Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! Hello, this is Valerie Day from Living A Vocal Life. During my break from producing new interviews, I'm revisiting some of the insightful conversations I've had with singers in the past five years. This encore episode delves into the crossroads of creativity and motherhood. In these conversations, you'll discover how artist mothers balance the challenges and rewards of maintaining their creativity while parenting. They share candid accounts...
May 11, 2024•2 hr 10 min
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! On this episode of Living A Vocal Life, we’re diving into the world of microphones, exploring how the right mic can amplify your artistry and protect your vocal health. You’ll also get a peek at the latest module of my course, Becoming A Singer, where we take a look at the art of rehearsing and the power of body language. And finally, I share a personal announcement about the future of the podcast. Tune in for an episode filled with valuabl...
Mar 27, 2024•10 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! In this episode of 'Living a Vocal Life,' my guest is Jessica Baldwin, a multi-talented popular music voice specialist, creativity coach, and indie singer-songwriter. Jess's early exposure to a music-rich environment nurtured her journey across various musical genres, leading to her distinctive soul, jazz, and chamber pop sound. She's appeared on American Public Television's Songs At The Center and NPR's Mountain stage, was a quarter-finali...
Feb 26, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! In this episode, you’ll hear the inspiring journey of Rosi Amador, a bilingual singer, percussionist, and voiceover talent. Her relationship with music has been life-long, profoundly influenced by her parents, who themselves were performers. Rosi takes us from her roots in Puerto Rico through a life-changing trip to Nicaragua, the story of her first band, Flor de Caña, to the birth of the folkloric group Sol Y Canto. She openly discusses th...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! In this episode, you'll hear the voice of Whitney Jones, a remarkable musician, songwriter, and singer. Her journey began with singing gospel call and response with her mother during bath time and blossomed into a passion for music and songwriting. Despite facing challenges and adversity, including becoming a single mother at 16, Whitney's determination led her to attend the Berklee School of Music. In this conversation, she shares her expe...
Oct 13, 2023•57 min•Season 3Ep. 32
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! Welcome to Episode Two of this special series of Living a Vocal Life, all about balancing motherhood and creativity. In this two-part series, you'll hear from 11 singers who generously agreed to answer three questions about how they navigate creativity and motherhood. In Part One, you heard how these singers structure their lives, including tips on finding time and solitude for their creative work. In this episode, you'll hear how women nav...
Jul 14, 2023•57 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! Welcome to Episode One of this special series of Living a Vocal Life, all about balancing motherhood and creativity. In this two-part series, you'll hear from 11 singers who generously agreed to answer three questions about how they navigate creativity and motherhood. In Part One, you'll hear how these singers structure their lives, including tips on finding time and solitude for their creative work. In Part Two, you'll hear how women navig...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! In this episode of Living A Vocal Life, we dive deep into the remarkable musical journey of Danielle Tucker. Danielle's passion for performance began when she auditioned and won a spot on Ed McMahon's Star Search in the early 90s. She didn't win, but what she learned from the singer she competed against ignited her desire to become a professional singer. Her journey from an inexperienced novice to a powerhouse vocalist is an inspiring tale ...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! In this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with the extraordinary singer and performer N'Kenge. Her vocal range spans five octaves and 11 different languages. She can sing any style of music, from Broadway to pop, soul, and opera. Her impressive resume includes leading roles in various Broadway musicals and performances at major venues like Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden. Additionally, she has sung for presidents and dignitari...
Mar 17, 2023•52 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! This season, the Living a Vocal Life podcast offers a special edition of interviews with successful vocalists who have turned to teaching the next generation of singers. In today's episode, host Valerie Day, an accomplished singer and voice teacher, talks passionately about how underrated and essential teaching is and how it goes beyond just knowing how to sing or play an instrument. Valerie highlights the multifaceted skills involved in te...
