Have you ever taken a friend shopping with you so that you could get their opinion on buying clothes for an important event? I do it all the time!

It's strange to think that I have gone into the studio, and invested thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of my time without the same type of thought and care. I never even asked people what was great or not so great about my sound.

James Bay said that he used to watch recordings of his audience during a song. He'd look for moments when it seemed they lost interest, and he would revise the song or his voice in ways to keep their attention. It's no wonder that he soared to the top of charts in record time! He was really paying attention to the things he could deliver, and also to what really spoke to his audience.

I remember getting comments when I first started out that I sounded like Dolly Parton. It was horrified. I didn't see myself as a country artist! But looking back, I can see that people were hearing the amount of vibrato that my classical training had left in my sound. (sigh...if only I knew back then what I know NOW!). I also took great pride in my lyrics and the emotional impact they might have on an audience... that's something I'd LOVE to have in common with Dolly Parton!

Sometimes the feedback we receive from an audience can be the most valuable feedback you can get!

What types of comments have you gotten from other people about your voice?

Do these comments reflect how you want to be perceived? Do you agree with them?

Take a moment to post in the Style Lab Community! I'd love to hear your thoughts.