From Singer To Artist

Contemporary singing shouldn’t constantly feel like a full-body workout—and if it does, you’re probably overdoing it. In this episode, we’re breaking down the real difference between support, control, and squeezing. You’ll learn why your diaphragm isn’t involved, and how smart engagement (not force) unlocks real vocal freedom. There’s also an air hockey table analogy you’ll never forget—because great singing is more about glide tha...

Tone is one of the most underrated skills in singing. Everyone talks about hitting the right notes—but what about the way you sing them? Coach Bri and I dove into the middle part of vocal development: tone, dynamics, stylization, and shaping your sound. We talk about what makes a voice sound compelling (not just correct), and how to bring out more color in your singing—without overthinking it.

Bri also coaches me through the song “...

Spencer Lynn is a singer, actor, and writer who has spent his life in creative spaces—from childhood musicals to writing three full-length shows during his graduate studies at NYU. In this conversation with longtime friend Coach Emily and myself, Spencer shares how collaboration, self-awareness, and embracing your own artistic strengths can reshape your creative path.

He talks about how growing up in a musical family gave him a dee...

Vocal distortion might sound intense—but done correctly, it’s not about screaming or wrecking your voice. It's about adding texture, edge, and emotion safely.

I sat down with Coach Emily to break down what distortion actually is (and what it isn’t). This isn't a guide for death metal vocals—but it’s perfect if you're a pop, rock, musical theatre, or singer-songwriter looking to explore controlled vocal grit. From safe onset strateg...

Singer-songwriter Jess Jones brings in his original track “Selena”—and we work through some of the biggest shifts he’s made since first recording it in 2019. From cleaning up pitch to unlocking a fuller tone (without extra force), this session is all about finding strength in ease. We try a few go-to exercises, skip the ones that don’t click (puffer fish, anyone?), and focus on what works: smoother phrasing, jaw release, and projec...

What’s it really like performing around the world as a full-time singer and actor? Sam Bello opens up about life on the road—from national tours to performing on cruise ships across the Middle East, Europe, and the Caribbean. We talk about how she balances the vocal demands of doing 8 shows a week, how she recovers between contracts, and what it’s like to perform on a stage that moves thanks to the waves of the ocean. We dive into ...

Twang is one of the most underrated vocal tools out there. It adds brightness, helps your sound cut through, and gives you more power—without pushing or yelling. But how do you actually use it? And how much is too much?

Coach Emily and I walk through what twang actually is, how it works in your voice, and where it shows up in songs. We break down the acoustics behind it in a simple, non-sciency way—and show you how to explore the t...

If you know me at all, you’ve probably heard me say that you don’t have to get louder to sing high with power. But singer Brandi took this to a while other level - Girl’s got PIPES! She almost blew me away with all that power and volume in our coaching session. Controlling the volume in these high notes is the key to longevity and stamina in your voice. Brandi and I explored how to stay in a chest dominant tone without overdoing it...

Still playing for free? It might be time for a mindset - and systems - upgrade. I sat down with Leonard Patterson—aka The Indie Band Coach—to talk about what it actually takes to get paid for your music. From building a pitch-ready brand to using QR codes, gig cards, and automations, this is your roadmap to stop working for exposure and start building a sustainable career.

📍Mentioned Resource: Bars to Ballrooms Toolkit: https://ma...

You nailed the vocal exercise. Your voice feels free, balanced, and connected… until you start singing your actual song—and it all disappears.

This episode breaks down why that disconnect happens and how to fix it. The VTS coaching team (Lara, Coach Emily, Coach Juliana, Coach Bri, and Coach Kate) explain how to bridge the gap between exercises and songs so your technique actually shows up when it counts.

📍Mentioned Resource: Chec...

Meet VTS coach Kate! She coaches me through 3 completely different songs I’ve never worked on before, helping me step outside of my normal comfort zone. We cover specific vocal habits like tongue placement, vowel shaping, and how to apply technique directly to music. Kate also shares her background and approach to coaching, making this a useful watch for singers and teachers alike.

📍Mentioned Resource: follow Kate @tinyvoiceteache...

I’ve always known how lucky I am to have parents who believed in my dream — even when it didn’t look practical or promising. Their support gave me the freedom to take music seriously, to treat it like a real path instead of just a hobby.

Of course, it hasn’t always been easy. Even with support, choosing a creative path comes with doubt, fear, and a million unknowns. But when you grow up feeling like the people who know you best bel...

Struggling with pitch doesn’t mean you’re tone deaf. Most of the time, it means you just haven’t trained your brain, ears and/or vocal folds yet. Pitch is learnable—and with the right tools, anyone can improve.

In this conversation, we break down why pitch issues happen, how long it actually takes to improve, what to do if you’ve been told (or told yourself) that you “just can’t sing” and how important pitch really is (spoiler - it...

What if singing powerfully had less to do with pushing, and more to do with control? Ali came in thinking she needed to “do more” with her voice—but what really changed things was doing less. This coaching session shows what happens when a singer shifts their focus from volume to balance, and learns how to smooth out their sound without losing strength.

📍Mentioned Resource: Follow Ali here: https://www.instagram.com/aliroad1970/

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I went to musical theatre school over 10 years ago, and it was a wild ride—from combat and dance classes to putting on shows and filming movie musicals. It wasn’t a walk in the park, but it definitely shaped who I am as a performer.

I recently got in touch with some of my old classmates to see where their career is at now and what they’ve learned since school. If you’ve ever thought about going to musical theatre school or wondered...

Starting voice training can feel overwhelming, especially when everything’s wrapped in scientific terms no one remembers. Most singers don’t need to memorize words like “thyroarytenoid” or “cricothyroid” to improve their voice. What actually helps? Understanding what your vocal muscles do — not what they’re called.

I sat down with VTS coach Kate, a vocal anatomy enthusiast and expert, to talk about how to understanding vocal anatom...

What happens when creative collaboration crosses a line?

In this episode, I sat down with Coach Juliana to read and react to some of the most dramatic, cringe-worthy, and thought-provoking AITA (Am I The Ahole) posts from Reddit, all with an artistic twist.

We cover:

• The ethics of using someone else’s poetry for your songs
• How to set boundaries in creative relationships
• When inspiration becomes a violation of trust
• Singing in ...

This week on From Singer to Artist, we’re joined by actor, artist, and VTS student Ari Welkom, aka Avatari, for a powerful conversation about music, healing, and being real.

After struggling with addiction, Ari found his way back to himself through music—and created Mental Health & Music, a collaborative space for artists to talk about the connection between creativity and mental wellness.

We also talk about why authenticity at...

Frustrated about that crack in the middle of your voice? That happens when you’re abruptly switching from one register to the next. Understanding your registers - chest voice, head voice and mix voice - and what happens when you crack is going to be key to smooth out your break and make it seem like you have one seamless voice.

Let’s talk about these three registers and what you can do to balance them out, not just to create seamle...