Expert: Sean Martinfield - 10/1/2011

Question
Hi, I'm 19 years old and have a lot of experience as a classical singer, with a bit of musical theatre(I was in serious, selective choirs from the age of seven until I was seventeen, have been taught by two professional opera singers and passed exams to diploma standard in the UK) but my passion has always been for rock music. Now I'm at university, some friends and I are jamming regularly and hope to form a band and start gigging in the next year.

My "problem" is that I would like my voice to sound less obviously female. I'm not asking how to sound less classical, as my ability to sing rock is improving with lots of practice, but I really hate the sound of female "rock" singers who sound really girly. To me, they just sound like pop singers fronting a rock band.

Of course I don't want to sound like a man, but I'd love to get a slightly more androgynous sound. The best example I've found is Geddy Lee from Rush. I'd also love to incorporate elements of the styles of Kai Hansen (Helloween), Axl Rose (Guns 'N' Roses) and Ronnie James Dio. Again, I don't want to copy their styles, but that's the sort of thing I'd like to aim for as far as possible.

My voice has always been very adaptable, and I have a decent range (with practice, I can comfortably sing soprano, alto or tenor parts, although mezzo probably comes most naturally). I'm not looking for a quick fix and I know from experience that any new vocal training takes time and effort, but I'm pretty dedicated to my music so that's not a problem. I'd be really grateful if you could give me any advice.

Thanks,

Emma

Answer
Hello, Emma –

Thank you for a great question.

If you are most comfortable in your mezzo-soprano range, then it's time to absolutely let go of whatever illusions you may have had about the Classical soprano repertoire.

All my mezzos exercise to Low F, some go lower. The Pop belters among them can knock out a High F.

You know that Lead Rock singers don't happen overnight. But the best among them share a number of things in common as they're working toward their goals and with a specific group of musicians. They have a clear Identity. They know what they're singing about. They know who their audience is and how to get the story in their material out to them.

My degree is in Theatre Arts as an acting major. I wound up being a professional singer. My performing experience is that of a musician who knows how to push the lyrics, i.e., the "character" behind the text.

The solution to your "sound" won't be found in you cultivating yet another illusion, i.e., Androgyny. But if you start including who you are as an Actress – someone who must re-create a well-rehearsed performance night after night and (over time) in a huge variety of performance environments – then you will start getting more in touch with your deeper emotions – your angst – and how to convey the TRUTH of Yourself to the back of the house.

You and everyone out in your audience can spot an "act" when they see or hear one. Your job as a Lead Singer is to spill out your guts and soul through material written just for you – and those who accompany you or sing back-up vocals with you. That you develop deeper-sounding and harder-edged vocals along the way will be the by-product of adding these considerations to your daily vocal workout and applying those skills to the rehearsal sessions.

In the Classical world, there is always another singer waiting in the wings who can replace you and sing exactly the same notes and under the baton of the same conductor and everything will come off more or less the same.

In the world of Rock – it's all about You. Not some crafted version of You.

I am a vocal coach to working singers in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm also the Editor and Publisher of SanFranciscoSentinel.com All my articles and interviews provide a link to my personal e-mail.

Below are links to my articles and youtubes on San Francisco's entertainment and cultural scene:

"LUCREZIA BORGIA" – A Hard Act To Swallow at San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=160261

THE "DOUBLE PLATINUM" GOES TO:  The California Academy of Sciences!
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=161440

EDDIE MULLER and "Fear Over Frisco" – An Interview with the Czar of Noir
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=161026

CD Release – Jacques Loussier Trio – "Schumann: Kinderszenen"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=160633

LEAH CROCETTO – An Interview with "Liu" in SF Opera's TURANDOT
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=159189

RENÉE FLEMING IS "LUCREZIA BORGIA" – Friday, 9/23, at San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=158874

SILENT FILM FESTIVAL – Joins with the American Conservatory Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=158668

HENRY PHIPPS – A Conversation with Featured Boy Soprano in SF Opera's "Heart of a Soldier"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=158231

