Today, we continue the episode with Blind Guardian frontman Hansi Kürsch. His love of music and fantasy is pretty much evident in how he produces magic through writing songs based on fantasies and epics like The Stormlight Archives and The Lord of the Rings. It's amazing how a lot of albums have this continuity. And he explains how everything in the album should have the same vibe because they can only shine if they're bound together. Making amazing music for 40 years now, Hansi gives his insigh...
Dec 21, 2022•58 min•Ep. 34
It's just magic when music and fantasy are combined. And magic is what Blind Guardian creates. Today, we're joined by their lead singer, Hansi Kürsch, who along with his band members, takes inspiration from the great works of fantasy. Going strong for 40 years now, Blind Guardian has recently released their newest album, The God Machine. Not only is Hansi a testament to endurance, but he's also the epitome of a powerful voice. He gives insights into how to build and maintain a four-decade career...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 33
Last week, we began the conversation with some life insights and vocal nerdery with Small Town Titans' frontman Phil Freeman. This week, we're going to continue the discussion with more detail on vocal technique. Phil reveals the foundation for a good, healthy voice and an excellent performance in the same way that you should breathe in. He also stresses the importance of embracing the depth of your voice and not getting easily swayed by other people's opinions when it comes to your voice. Plus,...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 32
What does it take to get to the next level? In this week's conversation, we're joined by Phil Freeman, the lead singer of one of the most underrated rock bands, Small Town Titans. Phil has a massive range coupled with massive technical skills that he can create all kinds of good, aggressive, powerful, and even sweet tones within that range. Phil did a cover of You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, and if you haven't watched it yet, then you've got to! He initially sounds like a low-voiced male, but the...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 31
Last week we started to uncover the shy persona underneath Jinjer's fierce frontwoman, Tatiana Shmayluk. We talked about the artists that piqued her curiosity in harsh vocals and how she developed her monster-esque screams. We also discussed her writing process and how deadlines can be more inspirational than diamonds. This week, we're going to continue the story by taking a look deeper into her growls, to better understand how she delineates between a good growl and a bad growl. We'll also talk...
Nov 23, 2022•46 min•Ep. 30
Tatiana Shmayluk is the lead singer of the Ukrainian metalcore band, Jinjer. But don't let that trick you into thinking that she's a gentle performer. Tatiana packs a punch with her vocals – both clean and harsh. In fact, she was the first female singer that I've ever heard going into full death growl mode. The song started off with a groovy, almost jazzy punk feel, and then dropped into this intensely heavy section. And at that moment out of Tatiana, a boss monster just seemed to spring. It's i...
Nov 16, 2022•52 min•Ep. 29
This week, we continue the conversation with Peter Hollens, American singer/songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur. Known for doing acapella videos of just him – and his multiple voices, Peter is his own engineer and singer. That's not to say that he hasn't done any collaborations because Peter has collaborated with other great artists – including one video that he wished could have picked up more audience (on top of its two million views on YouTube.) In this episode, Peter talks about his vocal...
Nov 09, 2022•51 min•Ep. 28
If there's one artist who has inspired my current vocal endeavors more than any other, it's Peter Hollens – THE GUY who made multiple layering of the same human voice popular on YouTube. Peter now has 400 videos on his channel. Some are elaborate collaborations with well-known artists and some are just him, multiple times. While many singers only need to think about singing one line and maybe a few harmonies, Peter has to think about singing tons of lines. Just imagine the additional time it tak...
Nov 02, 2022•52 min•Ep. 27
This week, we continue our conversation with Myles Kennedy, the lead singer of Alter Bridge, but also an outstanding songwriter and guitar player who has done many great collaborations. Speaking of spreading the great music that Myles creates, Alter Bridge just released their seventh album on October 14 of 2022. He definitely sounds better and better. It's hard to believe how he can sound like he's in the prime of his singing career when he's already been at it professionally for over 30 years. ...
Oct 26, 2022•51 min•Ep. 26
Many people say that having a classical vocal foundation will set any singer up for success. Even as an opera singer, I don't know if this is always true, but our guest today, Myles Kennedy, has some of the best vocal techniques any metal or rock singer could have. Not only did he study the classical vocal foundation, he still continues to use it. Myles is an outstanding songwriter and guitar player who has collaborated with many artists. As the lead singer of Alter Bridge or in his work with Sl...