Mar 13, 2023•12 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! This month’s guest is China Forbes, whose voice is heard around the world. She’s the lead vocalist for the globe-trotting band Pink Martini. You might have seen her on Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show, or over 70 different symphonies. You can hear her voice on duets with people like Michael Feinstein, Carol Channing, and Rufus Wainwright. And she’s performed in venues from Carnegie Hall to Red Rocks, the Sydney Ope...
Apr 30, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! My guest this month has been called a poet of the vocal cords and "the Queen of Cabarets." Karen Mason originated the role of Tanya in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia and has had starring roles in Wonderland, Hairspray, Sunset Boulevard, and the first U.S. tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies. She's shared concert stages with Michael Feinstein, Jerry Herman, Chita Rivera, Luciano Pavarotti, Rosemary Clooney, Liza Minnelli, and...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! My guest this month is a singer and songwriter who’s led an extraordinary vocal life, Tabitha Fair. Tabitha was born and raised in Oklahoma, the daughter of a preacher and a mother who ministered through music. By the time she was five years old, Tabitha knew she wanted to be a singer and have a career in music. And that she has, eventually garnering a record deal and becoming one of the A-list backup singers in the industry. She’s recorded...
Feb 18, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! This month’s guest on Living A Vocal Life is singer-songwriter, Stephanie Schneiderman. Blending elements of folk, indie pop music, Americana, and electronic music, Stephanie’s songwriting is often compared to artists like Imogen Heap, Regina Spektor, and Jem. As a singer-songwriter, her solo career began with a coveted spot in the Lilith Fair. From there, she went on to receive extensive NW radio airplay, tour internationally, and earn mus...
Nov 15, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! My guest today is Lachi. She is a force of nature — a whirling Diva with non-stop energy who sings, writes, produces, acts, and is visually impaired. As she says in her YouTube series, Off Beat: "I'm a black girl, going blind, just trying to stay fabulous. I'm here to motivate. I'm here to educate." And that she does. In the Dance, Pop-EDM world, Lachi is a go-to singer-songwriter. She boasts millions of streams across platforms and has col...
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 22
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! Josh Breckinridge is a triple threat, a singer, dancer, and actor, and he excels at all three. He's best known for his standout roles on Broadway and appearances on hit TV shows the Blacklist, Bluebloods, and FBI. Currently, he's a part of the Apple Original Films live filming of the award-winning Broadway hit, Come From Away, and will rejoin the cast when it returns to Broadway this September. J. was living and working in New York City whe...
Aug 28, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! After a year of practicing alone, making music again with others is a joy. Yet, for many of us, rehearsal is a means to an end—a necessary chore to get to the main event — performing. What if rehearsals were something you looked forward to? What if they gave you energy rather than depleting it? What if they had the same potential as performance for creating connection and community? What if they were actually fun ? Whether you’re a seasoned...
Aug 24, 2021•19 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! My guest in this episode is Ara Lee James. Ara has a voice that can sing anything and a way with words that is truly transcendent. Her voice is powerful — in its strength and its tenderness. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Music Presenter, Sue Svendsen, wrote, “Ara Lee is the best singer I’ve ever heard. Period. But what she does is more than that. To hear her live is gut-wrenching, heart-soaring - it’s a spiritual awakening.” Gary ...
Feb 02, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! The guest on this month’s episode of the podcast is Jeanette Jurado — one of the members of the multiplatinum-selling group Exposé. From 1985 to 1995, Jeanette, Gioia, and Ann ruled the Top 40, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts in the US and throughout the world. Their albums garnered seven back-to-back Top 10 hits on Billboard’s US Hot 100 — more Top 10 hits than any girl group besides the Supremes. In March 2015, Billboard magazine n...
Dec 26, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! How a short 10-minute talk by Elizabeth Gilbert finally clarified my troubled relationship with music and the music business and why what I learned might be helpful to you too. Elizabeth Gilbert’s talk helped me to see that career and vocation are not the same things. A career is not the beating heart of the true self I already possess. It’s a part of my life, but only a part. Is the dance between career and vocation difficult? Yes. Is it w...
