Singing is So Much More Than a Pretty Sound

Photo credit: McKylan Mullins

We as singers need to accept that the demands of certain genres entail a spectrum of sounds... that sometimes include "ugly sounds." Some of these genres include: musical theatre, jazz, rock, punk, metal. In these genres, the tonal goal is not necessarily to maintain a homogenous sound (i.e. classical singing). It is to make "sound" decisions based first and foremost on the lyrics.

Often singers who come from a choral or classical background are afraid to even make these sounds in safe spaces. Perhaps it is because our biggest fear as singers is being labeled "bad." But "bad" is subjective and often a generic term used to label something that one is unfamiliar or uncomfortable with. The first time I did a growl in a song, I was told that it was unpleasant... by a classical teacher. Thankfully, I knew the vocal demands of the genre (musical theatre) and was able to eventually let go of this innocent but misguided comment. 

Some examples of "ugly sounds" that are demanded by the genres mentioned above include:

• growls, sub OR supraglottal
• nasalence/twang
• screaming
• pig squeeling
• vocal fry
• straight tone (yup, I've heard folks talk smack about this)
• belting

To ask singers to avoid making "ugly sounds" is to dismiss a large swath of sounds that the human voice is capable of. It pigeonholes otherwise flexible singers. And why do these genres play with these sounds anyway? To express raw human emotion and push the boundaries of music/singing.

When a baby is upset, it wails. When a human is mourning, they wail or scream or cry. When they're angry, they scream or growl. 

When we want something to be powerful, we max out our second formant (belting). When we want to lean into the "uncomfortable or uneasiness" of dissonance, we straighten the tone. When we want to be sensual, we fry.

To sing everything beautifully all the time... is stitled and artificial. Singing is as much of an exploration of the spectrum of sound as it is the exploration of the spectrum of human emotion. Singing is so much more than a pretty sound.