Today we will be speaking to industry professional Raz Kennedy. A singer with Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra, backing vocalist extraordinaire and vocal coach to the stars, Raz has masses of musical talent, a tonne of industry tales and a plethora of practical advice to share with you, our wonderful listeners! Covering everything from overcoming stage fright, singing authentically to making it in music business, we leave no stone unturned on our journey with this truly inspiring artist.
To make it easier for you to revisit your favourite sections, we’ve time-coded some of the key themes Raz covers. There are so many gems here, we’re sure you’ll want to listen again”
00:00:00 - Intro and early life and influences.
14:26:00 - Learning the craft, music theory vs feel.
22:06:00 - “Pretend you’re singing trapped in a box”! The wonderful world of Bobby Mc Ferrin.
34:39:00 - Why do we need vocal techniques?
55:10:00 - What is authentic singing and how do we get there?
01:00:48 - Music as a positive force for change: Raz’s personal experience in troubled times.
N.B This interview was recorded just after the killing of George Floyd in America and we were humbled that Raz shared his thoughts on social justice in these distressing times, and his experiences of music and social change throughout his career.
Links:
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The Connected Singer on Twitter
Resources:
Here are links to the authors, artists and techniques Raz mentioned, to start you off on your research. There are loads more out there, so keep exploring and find what works for you!
Bobby Mc Ferrin - http://bobbymcferrin.com/
The Complete Vocal Technique – Catherine Sadolin Compete Vocal Institute https://completevocal.institute/
Singing for the Stars – Seth Riggs’ Speech Level Singing https://www.riggsvocalstudio.com
The Voice Teacher’s Cookbook – Brian Winnie
Training Contemporary Commercial Singers – Elizabeth Ann Benson
Ken Templin - https://kentamplinvocalacademy.com/
Jeannette LoVetri - http://thevoiceworkshop.com/
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