The Charismatic Voice

This week, we continue this conversation with Disney queen turned vocal beast and Arch Enemy frontwoman, Alissa White-Gluz.

We take a deep dive into her vocal technique, specifically differentiating how she approaches harsh and clean vocals. We talk about veganism, why she thinks about her vocals like painting, and how she thinks about her voice in vivid textures and colors. It's amazing how those scary and beautiful sounds are produced by one of the greatest animal lovers on the planet.

Alissa also walks us through how she chooses her costumes and gear. Find out why heels aren't for every singer, and why YOU should purchase the new Arch Enemy album which releases on August 12.

Tune in because this episode features some of the best advice I've ever heard on how to select a good microphone!

In this episode, you will hear:

• How she conceptualized the demon headdress
• How heels can negatively impact singing
• The parallels between painting and phonation
• How to create harsh vocals without engaging your true vocal cords
• The two throat tubes: larynx vs. esophagus
• Alissa's video game character Queen Beast

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Supporting Resources:

POWERWOLF ft. Alissa White-Gluz - Demons Are A Girl's Best Friend (Official Video)

Twitter: @AWhiteGluz

Instagram: @alissawhitegluz

Audio Test Kitchen

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Imagine the powerful and practically magical presence of Elsa combined with the animal-loving nature of Snow White. That's Alissa White-Glutz, the lead vocalist of the death metal band Arch Enemy. Known for harsh, distorted, aggressive, and intense tones, Alissa takes pride in a healthy lifestyle, practicing veganism, and nurturing positivity all around.

Alissa has a scary video game character called "Queen Beast" modeled after her. She also is an adept clean vocal singer, talented not only at creating beautiful lyrics and melodies but also adept at harmonizing and producing her own music.

Her music video outfits are some of the most extremely creative I've seen – evoking power, darkness, and aggression altogether in flashy sophistication. It's amazing the influence that Patreon and Patrons can have on an artist. Patrons are the reason I initially heard Alissa's music and that eventually led to this interview.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Alissa's career background
• Metal music considered as Western culture
• How intergenerational trauma is rooted in epigenetics
• The best way to try out microphones
• How preconceived notions can affect a person's opinions

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We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Twitter: @AWhiteGluz

Instagram: @alissawhitegluz

Audio Test Kitchen

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

This week, we continue the discussion with Grammy Award-winning Halestorm's Lzzy Hale as we do an in-depth technical conversation and discuss how to create more awesome sounds. Discover how those sounds can be best applied in songs and a setlist. You can also hear some of their writing in Halestorm's newly released album, Back from the Dead.

Get cozy with Lzzy as we chat about some delightful surprises in live performance, specifically how she structures them. She discusses what her process is like in maintaining her own unique sound while collaborating with others.

Lzzy also dishes out some amazing advice about songwriting and how to honestly connect with an audience (It's the greatest writing advice I've ever heard!)

In this episode, you will hear:

• More about Halestorm's summer tour of 2022
• How Lzzy manages to perform in 8-inch platform heels
• Why do professional singers lead boring lives on the road
• It takes dedication to show up every day and work on your craft
• Singing as physical training and putting emotions into your writing

Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources: https://www.facebook.com/OFFICIALLZZYHALE

Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

How does one growl and scream with so much passion, yet also make these vocalizations without hurting anything? Well, it turns out that our guest today, Lzzy Hale, is extremely technically proficient when it comes to using those techniques.

Lzzy Hale is the lead singer and guitar player of the Grammy Award-winning rock band and my heavy music idol, Halestorm. Gifted with powerful and aggressive yet effortless vocals, Lzzy indeed embodies what it means to be a strong rocker chic.

Being so nervous and excited going into this interview, I already had immense respect for this awesome chic, not to mention how I was fangirling over Lzzy's achievements and the female empowerment that she represents, sharing her love with the world.

Listen in as we take a deep dive into how Lzzy Hale creates powerful, passionate, and aggressive vocal lines with deliberate attention to vocal technique, making her singing in actuality feel effortless. There are innumerable ways that you can use your voice, and we will touch on a few of them today!

