Living A Vocal Life: A Podcast For Singers
Hi, I’m vocalist Valerie Day from the 80s band Nu Shooz. In Living A Vocal Life, I interview vocalists of all genres, in different stages of their careers, from singers on the Billboard charts to those teaching the next generation. What do they have in common? They’re all performers with amazing stories to tell and experiences to share.In our conversations, you’ll learn what inspired them to become a singer, the challenges they've encountered, and how they’ve overcome them. You’ll also hear what I’ve learned on my journey as a singer and educator — practical tools and insights that I hope will help you in your own vocal life.Please join us!
Episodes
38 episodes
Encore: The Art of Parenting: Insights from Mothers in Music
Hello, this is Valerie Day from Living A Vocal Life. During my break from producing new interviews, I'm revisiting some of the insightful conversations I've had with singers in the past five years. This encore episode delves into the crossroads...
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2:10:14
Demystifying Microphones: A Guide for Singers
On this episode of Living A Vocal Life, we’re diving into the world of microphones, exploring how the right mic can amplify your artistry and protect your vocal health. You’ll also get a peek at the latest module of my course, Becoming A Singer...
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Season 3
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Episode 35
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9:36
Empowering Singers Through Creativity Coaching with Jess Baldwin
In this episode of 'Living a Vocal Life,' my guest is Jessica Baldwin, a multi-talented popular music voice specialist, creativity coach, and indie singer-songwriter. Jess's early exposure to a music-rich environment nurtured her journey across...
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Season 3
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Episode 34
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1:17:27
Authentic Voices: Rosi Amador's Transformative Journey in Music & Voiceover
In this episode, you’ll hear the inspiring journey of Rosi Amador, a bilingual singer, percussionist, and voiceover talent. Her relationship with music has been life-long, profoundly influenced by her parents, who themselves were performers. Ro...
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Season 3
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Episode 33
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1:09:04
Resilience & Rising Above: The Inspirational Journey of Whitney Jones
In this episode, you'll hear the voice of Whitney Jones, a remarkable musician, songwriter, and singer. Her journey began with singing gospel call and response with her mother during bath time and blossomed into a passion for music and songwrit...
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Season 3
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Episode 32
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56:35
The Rhythm of Life: Singers Share Their Insights on Motherhood & Creativity: Part Two
Welcome to Episode Two of this special series of Living a Vocal Life, all about balancing motherhood and creativity. In this two-part series, you'll hear from 11 singers who generously agreed to answer three questions about how they navigate cr...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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56:51
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The Rhythm of Life: Singers Share Their Insights on Motherhood & Creativity: Part One
Welcome to Episode One of this special series of Living a Vocal Life, all about balancing motherhood and creativity. In this two-part series, you'll hear from 11 singers who generously agreed to answer three questions about how they navigate cr...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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1:11:57
Building a Life in Music: An Insightful Conversation with Singer, Teacher, and Entrepreneur Danielle Tucker
In this episode of Living A Vocal Life, we dive deep into the remarkable musical journey of Danielle Tucker. Danielle's passion for performance began when she auditioned and won a spot on Ed McMahon's Star Search in the early 90s. S...
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Season 3
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Episode 29
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1:09:29
A Journey through Music: N'Kenge on Opera, Musical Theater, and Motherhood
In this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with the extraordinary singer and performer N'Kenge. Her vocal range spans five octaves and 11 different languages. She can sing any style of music, from Broadway to pop, soul, and opera. Her impr...
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Season 3
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Episode 28
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52:25
Welcome To Season 3: Celebrating Singers Who Teach
This season, the Living a Vocal Life podcast offers a special edition of interviews with successful vocalists who have turned to teaching the next generation of singers. In today's episode, host Valerie Day, an accomplished singer and voice tea...