Oct 19, 2022•55 min•Ep. 25
In this episode, we continue our conversation with Arjen Lucassen. Not just the tallest guitar player in the world, Arjen has consolidated his love of movies, music, and the concept of time travel on his newest project, Star One. Not only that, it's a collaboration-filled project with other great artists as they make music and magic – together. Listen in as Arjen shares his opinion of opera, how to create an inner circle of music advisors, time travel, producing Star One, musical comic books, an...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 24
What exactly goes into making an opera metal? Or is it the other way around – do you make metal operatic? Today's guest is Arjen Lucassen, the mastermind composer, multi-instrument player, and producer of both Ayreon and Star One. Arjen is known, not only for his massive collaborative projects but also for having a knack for finding the best singers to collaborate with – singers that can handle both metal and opera, and lots in between. Arjen has worked with almost every major metal talent that ...
Oct 05, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 23
Last week, we began this interview with two incredible artists Russell Allen and Anette Olzon, who have now released two albums together. Interestingly, this episode is the first time they're meeting face-to-face. Russell and Anette are having fun talking about their love of music and family, and also joking about growing old in the music industry. This week, we're going to continue the story by discussing how sound can heal, which straws are best for singers, and how placement can be helpful fo...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 22
Today's conversation is made twice the fun as we feature two veteran vocalists, Russell Allen and Anette Olzon, who are legends on their own. Russell Allen is known for his work with Symphony X and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Anette Olzon is known for her work with Nightwish. Russell and Anette recently collaborated and released their second album together, titled Army of Dreamers. Yet, it's funny how these two fantastic artists had never met in person and never had a conversation before. ...
Sep 21, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 21
It's time for yet another episode of healthy screaming with Will Ramos, the lead vocalist of the deathcore band, Lorna Shore. Last week, we looked at how Will Ramos nurtured his voice to sound like a Nazgul. Today, we continue the conversation by talking more about how to NOT mess up your voice while screaming. Learn some tips on healthy screaming, relaxing to improve technique, and how scatting can improve deathcore. Will values taking care of his voice just as much as an opera singer would. It...
Sep 14, 2022•57 min•Ep. 20
Imagine a goblin meeting a Nazgul, and together they decided to sing an epic opera using only harsh vocals. That's what our guest today, Will Ramos sounds like. Will is the lead harsh vocalist of the deathcore band, Lorna Shore – and the sounds he makes are almost unreal! Many traditional singing teachers would point to his grunts and gurgles and say that he's destroying his voice – but he isn't. We actually decided to put a camera down his throat, and surprisingly, it was even more amazing than...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 19
Last week, we started a conversation with Simone Simons, the lead singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. We discussed how she got into singing and blending classical and contemporary techniques. This week, we continue the conversation as Simone talks about online singing lessons, taking pride in pregnant bellies, what singing felt like after giving birth, and our favorite Disney voices. She also dishes out some singing tips like using eyebrows to get to that high note and how she memorizes ...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 18
Simone Simons may look like a supermodel – she has the blog, photographs and beauty partnerships to back it up – but she is much more than just the face of the Dutch metal band, Epica. Simone has a voice and a lifestyle to be reckoned with. Simone's vocals are widely recognized for both their beauty and power. As the frontwoman of a symphonic metal band with death metal tendencies, Simone brings versatility in singing styles, combining both classical and contemporary technique. In this episode, ...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 17
If you're a fan of the television series, Vikings, then you've most likely already heard the beautiful music created by the folk music band, Heilung. This is the second part of my interview with Heilung's female lead, Maria Franz. She's also the lead vocal for two other bands, Euzen and Songleikr. In this episode, Maria talks about the process of creating her amazing look. Maria is most often seen with Heilung in this white, ceremonial costume, with long antlers emerging from her head, a long, w...
Aug 17, 2022•35 min•Ep. 16
No one knows what music from the Bronze or Iron Ages sounds like, but the musical group Heilung presents a version of what music in that era could have sounded like. Their music is often described as "amplified history" and it evokes something primal in audiences around the world. In this two-part episode, we sit down with Maria Franz, the lead female singer of Heilung, as well as two other bands, Euzen and Songleikr. We shared a cup of tea while chatting about how they're creating intriguing so...
