Reawaken Your Voice | Singer Songwriter, How to Write a Song, Find Your Voice, Make Music, Creative Expression

48 | Songwriting as a Creative Outlet Pt. 1: My Journey from Singing Other People's Music to Writing My Own Songs

Have you ever felt the desire to explore songwriting as a creative outlet? 
 
Whether you are just playing with the idea, wondering where to begin, or you've got notebooks full of songs and you're wondering what to do with this treasure trove of ideas, you're sure to find something of value in today's episode. 
 
I went on a little bit of a journey here, sharing my story of the pivot I made over a decade ago, when I stepped away from the opera profession and shifted to writing and singing my own songs... So much of a journey that I decided to break this episode into 2 parts, with part 2 going deeper into what YOU need when you're getting started with exploring songwriting as a creative outlet.  So stay tuned! 
 
In part 1, I talk about why I felt called away from the well-trodden operatic path and into the wilderness of blazing my own trail as I began writing my own music and rediscovering my voice through songwriting. 
 
I pray that hearing my story will ignite some spark of inspiration in you to follow your inner voice, follow your heart, and answer the calling that's leading you to find your own artistic voice... so you can experience the joy and freedom of expressing yourself through your voice ~ in your own words, with your own stories, your own melodies, in your own creative style.
 
<3 Lainey
 
P.S. I'd love to hear from you!  What do you want to hear more about on the podcast?  What questions do you have?  Email me at support@reawakenyourvoice.com and your question could be featured in a future episode! 
 
Next Steps:
 
Work with Lainey: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Watch the Free Workshop: reawakenyourvoice.com/workshop
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Us: support@reawakenyourvoice.com 

47 | Songwriting for Singers: 5 Common Roadblocks to Writing Your Own Music & How to Overcome Them

Are you a singer who wants to make your own music and explore songwriting as a creative outlet?  Do you feel like you have songs inside of you, but you’re struggling to get them out for one reason or another?  
 
Singing other people’s music is great and everything, but you have your own stories, your own experiences, your own feelings and emotions and concepts that you want to bring to life through music.  And you want to do it in your own unique voice, with your own artistic style.  
 
But where to begin with all the moving pieces... the musical skills, the words, playing an instrument, the vocal style, the whole production of putting all these things together into a cohesive work of art?  Or maybe for you, it’s not so much the “how,” but all the other creative blocks that seem to get in the way.  The resistance.  The inner critic.  The everyday life stuff...
 
Well in this episode, we’re going to get into all of that as I lay out 5 common roadblocks singers have to writing their own music and singing their own songs.  But not only that ~ we’ll also bust through each obstacle one by one so you can get to the freedom and joy that come with creating something of your own and expressing what's on your heart.
 
<3 Lainey
 
Mention:
 
34 | Why Making Time for Your Creativity Isn't Selfish, but ESSENTIAL to Your Holistic Well-Being
 
P.S. Have a question you’d like answered or a topic you’d like to hear me talk about in a future episode?  Let me know!  I’d love to hear from you!  Send me an email at:
 
support@reawakenyourvoice.com
 
Next Steps:
 
Work with Lainey: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Watch the Free Workshop: reawakenyourvoice.com/workshop
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Us: support@reawakenyourvoice.com

46 | Want to Feel Free in Your Voice as a Singer & Songwriter? Focus on THIS.

Are you longing to experience the freedom of singing and the joy of making music without all the technical stuff and the noise of the mind getting in the way?
 
As a vocal artist and highly creative person, you know that being free to express yourself and create for the sake of creating is a feeling like no other.  But it can sometimes get lost in the pursuit of mastery, of conquering vocal technique and gaining the musical skills and knowledge to translate what’s coming through you.
 
So if the answer to vocal freedom and creative flow isn’t found in vocal technique and musical mastery, then what SHOULD we focus on to get us to that place of feeling free in our voice?
 
In today’s episode, I’ll dive into the ONE thing you need to focus on in order to truly set your voice free and express yourself creatively through singing and songwriting.  And not only that ~ I’ll also share with you what that one thing opens up for you, what it allows you to do as an artist, how to get started with it, and why it’s important on your vocal, musical, and creative journey.
 
Because once you get a taste of that freedom… you’ll want to find your way back to that place again and again.  So whether you’ve experienced it before and are seeking to find your way back, or you’re looking to experience it for the first time… perhaps in a long time… then listen in.  
 