Oct 24, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! As a songwriter, Los Battey’s career has been extraordinary; he and his brother Steven have penned hits for artists like Madonna, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown and Bruno Mars. They’ve been nominated for a Grammy Award four times, winning in 2010 for their contribution to Madonna’s “Revolver” remix. The Battey brothers, or Jackie’s Boyz , the name they gave themselves in honor of their mother Jackie, were far from an overnight success. Their st...
Aug 15, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! Singers love to sing. But sometimes, listening gets neglected. If you want to be a good listener (and a better singer), it’s essential to practice listening. In this solo podcast episode, you’ll discover how you can learn to listen more deeply to other singers, the world around you, and your own voice as a part of your vocal practice. Links: For full show notes, transcriptions of this episode, and more offerings for singers, you can visit m...
Aug 02, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! My dear friend Duffy Bishop is my guest on Episode #14 of Living A Vocal Life. Duffy and I have known each other for a long time — 20 years, or maybe even more. Offstage Duffy’s a bit of a homebody, a creative maker who’s always drawing, painting, and sewing. You notice her when she walks into a room not because she tries to draw attention to herself, but because of the way her eyes light up with love when she greets you. This quieter demea...
Jul 16, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! My relationship with practicing is a love/hate kind of thing. I’ve tried a gazillion strategies over the years and tested some of them with my students. Here’s what I’ve learned about staying connected to why I practice in the first place and some strategies for finding the time to do it. Links: You can find me on: Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter . Complete show notes and more resources for singers can be found on my website . Never miss ...
Jun 20, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! This month’s guest on the podcast is Haley Johnsen. Haley first stepped into the spotlight in 2012 when she made it into the top 24 contestants on American Idol. Since then, she’s worked hard to make her way as an independent musician. She’s written hundreds of songs, released three albums and numerous singles, and traveled thousands of miles on tours across the U.S.A. and Europe. She’s also the proud mama of a new golden retriever puppy. I...
May 16, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! In this episode of the podcast, I’m excited to introduce you to my friend, jazz singer, and songwriter, Karla Harris. Karla has been singing professionally for over 30 years. She’s sung at jazz festivals, TED Talks, and is currently an artist in residence at Kennesaw State University where she teaches the next generation of jazz singers. Her new album, “Certain Elements” was released in 2018 and reached the #44 spot on the prestigious Jazz ...
Feb 29, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! What is style? And why is it important? When you’re learning to sing, you start by imitating others. But eventually, you want to be able to craft your own style, so you don’t sound like anyone else. After all, there’s only one you. Your body, your life experience, and your musical style and taste are unique. It’s also essential to sound authentic within a specific genre. Whether you sing classical music, heavy metal, pop, or jazz, there are...
Feb 29, 2020•12 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! This month’s guest on Living A Vocal Life is Bill Wadhams, one of the lead singers from the 80s synth-pop band, Animotion whose song Obsession landed in the top 10 in countries around the world in 1984. I’ve known Bill for years, but recently we had a chance to get to know each other better on a tour he’s dubbed, The Genius Insanity Tour, otherwise known as Lost 80s. In 2018 alone, our band’s played 22 cities together in three months. As he...
Jan 29, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! When you’re first starting out, your song list might only have a few tunes on it. Keeping track of keys, charts, and lyric sheets isn’t such a big deal. But later, when you have tens or even hundreds of songs to keep track of, if they’re disorganized, it’s overwhelming. Enter Google Sheets. They’re easy to use spreadsheets in the cloud. You can use them for all kinds of things, but my inner librarian loves using them to organize songs. I ha...
Jan 29, 2020•7 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Questions? Comments? Guest suggestions? Send us a text! January’s guest on the podcast is Holly Pyle, a singer who uses different musical styles and technology to create her own unique vocal sound and compositions. Holly was an opera major at Northern Arizona University when she stumbled upon a jazz choir audition. She fell in love with the genre, eventually completing her studies in jazz and psychology. Since diving into a music career in 2014, she has released two albums and given over 900 per...
Dec 27, 2019•48 min•Season 1Ep. 7