HBO Premieres "The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell" – Midnight, 9/20
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=158067

"HEART OF A SOLDIER" – A Rapturous World Premiere At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=157139

THE ART OF ANATOLIAN KILIM – Now at the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=157659

“HEART OF A SOLDIER” – World Premiere, Tonight at San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=156910

MEET MAESTRO NICOLA LUISOTTI – San Francisco Opera opens 2011/12 season with Puccini's "Turandot"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=156522

$3M DONATION TO SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – Gift of Jan I. Shrem and Maria Manetti Farrow
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=156420

"The Glory of Love" – A Salute to Jacqueline Fontaine
http://youtu.be/KuxxqmpUY_M

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY – Opens Tonight and Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=155872

STEVE MARTIN'S "The Underpants" – Gets an airing at Gough Street Playhouse
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=155731

A “WORLD PREMIERE” – Mozart's Concerto for Horn and Orchestra
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=155168

"MOZART'S SISTER" – Third string cinema
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=155054

SF EARLY MUSIC SOCIETY – Season Opens with the Catacoustic Consort and Wildcat Viols
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=154139

SHN Presents – STOMP and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Musical
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=153764

"ONCE IN A LIFETIME" – 1930 Comedy Open's 2011-12 Season at A.C.T.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=153488

SF ARTS COMMISSION – Debuts New Public Artwork at the Ortega Branch Library
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=153401

36th ANNUAL SF OPEN STUDIOS – Every weekend, October 1st—30th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=152972

SELECTED HISTORIES: Discover Latin American Art at SFMOMA
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=152618

POLARIS: VOYAGE FOR ORCHESTRA – With the San Francisco Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=152632

"HEART OF A SOLDIER" – SFOpera Presents World Premiere September 10th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=152421

GRANTS FOR THE ARTS – 50th Anniversary, A Free Celebration At City Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=152210

THE MOURNERS: Tomb Sculptures from  the Court of Burgundy
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=151939

MEROLA OPERA’S GRAND FINALE – Meet Daniel Curran and Mark Diamond
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=150518

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – Opens with Puccini's "Turandot", September 9th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=150084

HELP IS ON THE WAY XVII: Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance!
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=149792

Previewing two exhibitions coming to the de Young Museum and Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=149256

NEW ON CD – "Live from the Marlboro Music Festival"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=148987

THE STEINS COLLECT: Matisse, Picasso, and the Parisian Avant-Garde – SFMOMA  extends viewing hours on exhibition
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=148813

100th BIRTHDAY – San Francisco Symphony throws free concert bash in Civic Center Plaza, September 8th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=148503

KEVIN SPACEY IS "RICHARD III" – At the Curran, October 19th—29th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=148283

BALI: Art, Ritual, Performance – At the Asian Art Museum until September 11th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=146641

FOLGER COFFEE BUILDING – Becomes Downtown Hub for University of San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=146444

San Francisco Opera and Musicians Union – Ratify new 3-year contract
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=146144

DIANA ROSS – One Night Only! – At the Golden Gate Theatre, 9/16
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=145620

“THE BARBER OF SEVILLE” – Presented by the Merola Opera Program, 8/4-7
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=144571

“CASABLANCA” – The SF Symphony accompanies screening tonight, 7/22
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=143500

“HE WHO GETS SLAPPED” – A conversation with composer and pianist Matti Bye
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=141506

SFMOMA – Spotlights Ceramics In Recent Art Practice – Now though 10/30
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=142745

SEPTEMBER 11th – “Opera In The Park” – The City’s Civic Observance of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=141653

ABEL GANCE’S “NAPOLEON” – San Francisco Silent Film Festival to present complete restoration by Kevin Brownlow in 2012
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=141704

"BILLY ELLIOT" – A high flying hit at the Orpheum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=137904

HEIDI MELTON – An Interview with “Sieglinde” in San Francisco Opera’s DIE WALKÜRE
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=136787

DUTCH AND FLEMISH MASTERWORKS – At the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=140498

THE CASTRO AMBASSADORS – Got questions? Have answers!
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=138785

