Our Crazy Mixed Up Ideas

I was once working with an artist who exclusively sang the same 5 songs over and over - musical theater and Celine Dion. One time she came in (now this is really telling you it’s back in the day) with her CD folder. The ones with the sleeves in it, when we had CD changers in the car… and it was STUFFED, double the size of what it could hold. It was open like an accordion. There were so many CDs in there!

I asked - what is all that music?

She said, oh that’s nothing, just the songs I like to listen to in the car.

Why aren’t you singing any of that music?! It’s clearly the music you love.

And she said well that’s not “real” singing. It’s all alternative.

Her idea of what good singing is is specifically big vocals like musical theater and Celine Dion. What she actually was passionate about and loved was alt pop.

Her ideas, which mostly came from outside opinions from a young age or from people she thought were authorities, were getting in the way of her own artistry, her sound, her style, her progress, her life + pleasure! 

If you are going to stand on stage and make music, if you are fortunate to have a hit song you are going to be singing for two years straight, seven years, and then for the rest of your life - you better love that music! The instrumentation, the lyrics, the sound - everything about it! 

You are the artist and it takes years to really find your voice, meaning who you are as an artist. Start that discovery process with the music that you love and not what anyone told you you’re supposed to be.

Embrace yourself! 

Start with what lights you up, excites you, speaks to you.

It’s all within you.

Want more insights and tools to help you explore your authentic sound and style?
Check out the Parr Method courses online!