Where does YOUR singing style come from?

Subject: RE: Where does YOUR singing style come from?
From: BillE
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 10:38 AM

Fred Jordan, Charlie Bate, Mervyn Vincent, Ken Penny & Dave Robins, Cyril Tawney, Peter Bellamy, Coppers, Yetties, Dave Webber and many others, almost all from live performance rather than recorded. And (lmost forgot) ... a lifetime of Gilbert and Sullivan where you learn to get the words across.

Subject: RE: Where does YOUR singing style come from?
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 10:40 AM

I had the good luck to attend one of Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger's singers' workshop sessions at an impressionable age and they had a great influence on me. They taught me a lot about what constitutes folk song style (and what doesn't). They taught me that listening to traditional singers is a good place to start and to pick out those elements of their styles which are common among folk singers and worth emulating.
Although Ewan is my 'vocal hero' (as it were) I decided that I didn't particularly want to sound like him - or any other of professional singers on the British Folk Scene at the time (late 60s/early 70s) - I wanted to sound like myself. This wasn't too hard as I am not a particularly a good mimic.
In developing my own style I have also found it useful to develop a broad vision of what I want to achieve as a singer. For example, I am passionately interested and moved by English Traditional song and want to communicate that passion to an audience. As a person with little or no musical training I find a lot of English song tunes quite difficult and I want to continually challenge myself by mastering trickier tunes. I am also interested in the English countryside and tend to be drawn to the pastoral and bucolic. These elements, I think, all tend to contribute to my style - as well as what I sound like and whatever, fairly limited, musical abilities that I may have.

Subject: RE: Where does YOUR singing style come from?
From: Big Mick
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 12:35 PM

At its genesis, my singing style comes from my family and the customs we celebrated. Emoting and causing the audience to feel and get what I think the song is about is the heart of it. Along the way I was then exposed to artists who I would watch and take something from, until I arrived at the stopping point I am at now. As I continue on the path, my style will change more.

Some of the folks that have had a pretty big impact on my style would be Liam Tiernan, Robbie McMahon, Tommy Makem, Frank Profitt, Derek Warfield, Brendan Nolan, Pat Broaders, Stan Rogers, Doc Watson, Jean Ritchie, Elizabeth "Bess" Cronin and Sean Tyrell.

I would say that those mentioned above helped me to establish a baseline. Many folks here at Mudcat have caused my style to evolve in much larger ways. I do not overstate the case when I tell you that great performers such as Rick Fielding, Jed Marum, Dan Milner, Seamus Kennedy, Grit Laskin, Ed Tricket, Sandy Paton, Glen Rogers and others have caused me to focus on the lyric in astounding ways. For me, it is about telling a great yarn, or causing people to feel strong emotion. Each of these folks has influenced me profoundly as I listen to them interpret songs. The baseline was established with the great singers listed above. But it was these folks that taught me to focus on the story and not the chords and performance. Those will come if you tell the story well.

One of the most important is a great performer, but a world class producer. I am speaking of our own Paul Mills. Spending time with him, and watching how he coaxs, challenges, and causes performers to get the best interpretation has had a huge impact on my style. Fate has taken me away from this wonderful friend for a while, but it is just a delay. I can't wait to get back to Toronto and make music, and learn more from them.

I guess the short answer is my style comes from the journey. And I sure am enjoying it.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Where does YOUR singing style come from?
From: Beer
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 01:37 PM

Hi Mick,
Met Brendan a few years back. What a truly wonderful person not to mention his great singing and writing.
Beer

Subject: RE: Where does YOUR singing style come from?
From: Big Mick
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 02:32 PM

One of the most under rated talents out there. His "Far From Their Homes" might be the best song ever written about the Coffin Ships and the crossings.

Mick

Subject: RE: Where does YOUR singing style come from?
From: Beer
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 02:42 PM

That song would bring a tear to anyone's eye.

Subject: RE: Where does YOUR singing style come from?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 02:52 AM

perhaps its because we weren't loved and valued enough as children.

then we saw all these films when George Formby and Elvis Presley, and all points in between, taking in Mario Lanza - they get the girl.

maybe if we had enough self worth, we would happy sitting at home with Times Life/Readers Digest record collections, and not bothering singing.

Singing would be seen as a mark of insecurity, like smoking. there would be campaigns saying - singing isn't really smart, and it can damage your health. Stop singing and perhaps you won't die this week.

Donny Osmond and other great public figures would come on telly and say, I was on fifty songs a day, but I'm glad I stopped and put all that behind me......just say no, shut the bejaysus up - you know it makes sense....

Other people say we get our singing style from the time we were cavemen, and it kept the sabre toothed tigers away from the campfire. If I was a sabre tooth tiger, a Kate Rusby song would make me think twice about barging in on the party.

Subject: RE: Where does YOUR singing style come from?
From: number 6
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 12:44 PM

I posted Harpo Marx because I usually (or most often) don't sing, much prefer to play the music in the background.

I have been told I have a great voice, and have been encouraged more than enough to to get up front and sing more often. My singing voice has been compared to Richard Burton (yes, remember Camelot)but slightly off key.

I'd much prefer to sound like Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt or Kris Kristofferson.

sIx

Subject: RE: Where does YOUR singing style come from?
From: Liath
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 04:09 PM

I'm a big believer in singing with your own voice. I really hate it when singers put on accents. To me, singing should be like speaking - it's about your own expression and feeling.

Having said that, when I was young, I was desperate to sound like Kate Bush - but it only ever resulted in coughing fits ;-) Those of you that have heard me sing will know that was doomed to failure... I have quite a low voice.

If there's anyone I really admire, that would be June Tabor. So understated, subtle yet very very skilful and expressive. But I wouldn't try to emulate her... we all have to find our own voice.