MARY GIBBONEY – An Interview with the star of “ABSOLUTELY SAN FRANCISCO”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=138339

"DAS RHEINGOLD" – The slippery steps to Valhalla
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=134597

SONDHEIM’S “ASSASSINS” – Ray of Light Theatre is right-on target
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=132084

“TALES OF THE CITY” – Totally Sensational, Totally San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=130807

BRENDEN GUY — British Clarinetist In Concert, June 2nd
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=130065

BLUE MAN GROUP — Best show in town!
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=129943

SFMOMA — The Steins Collect: Matisse, Picasso, and the Parisian Avant-Garde
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=128921

SILENT FILM FESTIVAL – Opens July 14th with re-discovered film by John Ford
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=127988

TIIT HELIMETS – An Interview with “Prince Edvard” of SF Ballet’s THE LITTLE MERMAID
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=120731

NEW PUBLICATIONS: PUBLIC TRUST BETRAYED. An Interview with author and real estate appraiser, James E. Manning
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=117374

NEW CENTURY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA – Presents “Mastery of Schubert”, Featuring Soprano Melody Moore, 3/24–27
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=113791

ZHENG CAO – A Conversation with A Miracle Artist
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=111219

MELODY MOORE – Soprano shines in SF Ballet’s “Nanna’s Lied”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=110816

MARNIE BRECKENRIDGE – An Interview with “La Princesse” of Philip Glass’ Orphée
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=109326

EDITORIAL – A confession about ballerina Lorena Feijóo
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=107690

GISELLE – And the Legend of the Wilis
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=105461

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – Opens September 9th with with Iréne Theorin as “Turandot”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104443

A Conversation with Elza van den Heever
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=99268

HEART OF A SOLDIER – SF Opera Commissions New Work
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=98518

CLUB FOOT ORCHESTRA – A Conversation with Richard Marriot
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94863

WEST SIDE STORY – Most of it, anyway
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=93786

PLÁCIDO DOMINGO – An Interview with the Tenor turned Baritone for “Cyrano”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=93275

Dr. ELISA STEPHENS – A Visit with the President of the Academy of Art University
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=90791

CUBAN BALLET – An Interview with Octavio Roca
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=86049

A Look At "Giselle" with Ballerina Lorena Feijóo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33-a6Oa-0j4

DOLORA ZAJICK – Internationally Acclaimed Mezzo To Receive Merola Distinguished Alumni Award
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=85363

SABINA ALLEMANN – Former SF Ballet Ballerina Returns In A.C.T.'s "The Tosca Project"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76516

AMANDA McBROOM – A conversation on her recording of songs by Jacques Brel
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=68879

CAMERON CARPENTER – An interview with Grammy-nominated organist
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=68311

HANDEL'S "ORLANDO" – An Interview with Conductor Nicholas McGagen
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=67774

PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI – An Interview with Russell Blackwood
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=63625

PIANIST MISHA DICHTER – A Conversation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=59695

ZUILL BAILEY – A Conversation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=58241

DAVID PERRY – On the “Dos and Don’ts of Social Media”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56487

NATHAN GUNN – Sings Schubert's Die Schöne Müllerin
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56056

CAMINOS FLAMENCOS – A Conversation with Yaelisa
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51761

JANE MONHEIT – An Interview
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=48083

DIANE BAKER – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=32007

CAMERON CARPENTER – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=24462

AT LAST! – ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=27122

A Conversation with Ruben Martin Cintas, Principal Dancer with SF Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22107

THIS GUN FOR HIRE, 1942 – Looking at "Now you see it, now you don't" sung by Veronica Lake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI26A6HdnWY

"My Silver Dollar Man" – from MARKED WOMAN (starring Bette Davis, 1937)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJMuY8aKFV8

"Would You Like A Souvenir?" – Sean Martinfield and Janet Roitz explore a song from Film Noir classic NORA PRENTISS (1947)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOiqTp0tjvg

Best regards,
Seán Martinfield
SanFranciscoSentinel.com
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65