2018: Saving My Work, Resting My Voice, Singing New Music While Finding a Balance.

A few weeks ago, I somehow deleted all of my content under my website's page entitled, "Is Blogging Still A Thing?" by accident.  Panicking for several days, I was somehow able to retrieve most of the contents, PHEW!  I had considered going back and adding all of my old music rantings, reviews, photos, and videos from the last few months, but going forward is best.  One of these days I may "time-hop" and share an old post, but focusing on the "now" instead of the "then" seems like the right thing to do.  Note to self:  ALWAYS SAVE.  Lesson learned, moving on.  

2018 so far has been a good time for rest.  I have had the luxury this month to perform less and get some much needed relaxation-- vocally, physically, and mentally.  Singers don't have the option to store our instrument away in a red velvet lined case like other musicians, so it's extremely important we know that everything in our lives is connected to the voice (hence, the "diva" stigma).  If we don't take the time to wind down and stay healthy, our voices can develop major issues due to bad habits, ruining careers.  

These past few weeks have been great for figuring out my goals for a new year of music:  it's been quite an experiment figuring out what I can and can't do with my voice in the last 2 years while still under all of the practices of my vocal therapist.  If there is one thing I have learned through trial and error in 2017, it's that I can no longer "Rock and Roll ALL NIGHT" anymore.  Gone, are my days of singing male lead rock (think Robert Plant, David Crosby, and Burton Cummings).  I LOVE rock and roll, my voice certainly doesn't, and that is why I struggle with vocal exhaustion.  Imagine Joni Mitchell or Eva Cassidy trying to sing Metallica or Black Sabbath, sounds crazy, right?  I'm finally coming to terms that I shouldn't sing this stuff.  It's too harsh on my voice, especially going from classical singing to rock.  A happy medium is finding opportunities to sing back up vocals (honestly, being a backup vocalist would be a dream), singing with folks who CAN sing rock.  

Since leaving the classical world, I have discovered I'm definitely a classic country crooner, and I am more than okay with it.  These days I get excited to sing country as well as swing jazz, Americana folk, and bluegrass.  Oh, and I can't forget Motown either.  But just because I can't sing rock anymore doesn't mean I can't LISTEN to it!  I won't be selling any of my Led Zeppelin or Who vinyl anytime soon!  Here's to 2018, a new year of vocal and musical adventures!