<3 Lainey
 
Next Steps:
 
Work with Lainey: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Watch the Free Workshop: reawakenyourvoice.com/workshop
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Us: support@reawakenyourvoice.com

45 | Getting Back On Stage: 4 Performance Tips for Rusty Singers

There are seasons of the vocal journey when we step away from the stage, lean into the silence, and spend some time away ~ whether we’re seemingly forced into it or we intentionally choose to take a break from performing.  And sometimes we even shut down our voice and stop singing altogether ~ I’ve been there.
 
If you’ve been in such a season, it can feel a bit intimidating to get back into it and start sharing your voice again.  Maybe you’re thinking... I’m so rusty, my voice is out of shape, I feel like I’ve reverted and lost my confidence, I don’t even know if I’ve still got it…
 
Deep breath… Ease your mind because in this episode, I’ll be taking you step by step through the planning, preparation, practice, and performance phases of the process, offering tips for each stage as you get back out there, start singing for audiences, and take that initial step towards sharing your voice again ~ with ease, and joy, and peace.
 
I pray these 4 tips will help encourage you to go out there and just get that first performance under your belt ~ and help you ease back into it with peace and JOY.
 
You can sing again.
 
<3 Lainey
 
Listen to Related Episodes:
 
39 | How to Get Comfortable Singing in Front of People: 5 Tips to Grow Your Confidence
14 | Calm Your Nerves Before Singing for Others with this Step-by-Step Grounding Practice
7 | Fear of Singing in Front of Others? 4 Steps to Find Your Courage & Build the Confidence to Share Your Voice
5 | Break Free from the Inner Critic & Get Back to the Heart of Singing with this ONE Simple Shift
 
Next Steps:
 
Work with Lainey: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Watch the Free Workshop: reawakenyourvoice.com/workshop
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Us: support@reawakenyourvoice.com

44 | Improve Your Overall Sound with These 3 Simple Vocal Tips for Singers

In this episode, I share 3 simple vocal tips that will help you open your voice, find vocal freedom, and improve your overall tone quality as a singer and vocalist.  These are quick remedies to common mistakes that I see and hear singers making time and time again.  When you know how to bring awareness to them, they are actually quite easy to fix.  
 
No matter where you are on your vocal journey, these minor adjustments will guide you back to the importance of the foundational elements of great singing ~ and make a major difference in your overall sound and tone quality. 
 
So listen up, take out your notebook and a pen, and get ready to hear a big shift in your voice when you apply these three small tweaks to your vocal technique.  
 
<3 Lainey
 
Listen to Related Episodes: 
 
33 | Shut Down Your Voice? Open it Up Again With this ONE Simple Singing Practice
20 | Learn to Navigate Your Full Vocal Range by Understanding These 3 Key Areas of Resonance
Next Steps:
 
Work with Lainey: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Watch the Free Workshop: reawakenyourvoice.com/workshop
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Us: support@reawakenyourvoice.com 

43 | Finding Your Artistic Voice: 3 Things You Need to Hone Your Unique Sound as a Singer & Songwriter

If you want to uncover your unique sound and find your artistic voice as a singer, there are 3 things that stand out to me as critical parts of the process.  
 
In this episode, we dive into each of these 3 essentials as I explain why they’re important, how they help you get to the heart of your creative voice, and how to actually implement them in your life and practice as a singer, songwriter, and vocal artist.
 
So if you’ve found yourself comparing your voice to others, judging your sound, wishing you could just figure out what your own unique style is and confidently lean into that with true authenticity, then you’re gonna want to listen in.
 
Let’s talk about what it REALLY takes to liberate your artistic voice from the inside out ~ and sing your song in the way that only YOU can.
 
<3 Lainey
 
Next Steps:
 
Work with Lainey: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Watch the Free Workshop: reawakenyourvoice.com/workshop
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Us: support@reawakenyourvoice.com

42 | Music Making & Motherhood: Nurturing Your Children AND Your Creativity as a Mother & Vocal Artist

This one goes out to all the singing mamas out there, the musical mamas to be, the singers who also aspire to be mothers one day.  
 
Can we just say… motherhood is hard!  It is both the most difficult thing I’ve ever done AND the most rewarding. 
 
So what does all of this mean for your creative life, your music, your voice, your art? 
 
