"LA LA LA... COUGH COUGH!!" Smoking and singing etc.

[EvanExempt]

Anyone wish they didn't smoke that pack of marlboro reds the night before you try to hit that high F# and ended up gagging on the stage? How do YOUR vices compromise your passion?

yes, I hear you. I need to take a week off from smoking so that i can 'hit that high' on my WHAM cover project..

[Bellringer]

There's got to be a balance if you have diverse styles you are singing. If I'm working on something precise and melodic, I try to lay off smokes. If I want some rasp and grit I might smoke a bit before the session. Sometimes during also, though I don't believe the mic likes it. What does Tom Waits do?

[dagosto]

Originally Posted by Bellringer

What does Tom Waits do?

I was just about to ask the same thing about Captain Beefheart.

[smopo24]

.....hey, how about encouraging people not to smoke at all? it's a stupid, tasteless habit that makes no sense. why do we pay people to poision us? wouldn't we all be better off if we quit excusing this behavior and banned smoking period? at lease from all music venues and studios?

If I am going for a Tom Waits/Leonard Cohen thing I like to record the vocals first in the morning, when my voice is deeper than usual. If I had smoked the night before, it may be even lower and scratchier. Anyone ever record in the AM? I think recording/performing just takes a little foresight in respect to Vox; if you are going to try to hit a Jeff or Tim Buckley falsetto, its probably not advised to smoke or drink at all, ever. But if youre going for the deep brooding barfly sound, thats another story. Most people compromise with something in between so they can have their cake. (and it ends up sounding like a compromise). I guess it comes down to not just the voice, but one's lifestyle being apparent in their singing.

[EvanExempt]

I used to MC a little back in the day. I did a show while I was smoking a cigar Once. Looking back... it seems a little silly. Tuning my guitar while smoking between songs was always a tradition for the rock-n-roll Evan... Mostly, I think it just made me look cool

[Chaorta]

I sing better when i'm smoking

I'm assuming that smopo is a non-smoker. I understand the issue if you are a non-smoker, but if you are a smoker you're truely are in love with cigarettes, or at least I am, and they are a part of your act. I find they add weird harmonics by strange obstructions (tar) in the windpipe, adding more character and texture to the vocals. It may sound strange, but several years of chior have taught me that when sensing or singing a note that is to high, clinch the buttocks as tight as possible and whale ( hah ha ahahah (that might be the gayest thing i've ever said) hahahha). Chances are that if you've hit it before, you know how to hit it again. If you have good control you should be able to octave that note down and rise back after, impressing people with your range.

Clench the buttocks eh? What kind of choir did you sing for?