monthly, and Weekly calendars, plus a Daily Practice Page for journaling, a Master Song List, and Song Sheets for capturing all the details about the tunes you sing. Download the practice planner HERE.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

This month’s guest on the podcast is Haley Johnsen. Haley first stepped into the spotlight in 2012 when she made it into the top 24 contestants on American Idol. Since then, she’s worked hard to make her way as an independent musician. She’s written hundreds of songs, released three albums and numerous singles, and traveled thousands of miles on tours across the U.S.A. and Europe. She’s also the proud mama of a new golden retriever puppy. In our conversation, you’ll hear how Haley made the leap from her dorm room to the Idol stage, what she’s learned and who she’s leaned on to grow as an artist, plus how she connects with her audience and continues to make music during this challenging time.You can find Haley on her Website, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. The songs from today’s episode are:  Everything Comes Back Again from GOLDEN DAYS, and Unfamiliar and Come Morning I’ll Be Gone from THROUGH THE BLUE,  (used with permission.) To listen or download, go HERE. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He edits all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

In this episode of the podcast, I’m excited to introduce you to my friend, jazz singer, and songwriter, Karla Harris. Karla has been singing professionally for over 30 years. She’s sung at jazz festivals, TED Talks, and is currently an artist in residence at Kennesaw State University where she teaches the next generation of jazz singers.Her new album, “Certain Elements” was released in 2018 and reached the #44 spot on the prestigious Jazz Week chart. Two of her original tunes on the record are semi-finalists in the International Songwriting Competition in the jazz and performance categories. I first heard Karla sing at Wilf’s, a small jazz club in Portland, OR. Her rich command of the jazz idiom, luscious voice, and presence onstage drew me in and made me a fan for life.In our conversation, you’ll hear:  How she approaches writing and learning songs. The importance of downtime and reflection in a creative life. How to network with other musicians. The importance of practicing with sound equipment. How she supports her “jazz habit”. What makes her a confident bandleader. The mind/body connection in singing and emotional vulnerability. And much more.You can find Karla Harris on: Facebook, or her website. The songs from today’s episode are When Michael, Give It All To Me, and Certain Elements (Atl Groove V) and are from Karla’s Certain Elements CD (used with permission.) To listen or download, go HERE. To find out more about my online course, Becoming A Singer: Setting The Stage To Live A Vocal Life go HERE.Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He edits all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

What is style? And why is it important?When you’re learning to sing, you start by imitating others. But eventually, you want to be able to craft your own style, so you don’t sound like anyone else. After all, there’s only one you. Your body, your life experience, and your musical style and taste are unique. It’s also essential to sound authentic within a specific genre. Whether you sing classical music, heavy metal, pop, or jazz, there are stylistic norms you need to be aware of. Once you know what they are, you can find your sound within them, or ignore them entirely. When you know how to use these stylistic tools, you’ll have more to experiment with, and you’ll expand your artistic possibilities.In this podcast episode, we’re going to focus on vibrato. You’ll learn:What vibrato is and how it functions.How to use it to sound authentic in different styles of music.And ways to experiment with it to make a song your own.I’m excited to share this essential stylistic tool with you. I know that learning how and when to use vibrato will expand your artistic possibilities too!You can find me on: Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Links mentioned in today’s episode: Free eBook: The Elements of Style In Singing & How To Make A Song Your Own.My online course Becoming A Singer: Setting The Stage To Live A Vocal Life. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He edits all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

This month’s guest on Living A Vocal Life is Bill Wadhams, one of the lead singers from the 80s synth-pop band, Animotion whose song Obsession landed in the top 10 in countries around the world in 1984.I’ve known Bill for years, but recently we had a chance to get to know each other better on a tour he’s dubbed, The Genius Insanity Tour, otherwise known as Lost 80s. In 2018 alone, our band’s played 22 cities together in three months. As he puts it, “The genius part is getting all the bands together. The insanity part is what happens when all the bands get together.”Bill is a multitalented artist. Since his MTV days, life has been a series of creative projects, from his work as a songwriter, to stints as a graphic designer with companies like Nike and Citigroup. His latest foray is into the world of musical theater, where he’s found a home both as a singer and creator. Whether he’s performing, composing, or telling a great story, Bill is a natural.For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.You can find Bill on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterOr at these websites: Bill Wadhams, Animotion. The songs from this episode are “Raise Your Expectations” and “Everything,” and are from Animotion's CD Raise (used with permission.) To listen or download, go HERE. For information about the online course mentioned in this episode, just head to Becoming A Singer. Please join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He edits all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!)  Thanks for listening, and keep on singing!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

When you’re first starting out, your song list might only have a few tunes on it. Keeping track of keys, charts, and lyric sheets isn’t such a big deal. But later, when you have tens or even hundreds of songs to keep track of, if they’re disorganized, it’s overwhelming.Enter Google Sheets. They’re easy to use spreadsheets in the cloud. You can use them for all kinds of things, but my inner librarian loves using them to organize songs.I have a Master Song List that I keep in the cloud. Usually, I shy away from spreadsheets. They make me break out in a kind of math-phobia sweat. But this spreadsheet is different. It’s more than just useful; it’s saved me hours of wasted time and energy. A Master Song List can help you do more than just stay organized. In this episode of the podcast, I'll share how I use mine to write setlists, keep track of charts and lyric sheets, practice a song and more. If you’d like some help organizing your songs, I’ve created a Master Song List to share with you. You can find it on my website: valeriedaysings.com on the Resources Page.I hope it’s helpful!You can find me on: Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Links mentioned in today’s episode: Master Song List & my new online course: Becoming A Singer: Setting The Stage To Live A Vocal Life Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He edits all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)

January’s guest on the podcast is Holly Pyle, a singer who uses different musical styles and technology to create her own unique vocal sound and compositions. Holly was an opera major at Northern Arizona University when she stumbled upon a jazz choir audition. She fell in love with the genre, eventually completing her studies in jazz and psychology. Since diving into a music career in 2014, she has released two albums and given over 900 performances in a diverse mix of genres — from hip hop to country to jazz. Holly frequently performs as a solo acapella act, using electronic looping to sample and recombine her voice into an ever-changing choir of Hollys. I met Holly when she was visiting Portland to give a concert and music workshop with my friend, pianist Darrell Grant. Their conversation about collaboration, improvisation, and the creative process had me wishing I had a way to take notes. I loved how she talked about her inner life and her relationship to creativity and knew she would be a wonderful guest on the podcast. For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit my website HERE.You can find Holly on: Facebook or Instagram. The songs from today’s episode are called: Veil, Zoloft, Human Together, and Outside of You. (All tracks used with permission.) To listen or download, go HERE. Theme music for the Podcast was composed by John Smith. He edits all the podcast episodes too. (Thanks honey!) Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/livingvocally)