VOCALS
FOSTERING YOUR UNIQUE SOUND | Renée Maranan
As worship singers , we spend much of our time singing other people ’ s songs . Because of this , it ’ s not uncommon for us to find ourselves emulating the styles of the singers that we are covering , whether we are doing so consciously or unconsciously . There isn ’ t necessarily anything inherently wrong with taking inspiration from our favorite singers , as long as it doesn ’ t cause us to sing in ways that are unsustainable for our voices or unsuitable for ministry within the communities that we serve . But at some point , we may find ourselves wanting to sound less like other people and more like ourselves .
In theory , it sounds simple : just sing like yourself . But what does that actually sound like ? How exactly do we do it ? When we ’ ve spent most of our lives singing songs that have been sung by other people , how do we tell the difference between the sounds and stylization choices that we have adopted from others and those that are uniquely our own ? How do we craft a vocal and performance identity that is truly authentic , and that represents who we are as unique individuals ?
This is a lifelong journey for many singers . There aren ’ t any hard and fast answers . But for starters , here are some elements that can contribute to your unique sound .
PHYSIOLOGY The human voice is inextricable from the human body . Naturally , our physiology determines in large part what our voices were designed to do . Our voices have a physical part – the vocal instrument , the system of parts that actually makes sound . Our voices also have a sonic part – the voice itself , which is the sound that people perceive when we sing . There are a lot of things that we can do with our vocal instrument to facilitate different sonic effects . But in many ways , how we sound is determined by our physical make-up . Getting to know our voices in light of our physiology can help guide us in discovering our own vocal potential .
VOCAL TECHNIQUE Singers sometimes make the mistake of thinking that their voices can only sound a certain way because they ’ ve never been able to do anything different . They mistake their vocal limitations as their vocal identity . But when we learn how to use our voices effectively and efficiently , we are less likely to be limited by things such as bad habits and lack of coordination . We have access to more range , more aesthetic choices , more dynamic choices , more stylization choices . Learning vocal technique is one of the most important parts of cultivating one ’ s own unique sound , because it ensures that the singer ’ s performance choices are being made by choice and not by default .
CULTURE Our cultures have such an important role to play in our singing . Where we were born , how we were raised , the languages we speak , the ways in which we express ourselves – all of these and more help to shape our unique identities as communicators and artists . One powerful way to infuse your own culture into your performances is by connecting to the music of your culture , whether it be your ethnic culture , your musical culture , your family culture , your faith culture , and more . Allow the combination of these musical and cultural influences to inspire your own performance choices .
SELF-EXPRESSION As a singer , do you know how you sound to others ? Do you like how you sound to others ? If so , what do you like about your sound ? If not , what would you like to change ? This process of reflection is not meant to be an exercise in self-criticism but rather self-evaluation . When listening to your own recordings , get descriptive about what you are hearing , and what you would like to hear . Observe the color of your voice – is it dark or bright ? Make note of its texture – is it smooth , gritty , metallic , edgy , soft , fuzzy , or something else ? It ’ s hard to figure out how you want to sound if you have no way of observing how you actually sound . Developing your ability to observe and assess your own voice with equanimity can be a very helpful tool in crafting the sound that best expresses you .
BOTTOM LINE : FOSTER , NOT FIND Your unique sound as a singer is not something you find . Rather , it ’ s something that you foster . It ’ s okay to not know your sound right away . It ’ s okay to let it take some time to unfold . It ’ s also okay for that sound to change and evolve as your voice changes and evolves . This work isn ’ t about drawing hard lines around our vocal identity . Rather , it ’ s in knowing and caring for our instruments so that our true voices can emerge , free and strong and ready to be heard .
GOT A SINGING QUESTION ? Send an email to hello @ reneemaranan . com with “ WM Vocals Question ” in the subject line !
Renée Maranan Renée is a vocal instructor , voice teacher trainer , and life coach , with over 20 years of experience working with singers , vocal instructors , and performers from all over the world . www . ReneeMaranan . com Instagram @ reneemaranan
32 December 2024 Subscribe for Free ...