5 Lessons I've Learned from Trying Out for TV Talent Shows
As a pop singer, one of the many things I get to do is try out for TV talent shows. I love this time of year so much. I feel like I learn something every year. Throughout my career, I have auditioned for American Idol and have been called back twice, The Voice, and America's Got Talent (AGT). So, I thought it'd be fun to look back, with eight years under my belt, of some lessons I've learned along the way.
1. Artistry is everything!
During my first call back for American Idol, they were very complimentary of my voice. I still remember it to this day, but I wrote it in my journal just for safe-keeping. "You have a great voice. But, you're still developing as an artist, so it's going to be a no for this time." ... It just isn't enough to have a great voice. To tell a story, to share an experience, is the true American Idol. And -
2. Pick the Right Songs
Okay. Let's face it. Because I didn't know myself as an artist, I didn't always pick the right songs. Ones that were not right for me vocally, yes, but also as an artist. Don't get me wrong! They're all great songs. But they didn't show my voice. Didn't show me. For my first American Idol audition, I sang "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac. Yeah, it's a great song. But, anyone, and any producer for that matter, wants to hear an artist who knows what she's singing about. And unfortunately for me, this wasn't the case. I didn't give much thought into why I chose it, only that it showed my voice at the time, which was pretty, soft and sweet. This was 2018. In 2019, I auditioned for The Voice, and was required to submit two songs. So I decided on "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri, and "Yesterday" by the Beatles. Two contrasting songs. One contemporary, one classic. This was a better decision on the artistry front, but not where the voice is concerned. If I was being honest with myself at that time, I had little to no vocal range. They want to hear your range too, "pick a song that shows your voice and style" is the prompt every year for both Idol and The Voice. I think it's also worth mentioning that I was not taking voice lessons consistently until last year, when, after a long, long, incredibly frustrating journey, I found my voice teacher. But, all to say, picking the right song is a must.
3. Know Your Style
This kind of goes back to the first lesson on knowing your artistry. But, knowing what you're singing about is equally as important as knowing what genres fit your voice best. To go back to 2018, I was primarily singing cover songs of artists who were from a wide varity of styles. This is not a bad thing. Especially when you don't know what you're style is quite yet. At this time, I had also started songwriting, so this was certainly a gateway into discovering what kind of music I should sing. And, again, when you don't really have a voice teacher to guide you and check on you consistently, it's hard, too. I would prefer not to go into the psychological toll this took on my voice... Maybe for another blog. But, I'll just say that, out of fear, frustration, and confusion, the songs I sang did not show my voice. When I found my voice teacher in 2023, and she informed me that I do have quite a vocal range, we began to gather some repertoire, and in December of last year when I discovered I could do riffs and runs (hitting notes at an excessively fast pace), things really started opening up. I am now singing songs by Tori Kelly, Sara Bareilles, and Adele, singers I NEVER thought I'd ever be able to sing.
4. Be Yourself
Okay, let's face it. Like every beginning singer, I loooooved to immitate. This isn't bad either when first starting out, but you know, if you don't have a voice teacher to guide you, and you're just learning by what you think you hear, this can lead to an unhealthy sound, and, if you aren't careful, maybe even vocal damage down the road. So, when I started working with Darlene in 2023, she encouraged me to find artists who I like and use them as reference points while embracing my own sound. This year, I sang "Turning Tables" by Adele. While she has a much heavier, richer voice than I do, a lighter soprano belter can get away with singing her stuff, as long as you have a strong mixed voice.
5. Make it Your Own!
You hear it all the time when you watch the shows. And, for the past seven years, I had to do some digging until I discovered what it truly meant. Like 2018. Singing "Landslide" was good in the fact that I did make it my own by changing the key up to a fifth of its original... Which is probably why I got the call back. But, again, they always know 30 seconds in if they want you, so you have to deliver your best, even if you're submitting a full song. Last year, I received my second call back in seven years, singing an original song. This is, by all accounts, the idea of make it your own, because it is your own! However, I am a singer who writes, not a writer who sings, so I wanted a cover song this year. Because, for my artistry, I feel most at home when I am singing other people's music. This might surprise some people. Of course I'm connected to my own original music, but, at the end of the day when I think about who I am as a singer, covering other people's music is what gives me the most joy. And then, I can make it my own, too! Adding riffs and runs, my own signature phrasing style, and what ever else I wish. At my final voice studio master class before my audition, our head teacher told me, "you have an artist's voice." I had to sit with that for a minute. I was completely mesmerized! I never thought I'd ever hear anyone say that! ... Particularly in 2018.
Looking back on where I've came from, I never thought I'd be here. Rejection is fuel. Or, as Mr. Lionel Richie says, "when you win, you win, when you lose, you learn."