Aug 10, 2022•39 min•Ep. 15
This week, we continue this conversation with Disney queen turned vocal beast and Arch Enemy frontwoman, Alissa White-Gluz. We take a deep dive into her vocal technique, specifically differentiating how she approaches harsh and clean vocals. We talk about veganism, why she thinks about her vocals like painting, and how she thinks about her voice in vivid textures and colors. It's amazing how those scary and beautiful sounds are produced by one of the greatest animal lovers on the planet. Alissa ...
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 14
Imagine the powerful and practically magical presence of Elsa combined with the animal-loving nature of Snow White. That's Alissa White-Glutz, the lead vocalist of the death metal band Arch Enemy. Known for harsh, distorted, aggressive, and intense tones, Alissa takes pride in a healthy lifestyle, practicing veganism, and nurturing positivity all around. Alissa has a scary video game character called "Queen Beast" modeled after her. She also is an adept clean vocal singer, talented not only at c...
Jul 27, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 13
This week, we continue the discussion with Grammy Award-winning Halestorm's Lzzy Hale as we do an in-depth technical conversation and discuss how to create more awesome sounds. Discover how those sounds can be best applied in songs and a setlist. You can also hear some of their writing in Halestorm's newly released album, Back from the Dead. Get cozy with Lzzy as we chat about some delightful surprises in live performance, specifically how she structures them. She discusses what her process is l...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 12
How does one growl and scream with so much passion, yet also make these vocalizations without hurting anything? Well, it turns out that our guest today, Lzzy Hale, is extremely technically proficient when it comes to using those techniques. Lzzy Hale is the lead singer and guitar player of the Grammy Award-winning rock band and my heavy music idol, Halestorm. Gifted with powerful and aggressive yet effortless vocals, Lzzy indeed embodies what it means to be a strong rocker chic. Being so nervous...
Jul 13, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 11
This is Part II of the interview with Shinedown frontman, Brent Smith. Brent's easygoing yet direct manner comes across throughout our entire conversation. He is truly a rockstar who has figured out life balance despite his massive touring and having a family. Last week, we started to unveil why it's essential for Brent to train like an athlete. The more I get to speak with incredible singers like him, the more I'm convinced that you can't separate the health of the person from the health of the...
Jul 06, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 10
Addiction is something that plagues all kinds of people – especially creatives or performers who are feeling constant pressure. Brent Smith was on top of the lead singer world, fronting Shinedown, a rock band with 17 singles that have hit #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. And amidst all that, he still dealt with a lot of self-doubt. Brent started singing at four years old and began writing songs at 10 years old. By 15 years old, he was heavily influenced by grindcore and punk rock. In t...
Jun 29, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 9
This is Part II of our conversation with Dream Theater's lead singer James LaBrie. Last week, we began what seems like one of the most transparent conversations I've ever had about vocal injury and how a professional singer like him can recover and continue to create great music. Today, we continue the discussion as James talks about what he does right before a show, his support system, and some vocal idols. We also touch a bit on work-life balance as well as dive into some extra spicy Patron qu...
Jun 22, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 8
Dream Theater is legendary for its complex, progressive music, and James LaBrie, their lead singer, is legendary for his ability to weave a melody over rapidly evolving time signatures and musical textures. James has a massive range and a distinctive, gathered sound which cuts through to deliver his message. Not only does James sing complex music so well, but he actually overcame one of the most difficult things any singer ever faces – a serious vocal injury. In 1994, James was stricken with a s...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 7
This is Part II of our conversation with musician, bass singer, and arranger, Geoff Castellucci. Last week, we started to brush just the surface of what makes Geoff Castellucci so incredible. We talked about his origins and how he began singing with members of VoicePlay way back in middle school. We also discussed some of his role models and he's able to manage time between his passion and his family life. Plus, we took our first plunge into understanding how he learned to make sounds so low the...
Jun 08, 2022•46 min•Ep. 6
If you've never experienced the glory of your entire room rumbling as if a sonic earthquake had struck, and noticed that the screws and your shells were starting to come loose, then you haven't heard Geoff Castellucci on an adequate speaker system. Known for his ability to sing mind-boggling bass notes that are so low even some keyboards can't contain, Geoff is the low voice in the a cappella group VoicePlay. He also releases his own covers with multiple vocal layers which demonstrate his massiv...
Jun 01, 2022•50 min•Ep. 5
