The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #128355 Message #2874805
Posted By: Mrs Banjiman
29-Mar-10 - 01:27 PM
Thread Name: Weak Breathy Girly Vocals in Folk?
Subject: RE: Weak Breathy Girly Vocals in Folk?
What an interesting thread! I agree with certain points and it is something that Banjiman and I have discussed often in the past, especially when I recorded my last CD. I don't think I can make my voice sound like the weak, breathy girly style that seems to be in vogue even if I try!
I'm sure amplification has something to do with it. I often wonder when I hear a recording of some of the current crop of big female folk names who sing in the style we're discussing how they'd cope at a festival over a weekend doing 7 or 8 x 40+ sets in noisy pubs with no amplification. Would they have a voice left? This is often what us jobbing folk singers are expected to do tho'! As a singer, one should learn how to produce one's voice. Musicians - even self-taught folkie-style ones spend hours crafting their guitar, fiddle, banjo, accordion playing, or whatever is the weapon of their choice, and I don't just mean learning more repertoire. The voice is an instrument too and yet I wonder how many folk singers do really develop skills in controlled breathing, voice projection, head voice - chest voice transition, etc. Even basic vocal warm-up exercises. I am no expert, but still draw on some tips I got from a teacher at school when I was 15! Plus a few years of singing in a big choral society.
I also think the idea of cultural shifts in church attendance and general community singing trends do play a part. Our 10 year old daughter who sings a lot at school, in church and with us in folk clubs doesn't have the weak, breathy girly type of voice either. Mind you, I do singing work with 4- 10 year olds in school and neither do most of the little girls I hear singing on a weekly basis.
The weak, breathy girly vocals were the first ones I begain to listen to as they were the ones I was easily exposed to on Radio 2, on the main stages at festivals, etc. It is when you start going around to your local folk club that you realise that women who sing like that are in the minority!
I have started delving into some of the Scottish stalwarts such as Gordeanna McCulloch and Jean Redpath who certainly pack a punch!
I do not dislike the weak, breathy, girly vocals per se. But what I do dislike is that this style of voice is then used for singing all kinds of songs whether a lullaby, a serious ballad or whatever. Give me someone like Eliza Carthy who can sing softly if needed or really gutsy as required to suit the song and who also challenges herself in the material she picks rather than sticking to a safe formula in the vocal comfort zone all the time!
Sorry...didn't mean to go on so long. Time I took a breath (lol!)