Singer Songwriter | How to Write a Song, Make Music, Song Lyrics, Music Theory, Singing Lessons

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

38 | Permission to Sing: How to Nurture Your Desire to Make Music

There’s a seed within you that was planted long ago and is only awaiting your activation in order to crack open, rise up, reach for the light, open and blossom.  And that seed is your desire to sing, to make music, to use your creativity and your voice as an instrument to express what’s in your heart. 
 
But it’s all too common to allow that seed to go dormant, burying it deep, fearful of what may happen if we begin to acknowledge it and water it and allow it to grow roots in us.  
 
I’ve heard from so many people just like you throughout the years who have expressed their sadness in realizing how much they have denied themselves permission to follow their passion and have suppressed their desire to sing.  
 
Today, I want to help you eliminate this denial and take that pivotal step of giving yourself the permission to sing.  By making this simple yet essential decision to nurture your voice, you allow the natural growth process to unfold ~ so that you can move forward in giving that seed everything it needs to thrive.
 
May this episode help your voice to grow and flourish with ease!
 
<3 Lainey
 
Mention: Who Sang the First Song? By Ellie Holcomb
 
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