In this episode, you will hear:

• The perks of Nashville aside from the music scene
• How #raiseyourhorns has become synonymous with mental health awareness
• Singing straw options available
• Vocal techniques to improve mobility and fluidity
• How the female voice evolves through life shifts

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

https://www.facebook.com/OFFICIALLZZYHALE

Singing Through Change by Nancy Bos, Joanne Bozeman, and Cate Frazier-Neely

https://www.amazon.com/Singing-Through-Change-Midlife-Menopause-ebook/dp/B08659YNSG

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

This is Part II of the interview with Shinedown frontman, Brent Smith. Brent's easygoing yet direct manner comes across throughout our entire conversation. He is truly a rockstar who has figured out life balance despite his massive touring and having a family.

Last week, we started to unveil why it's essential for Brent to train like an athlete. The more I get to speak with incredible singers like him, the more I'm convinced that you can't separate the health of the person from the health of their voice. After all, your voice is in your body so it's not surprising that Brent now trains himself like an athlete.

In this episode, Brent talks about their upcoming album, Planet Zero, which releases this Friday, July 1. We'll also take a closer look at his influences such as Chris Cornell, discuss the impact of COVID on his music, and answer some juicy Patron questions.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Finding your anchor to guide you every day
• What goes into Brent's songwriting
• Brent's inspiration for lyrics and Chris Cornell's influence
• Where his growl technique comes from
• How rock music has changed over the years
• Brent's Insanity workout program

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

https://store.shinedown.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Addiction is something that plagues all kinds of people – especially creatives or performers who are feeling constant pressure. Brent Smith was on top of the lead singer world, fronting Shinedown, a rock band with 17 singles that have hit #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. And amidst all that, he still dealt with a lot of self-doubt.

Brent started singing at four years old and began writing songs at 10 years old. By 15 years old, he was heavily influenced by grindcore and punk rock. In this episode, Brent shares how life drastically changed for him the moment he made the decision to improve his health and how he started singing better than ever – and with confidence.

If you've ever turned to a substance or perhaps used some kind of denial to help you through a performance, this is the interview you need to hear. We're also going to talk about unicorns, converting hard rockers to opera lovers, weight and singing, how Brent's impromptu performance became a staple of his career, and how the band trains on the road.

In this episode, you will hear:

• His love of music at an early age
• How different genres have their own attitudes
• Bringing your own version of a song
• How your weight impacts your singing
• Brent's weight loss journey and recovering from addiction
• Your responsibility to take care of your health as a singer
• Brent's appreciation for opera
• Warm-up techniques and duration
• Other factors that can affect your voice (ex. weather, altitude)
• Dealing with your nerves when singing
• Why Brent prefers singing standing up vs. sitting down

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Robot Unicorn Attack video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z06PYj2EXFI

Sound of Madness video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGt-8adyabk

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

This is Part II of our conversation with Dream Theater's lead singer James LaBrie. Last week, we began what seems like one of the most transparent conversations I've ever had about vocal injury and how a professional singer like him can recover and continue to create great music.

Today, we continue the discussion as James talks about what he does right before a show, his support system, and some vocal idols. We also touch a bit on work-life balance as well as dive into some extra spicy Patron questions at the end!

It's amazing how James takes care of his voice and how he is continuously inspired by other artists. Learning about how he overcame a traumatic vocal injury and how he hasn't let that stop him from continuing to produce incredible music was truly inspiring. Finally, his advice, especially on vocal health, is just pure gold.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Avoiding food or drink that makes you burp
• A routine he does before a show
• Singing in passaggio
• The best way to support someone who has undergone a vocal injury
• Why many bands are touring nowadays
• The rise of online subscription streaming services (ex. Patreon, YouTube, Twitch)
• Asking your favorite artist how they want to be supported
• The most incredible venues James had performed at
• How in-ear monitors have revolutionized live performance
• Online concerts versus concerts with a live audience
• Sounding perfect vs. translating music accurately and with conviction
• How they create a concert playlist
• About his newest album, "Beautiful Shade of Gray"

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Dream Theater

https://dreamtheater.net/

DoctorVOX

https://www.doctorvox.com/

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

Dream Theater is legendary for its complex, progressive music, and James LaBrie, their lead singer, is legendary for his ability to weave a melody over rapidly evolving time signatures and musical textures.

