Robert Lunte

this is a song i recorded in my bedroom. a little pitchy as I felt melodyne took away from the vibe. 
 
 

As singers, we are storytellers. Don’t forget that.
WHEN SINGING, THE MOST ESSENTIAL THING TO REVEAL IS A STORY. AS SINGERS, WE ARE STORYTELLERS, LITERALLY. LYRICS, MELODY, EMOTIONAL OUTPUT, BACKED BY A SOUNDTRACK… WE DELIVER STORIES.
In the art of singing, we have the unique ability to embody various characters within a narrative. We can take on the role of "the guide," an impartial narrator; "the hero," the central figure who faces and overcomes challenges; or "the victim," the individual or group affected by the unfolding events. The lyrics guide us in determining which persona to adopt and who narrates the tale. It's essential to remember that singing is an extension of musical theater. We are, in essence, nuanced performers and contemporary raconteurs. We might have gathered around a campfire in bygone eras, sharing tales with our community. Today, we weave our stories against technology and musical scores. To show up, I'd like to share a personal experience. I once loved deeply, only to face heartbreak when we parted ways. The pain was palpable when I saw her at a gathering surrounded by others. Yet, this story isn't just about heartache; it's about recognizing my shortcomings in the relationship, learning from them, and ultimately forgiving myself. By sharing this genuine account, I step into the hero's shoes. The underlying message for listeners is clear: We all err in matters of the heart. Instead of being consumed by remorse, learning, forgiving oneself, and becoming more resilient to move on is vital. THE SONG IS “THE FOOL THAT’S NOW FORGIVEN”… ENJOY.
THE LYRICS: Click HERE >>>

Almost a year later into the program. 
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aswc74K62WP_5goazxrjnzlSY5Yi?e=9tZPmf
Any feedback is welcome!

I came across this site and want to ask for feedback for my niece. She is 16, has been taking voice lessons for a couple of years, and wants to be a singer (preferably on Broadway). She just competed in a local talent show, and my sister got a recording of her song, "She Used to Be Mine" from Waitress. I would appreciate your reviews - both positive and constructive - so I can share them with her to help her continue to improve her talent. Thanks so much!
 

Nice work.

Lovely voice, awesome, more!!

(Nice background story.)
I'd say that practically all songs are challenging. If you are not challenged, you either don't get the song, or you are not working hard enough.
Anyway, to give a credible performance the way you did, and to do it a cappella (nowhere to hide), would definitely challenge a lot of singers.
I'm hearing more heady tones, and less of the "darker mezzo" sound. I can hear the darker rich mezzo tones "lurking" in your voice, but you don't really bring them out?
Maybe I am biased. All my favourite female singers use that mezzo sound.
(You in London? Brexit just took a nasty turn with the permanent status application thing.)

Thank you so much for the feedback @sideshow! I will try something more challenging! 

I only listened to the first one; sound OK, its in tune and you lift the notes well enough, your voice type is of similar to Adele I would say, A dark mezzo. Try something a bit more challenging like rolling in the deep or fire in the rain or something

Hi everyone,
I've always loved to sing but I've always been shy to show it to the world.
I had singing lessons in the past but once I started a university degree I stopped singing and focused on my degree.
I am now stable in my job but this passion for singing has never gone away.
Could you give me your feedback please?
Thank you so much, this means the world to me.
 
I have a youtube video singing a capella: 
 
 
And also some covers on SoundCloud: 
 
 
 
 

You train to learn a new skill, get better at a skill, and continually improve. The question isn't if you're good enough to take lessons. The question is, why would you wait when you can have someone show you how to learn and improve on that skill?

Hi Arj, sorry for the wait.
Nice sounding voice. 
Lot's of cry in your singing.
Why is there is no backing track? It would be better to hear you singing on top of the karaoke track, can you offer that for us to listen to?
Are you doing any training?  If so, what are you working on?  Any programs? Do you have a teacher?
Coach

Hi Arj, sorry for the wait.
Nice sounding voice. 
Lot's of cry in your singing.
Why is there is no backing track? It would be better to hear you singing on top of the karaoke track, can you offer that for us to listen to?
Are you doing any training?  If so, what are you working on?  Any programs? Do you have a teacher?
Coach

You tend to default to a really good cry vocal mode, which can do amazing things for your voice. If you purposefully use the cry reflex throughout your singing, it can help immensely. (I encourage you to look up Robert's and my videos on Cry. Certain vowels and consonants seemed to knock you out of that beautiful cry vocal mode you kept finding your way back to. A big help for that could be touching your tongue to your upper molars while singing. This keeps your vowels on the tongue, resonating at the front of the soft palate or in the hard palate, while still being able to utilize cry behind it.
On higher notes, you want to be able to first sing it lightly without constriction or tension. Then you can learn to use what I described above to hold resonance and increase it (like a ball of sound getting bigger) from good appoggio/breath-support/sigh. Just going for it without first being able to control the fine-motor skills involved in lighter mass, you'll just end up yelling. Try light and whimpering at first, then slowly increase resonance the sound color of your liking - similar to a classical Messa di Voce exercise.
Most of your issues are from inconsistency. While the above will help, the only way to work that out is through a regular training routine. Are you a part of one of Robert's or my courses? If so, I can go much deeper into what to do.

