This is Part II of the interview with Shinedown frontman, Brent Smith. Brent’s easygoing yet direct manner comes across throughout our entire conversation. He is truly a rockstar who has figured out life balance despite his massive touring and having a family. Last week, we started to unveil why it’s essential for Brent to train like an athlete. The more I get to speak with incredible singers like him, the more I’m convinced that you can’t separate the health of the person from the health of...

Addiction is something that plagues all kinds of people – especially creatives or performers who are feeling constant pressure. Brent Smith was on top of the lead singer world, fronting Shinedown, a rock band with 17 singles that have hit #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. And amidst all that, he still dealt with a lot of self-doubt.  Brent started singing at four years old and began writing songs at 10 years old. By 15 years old, he was heavily influenced by grindcore and punk rock....

This is Part II of our conversation with Dream Theater’s lead singer James LaBrie. Last week, we began what seems like one of the most transparent conversations I’ve ever had about vocal injury and how a professional singer like him can recover and continue to create great music. Today, we continue the discussion as James talks about what he does right before a show, his support system, and some vocal idols. We also touch a bit on work-life balance as well as dive into some extra spicy...

Dream Theater is legendary for its complex, progressive music, and James LaBrie, their lead singer, is legendary for his ability to weave a melody over rapidly evolving time signatures and musical textures. James has a massive range and a distinctive, gathered sound which cuts through to deliver his message. Not only does James sing complex music so well, but he actually overcame one of the most difficult things any singer ever faces – a serious vocal injury.  In 1994, James was stricken...

This is Part II of our conversation with musician, bass singer, and arranger, Geoff Castellucci. Last week, we started to brush just the surface of what makes Geoff Castellucci so incredible. We talked about his origins and how he began singing with members of VoicePlay way back in middle school.  We also discussed some of his role models and he’s able to manage time between his passion and his family life. Plus, we took our first plunge into understanding how he learned to make sounds so...

Curious about the world of opera? Today, I’m sharing my journey from literally singing on a tractor to carving out a professional career in opera.  To begin our interview series, we’re going to flip the table as I will be put in the proverbial hot seat. While I do enjoy performing and occasionally taking the spotlight, it’s much more comfortable for me to shine the spotlight on someone else. Turning my own questions to myself felt a bit daunting so I decided to ask my friend, vocal geek...