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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12:02
China Forbes from Pink Martini
This month’s guest is China Forbes, whose voice is heard around the world. She’s the lead vocalist for the globe-trotting band Pink Martini. You might have seen her on Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show, or over 70 diffe...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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1:14:08
Karen Mason Award-Winning Broadway Cabaret Singer/Actor
My guest this month has been called a poet of the vocal cords and "the Queen of Cabarets." Karen Mason originated the role of Tanya in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia and has had starring roles in Wonderland, Hairspray, Sunset Boulevar...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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1:07:20
Tabitha Fair: Singer, Songwriter & Backup Singer To The Stars
My guest this month is a singer and songwriter who’s led an extraordinary vocal life, Tabitha Fair. Tabitha was born and raised in Oklahoma, the daughter of a preacher and a mother who ministered through music. By the time she was f...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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1:15:54
Stephanie Schneiderman Singer-Songwriter
This month’s guest on Living A Vocal Life is singer-songwriter, Stephanie Schneiderman.Blending elements of folk, indie pop music, Americana, and electronic music, Stephanie’s songwriting is often compared to artists like Imogen Heap, Re...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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1:05:17
Lachi: Pop-EDM-Dance Music/Disability Advocate
My guest today is Lachi. She is a force of nature — a whirling Diva with non-stop energy who sings, writes, produces, acts, and is visually impaired.As she says in her YouTube series, Off Beat: "I'm a black girl, going blind, just tryin...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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1:00:18
J. Breckenridge: Singer Dancer & Actor
Josh Breckinridge is a triple threat, a singer, dancer, and actor, and he excels at all three. He's best known for his standout roles on Broadway and appearances on hit TV shows the Blacklist, Bluebloods, and FBI. Currently, he's a part of the ...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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1:10:00
From Practice To Performance: A Singers Guide To Successful Rehearsals (Solo Episode)
After a year of practicing alone, making music again with others is a joy. Yet, for many of us, rehearsal is a means to an end—a necessary chore to get to the main event — performing.What if rehearsals were something you looked forward t...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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18:35
Ara Lee James Singer/Songwriter
My guest in this episode is Ara Lee James. Ara has a voice that can sing anything and a way with words that is truly transcendent. Her voice is powerful — in its strength and its tenderness. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.Music ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:08:20
Jeanette Jurado from Exposé
The guest on this month’s episode of the podcast is Jeanette Jurado — one of the members of the multiplatinum-selling group Exposé. From 1985 to 1995, Jeanette, Gioia, and Ann ruled the Top 40, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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1:05:19
How To Look At Your Love Of Singing Through The Lens Of Career (Solo Episode)
How a short 10-minute talk by Elizabeth Gilbert finally clarified my troubled relationship with music and the music business and why what I learned might be helpful to you too.Elizabeth...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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20:00
Carlos Battey (Jackie's Boy): Grammy-nominated Hit Songwriter
As a songwriter, Los Battey’s career has been extraordinary; he and his brother Steven have penned hits for artists like Madonna, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown and Bruno Mars. They’ve been nominated for a Grammy Award four times, winning in 2010 f...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:06:31
Why Learning How To Listen Will Make You A Better Singer (Solo Episode)
Singers love to sing. But sometimes, listening gets neglected. If you want to be a good listener (and a better singer), it’s essential to practice listening. In this solo podcast episode, you’ll discover how you can learn to listen...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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18:45
Duffy Bishop: Award-Winning Blues Powerhouse
My dear friend Duffy Bishop is my guest on Episode #14 of Living A Vocal Life.Duffy and I have known each other for a long time — 20 years, or maybe even more. Offstage Duffy’s a bit of a homebody, a creative maker who’s always drawing,...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:05:05
How To Make Time For Your Vocal Practice (Solo Episode)
My relationship with practicing is a love/hate kind of thing. I’ve tried a gazillion strategies over the years and tested some of them with my students. Here’s what I’ve learned about staying connected to why I practice in the first...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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19:36
Haley Johnsen: Singer, Songwriter, Survivor of American Idol
This month’s guest on the podcast is Haley Johnsen.Haley first stepped into the spotlight in 2012 when she made it into the top 24 contestants on American Idol. Since then, she’s worked hard to make her way as an independent musician. Sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:02:01