James has a massive range and a distinctive, gathered sound which cuts through to deliver his message. Not only does James sing complex music so well, but he actually overcame one of the most difficult things any singer ever faces – a serious vocal injury.

In 1994, James was stricken with a severe case of food poisoning that led to a vocal hemorrhage, which is essentially a blood vessel rupturing in the vocal folds. It was the most horrific thing that could happen to any singer.

Vocal health is closely intertwined with a singer's identity and self-worth, and experiencing the trauma that James went through would have caused many singers to quit. But he kept going and is still releasing albums, including his new solo album "Beautiful Shade of Gray" which came out on May 20, 2022. James's determination to continue and press through for the band and his attention to recovery and vocal health now make him a glowing inspiration.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Preventing acid reflux
• Vocal modification
• DoctorVOX: a great device for vocal fitness
• Dealing with the psychological aspects of being a singer
• Vocal fatigue
• How the melody guides a singer
• Why you should never stop learning the voice
• How James' food poisoning experience led to vocal injury
• Working through vocal nodules

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

DoctorVOX - https://www.doctorvox.com/

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

This is Part II of our conversation with musician, bass singer, and arranger, Geoff Castellucci. Last week, we started to brush just the surface of what makes Geoff Castellucci so incredible. We talked about his origins and how he began singing with members of VoicePlay way back in middle school.

We also discussed some of his role models and he's able to manage time between his passion and his family life. Plus, we took our first plunge into understanding how he learned to make sounds so low they can cause the screws in your furniture to come loose.

In this episode, we continue our discussion around subharmonics and its origins. We'll also take a closer look at his recording tools and tips, including one of the voice tools nearest and dearest to my heart – straw singing.

I also particularly love how Geoff gave us so many details about his recording process. Every singer has a different instrument but we all have to figure out how to record that instrument well. Geoff's understanding of what works best for him can be applied to many others.

Finally, we have some extra fun questions at the end, including which roles he'd most like to play in the future and how many marriage proposals he has received!

In this episode, you will hear:

• The two main types of throat singing
• Tips in recording low notes and full voice
• Geoff's pre-performance routines
• Why preamps are one of the most overlooked recording gear for vocalists
• The benefits of using preamps
• Why SOVTs (semi-occluded vocal tract exercises) work so well
• Dr. Ingo Titze's research on SOVTs
• The best and worst things about his profession
• His favorite performance venues
• Harnessing the power of great partners

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

https://www.geoffcastellucci.com/

https://www.thevoiceplay.com/

Episode Credits:

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

If you've never experienced the glory of your entire room rumbling as if a sonic earthquake had struck, and noticed that the screws and your shells were starting to come loose, then you haven't heard Geoff Castellucci on an adequate speaker system.

Known for his ability to sing mind-boggling bass notes that are so low even some keyboards can't contain, Geoff is the low voice in the a cappella group VoicePlay. He also releases his own covers with multiple vocal layers which demonstrate his massive range, including high notes you never would have thought such a low voice could produce. Geoff also arranges and produces and creates fantastic music videos.

In today's episode, Geoff shares his voice technique, specifically, how he's able to extend his low notes so far, what he does to record pristine vocal layers in his studio, and what makes a great collaborator.

In this episode, you will hear:

• VoicePlay members: the original members and the core members
• Fun memories growing up with the other members
• How weight affects your voice
• Geoff's favorite a cappella groups and VoicePlay songs
• Finding work/life balance
• What makes a great collaborator
• Factors that control the rate of vibration of the true vocal folds
• Blending the ​​chest voice and subharmonic registers
• Vocal transition and volume management
• Using Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs): Logic and Pro Tools
• Comparing singing subharmonics to yodeling

Subscribe and Review

Have you subscribed to our podcast? We'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.

We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFA0Hqio3RdsQU-cQrrn9ag

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.