I deliberately try NOT to imitate the first person I heard. Sometimes, with Dylan songs for example, it's difficult, but I keep trying.

But I like songs to sound as though it's ME singing them.

Of course I have to agree with Callie, that some songs like Manura Manyah just can't be sung without an accent. The rhyme 'complain' - 'dain' just doesn't work in English. I had similar problems when I used to be a square dance caller. You can't say 'Granmaw' in English.

Bert.