[Constriction and "choking" can also be a protective reflex. If the body detects that the pressure or airflow at the throat is unhealthy, it says, "forget the singing" and reflexes to shut off the problem. Just like your "blink" reflex, it is not a good idea to try to simply override it psychologically. You need to address the thing that is causing the reflex. For singing this is likely to be something like inadequate breath support.]
Anyway, back to the OP. Decent vocals, imo.
With proper diaphragmatic breath support, your voice will glide effortlessly straight over the passaggio, and you will get that responsiveness and agility you are looking for. I notice in classical training techniques that they make a big deal out of breath support (probably coming from traditions of singing without a mic), and relatively less of a deal about the passaggio (even though the term comes out of that pedagogy). Once you are able to employ a good diaphragmatic breath support method, .like appoggio, the passaggio is no longer a big challenge. It gets "fixed" almost automatically.
Add that to the fact that you are able to siren up to G5 (wobbly, but an impressive foundation), I think you can really take your vocals places. 
Yup, I am not a coach. Just my personal take. 

Hey thanks for taking the time to listen and write this up!  Appreciate the kind words as well.  Good timing, just sat down at the computer to work on some music.  I will definitely check out Robert Lunte.  I am not training with anyone, no.  That's cool to hear I could be in the lower realm of head voice.  I can take my head voice really high but not with any control or without straining.  Here's an example.  I get to G5 but it's obvious to me my diaphragmatic support is weak hence the shaky transitions between passagios.  After G4 or so, my voice is so inflexible that I can't really do anything with these notes at this point.  Sorry for your ears lol.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XeAtfESk7_kxclzd4uG-5XWwOyT8wEnH
 

That siren wasn't horrible. You got a little shaky right at the passaggio. Now I would check with Robert Lunte on this but I would say
1- your right about diaphragmatic support, that will stabilize some on this and is important for most all phonations.
2- It sounds like the shakiness has to do with the weakness in your passaggio, your trying to make a good connected sound when it's not easy for you, and your probably worried (at least subconsciously) about pushing/choking, and that just adds to the tentativeness.  I think if you look up the "lift up, pull back" vocal exercise found on Rob Lunte's Youtube channel, that is a passaggio tension releasing exercise that should help you.  It allows you to engage the passaggio with zero tension, then add in more connection as you move past the break.  It's an easy tension free falsetto phonation that over time, you begin to add in more and more vocal fold connection or mass (within the passaggio).  I never had this exercise when I was training for more strength and connection at the break, it's a brilliant innovation that will keep your constrictors at bay, and ultimately leads to more power with no tension as your strength on those passaggio notes grows!
good luck Bro!
k

hey sp3c.....,
I forgot that the review my singing cost's like $10 in here. Either Draven or Robert (there may even be others now - coaches) will review your material and refute or confirm the advice I gave you. Plus answer any further questions you may have.
 

It's so true what you say, Kevin. It's all psychological. I still suffer from constriction from time to time as my mind gets in the way and my body interprets the coming note as a "high note".  If I remember to step back and use my prominent leg and backside muscles on the higher frequency, it tends to help a great deal as it takes my mind off the "high note" and mentally changes it to what it really is: tilted T.C and thinner chords. The results are amazing once I remember to take the thought of the high note out of it. 

spc3c...,
Excellent composition! Great style and arrangement, good air play material, catchy hooks, lots of melody! Very good musicianship!  Your voice is very marketable as well! Reminds me a little bit of Tyler Joseph (21 Pilots), maybe a dash of Matt Shultz (Cage The Elephant)!  I like it a lot! 
When you sing the lyric, "with no place to go home" - Sounds to me like you're singing with good connection in the lower realm of your head voice!  Double check with a coach, but I'm fairly certain. I would predict that with just a couple months of committed training with a good coach and training system, you will sing much higher!
You should check out Robert Lunte's Youtube channel and search for lectures on the subject of Baritone's singing high notes.  Lot's of good solid facts that will power you up with confidence about the reality of expanding your range to include notes more common to a tenor. The truth is, you'll learn in those videos that vocal "Fach," (Bass, Baritone, Tenor, Alto, Soprano) are essentially a distraction in vocal training. Proper training leads to expansion of range, coordination, strength, respiration, and also, confidence, projection, release of tension, vibrato, distortion, . . . . the list is long! The point is, it takes work in the vocal "gym" so to speak, that being vocal workouts that bring the above mentioned qualities to your singing voice.
Are you training? Do you have a vocal training program or a coach you are studying with?
It's never been more affordable than today!
peace,
k
 
 

In order to sing higher, you need to develop your pharyngeal voice. You should start connecting it with your chest voice at around an F4 or F#4. That's how you'll prevent pulling your chest voice up and sing very high effortlessly. 

This song is out there.  I like it, I'm happy with it, but I want to learn how to take my voice higher obviously.  I'm a baritone I think.  I can hit A4 but not with agility.  This song goes up to F#4 which is typical of baritone.  Constructive criticism is appreciated.  Take a listen to my voice and let me know what you hear.  Thank you!
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1socIDJTGXkjGqf01oIiebfCOlYT3M06d

This is Defoe a happy pop tune fit for the radio

Hello singers, 
   My name is Mike. I'm a beginner singer with no prior vocal training. Recently, I have been developing a passion for singing and I would love to be able to get better. I would love to be able to sing professionally one day. I don't have a good singing voice, which is why I need constructive criticism in order for me to find out what I need to work on. I recorded a clip of me singing and I am open to honest constructive criticism. Thank you if you took the time to listen and reply. 
https://soundcloud.com/mike-nguyen-750945623/all-of-me-cover

Thanks for chiming in "kick".
Nice video edit.
I would like to see you get more athletic about your singing. Don't sit down, get on your feet for starters. And you need to move more energy; more respiration, more compression on the vocal folds, more resonance, more embouchure. The whole thing is lazy and too "kicked back"... More athleticism. 
I suggest that you train with an online course.
$20
http://bit.ly/TVSLiteCourse20