Today’s episode is more of a candid, open conversation in which I’ll share a bit of my story, but I also want to give you some ideas in terms of what has worked for me when it comes to balancing motherhood and artistry as a singer.  I hope this episode will give you a dose of encouragement to keep singing through it all, and reassurance that you can do and be both. 
 
Though it may look different and require adaptation… though it may feel impossible to find the time and energy for singing and making music when you’ve been pouring everything you have into your children… you can be BOTH a mother AND an artist.  
 
<3 Lainey
 
Related Episode: 11 | How to Make Time for Music When You Have No Time
 
Next Steps:
 
Work with Lainey: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Watch the Free Workshop: reawakenyourvoice.com/workshop
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Us: support@reawakenyourvoice.com

41 | What You Need to Get Started with Vocal Improvisation: A Simple Roadmap for Singers

One of the best practices for opening your voice and creativity is Vocal Improvisation.  In today's episode, I'll walk you through what it is, why you should weave it into your singing practice, and what you need to get started. 
 
At the end of our conversation today, I hope to leave you with a roadmap that leads you to creative flow and vocal freedom ~ one that you can take with you on an experimental journey of self-discovery. 
 
So make it your own, add in some detours, take the scenic route, and enjoy the process!
 
Let's Play!
 
<3 Lainey
 
Related Episode: 31 | Vocal Improvisation: A Powerful Tool to Free Your Voice, Creativity, and Expression
 
Next Steps:
 
Watch the Free Workshop: reawakenyourvoice.com/workshop
Book a Free Discovery Call: reawakenyourvoice.com/discovery
Work with Lainey: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Us: support@reawakenyourvoice.com
 

40 | Perfectionism vs. Excellence: How to Create Beautiful Work Without Falling into the Trap

If you’ve ever considered yourself to be a perfectionist, then today’s episode is for you.  
 
As a “recovering perfectionist” myself, who has learned to see the truth through the lies and who has found a way to deal with these tendencies when they inevitably creep in, I want to share with you some of the tools that have worked for me.  
 
Because if you allow perfectionism to take over and infiltrate your creativity, it can completely derail you as an artist.  And it doesn’t have to be that way.  
 
You can create beautiful work without beating yourself up along the way.  
 
You can achieve greatness without the pressure of never feeling like it’s good enough.  
 
You can move beyond the paralysis of tearing yourself up throughout the creative process and back into playful, joyful creating while still making beautiful music.
 
Here are 3 questions you can ask yourself to discern between the destructive energy of perfectionism and the constructive energy of reaching toward excellence so you can rediscover the joy in singing.  
 
<3 Lainey
 
Next Steps:
 
Work with Lainey: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Watch the Free Workshop: reawakenyourvoice.com/workshop
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Us: support@reawakenyourvoice.com

39 | How to Get Comfortable Singing in Front of People: 5 Tips to Grow Your Confidence

Sharing your voice in the world requires vulnerability. 
 
Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.  
 
Stepping into the unknown and allowing people to witness you in it.  
 
Being seen and heard in this way can bring up a lot of fear and insecurities when it comes to your singing voice and your creative expression as a whole.
 
The good news is that when you practice doing this, it becomes familiar, it becomes known.
 
Through practice, preparation and repetition, you begin to feel at home in your voice and on stage ~ whether it be a physical stage with spotlights and a live audience, or a metaphorical stage where you’re stepping in front of the microphone to record something you’ll share later, or in front of the camera in a virtual space… or even just opening your mouth to sing in a group of people sitting around a campfire.  
 
But how do you get to that place of being comfortable singing in front of people, opening your voice and sharing your heart so vulnerably?  
 
Well that’s what this week’s episode is all about. I want to share with you 5 tips to grow your confidence and expand your comfort zone so that you can overcome the fear of singing in front of people and confidently share your voice with others.
 
And hey – You got this.
 
I believe in you.  
 
It’s time for you to start believing in yourself.
 
Here’s how.
 
<3 Lainey
 
Related Episodes Referenced:
 
7 | Fear of Singing in Front of Others? 4 Steps to Find Your Courage & Build the Confidence to Share Your Voice
 
14 | Calm Your Nerves Before Singing for Others with this Step-by-Step Grounding Practice
 
33 | Shut Down Your Voice? How to Open it Up Again with This ONE Simple Singing Practice
 
Next Steps:
 
Watch the Free Workshop: reawakenyourvoice.com/workshop
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Us: support@reawakenyourvoice.com
Work with Lainey: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching