Singing Tips #1: The Deep Breath

Day to day, most of us breathe as deep as our chest. As long as our lungs get their fill we're content with this. However, to sing properly and with ease, there is a proper way to breathe that will not only help you develop more control the breathhing itself, but help you support the voice that is inside of you. It will also affect how you sing, project, sound, and will ultimately enable you todo those melismas and other singing techniches that you so badly want to emulate.

Another benefit of this deep breathing, is relaxation. Which helps with stage fright, anxiety, stress, and over all confidence!

That said, the first things you need to know about breathing:

1. Stand up straight, arms by your side. Exhale all of the air in your belly.
2. While counting to ten in your head, take a slow, deep breath in to your belly. Fill it up with air. Think of it as being pregnant with air. This is what you want to see. What can help you achieve this, and help you see whether you're doing it properly is standing in front of the mirror and placing both hands on the sides of your belly [without force] while doing the breathing. If you're doing it properly you should see your hands expand with your belly. You really need to see your belly expand, and almost feel it pulling on the inside. This is telling you that you are, in fact, filling up the right area.
3. Hold the breath for another ten seconds.
4. Release the air as you count to ten again.
5. Repeat another three times, but don't go overboard. You might get dizzy or light headed, so take it slow. If counting to ten is too much for you, start with five and work your way up! Remember, there's no rush, and certainly no standard speed at which people learn to sing, breathe, or anything for that matter. Take your time and do what is right for you! Everything will work out in time!

Control over your breathing is very important, and this will help you a lot later one. Think of it as the foundation on which your skill will be relying on.

And as everything else, practice, practice, practice! It doesn't matter how good you think you are, or how much you're fed up of doing silly elementary exercises! I can't stress enough how important it is to keep the basics a priority if you really want to develop your skill.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns...anything at all, please don't hesitate to send me a message or a comment! I'm happy to answer any questions you may have!

-Sarah :)

Kaila Picard [Singer]

Name: Kaila Picard
From: Montreal, QC, Canada
What she does: Singer/Songwriter

I love finding new music and talent, especially when it's local. There's something about locals that keeps me grounded, in a way. Reminds me that anyone can make it if hey want it bad enough. Kaila Picard is a talented singer who has been working very hard for a long time She studied Jazz Performance in college and is currently working on her music career with hopes of becoming a distinguished artist.

In my time following her progress, I've been able to see her grow and develop into her own. I've seen her in bands, groups and lately more often solo. I must say, each stage [no pun intended] presented a different style of music and performance altogether, but her solo work thus far has been much more definitive and representative of Kaila as a person and artist.

Though sweetly corny at times, her lyrics are true to life and relateable on many levels. The songs out out delve into the pit of emotions that she carries around with her, from dealing with long distance relationships in her song 'I Can't' to diving into new experiences blind, as told in 'The Unknown' and more with with we can easily identify with.

Kaila's jazz training is evident in her vocal footwork and fancy runs. Like many Jazz greats, Kaila does not over use the vocal acrobats and keeps a very balanced a mature structure to her songs, which is refreshing lately. I really can't stand hearing singers go over teh top with the songs- simple and poised makes for sophisticated music, which, in my opinion, is what keeps an artist down to earth and timeless. I'm not much of a fan of Diva's; if you're good enough to show it, you don't need to. It almost comes across as having something to prove, which is a turn off for me.

Kaila has recently filmed her first music video and I'm looking forward to seeing what is coming from this Montreal artist!

You can find Kaila's music at the following links:

YouTube
Facebook
ReverbNation

New Beginnings

Well, it's been a while since my last post. A lot of changes have taken place, such as new living location and arrangements, new job, a bit of a paradigm shift in many areas of life in general.

Life throws curve-balls at you; sometimes full of opportunity and sometimes they're laced with concrete and run into your face. It's up to you to do what you need to do to make the most of them, and see the good they have to offer. For me, it was about marking the end of a long standing relationship, put my big-girl pants on and move on with life. Since, I've learned a lot about myself and what my aspirations and goals are, and am generally happier than I was. That's not to say that I wasn't happy, just that I felt trapped in a cycle I didn't want to be in and was too afraid to make the changes necessary to move ahead.

Anyways, I'm back, and I will do my best to post regularly and keep up with the copious amounts of talent that the internet holds.

Hopefully I haven't lost too much of a following, but, alas, I guess I deserve it.

Here's to new beginnings and wonderful times :)

-The Music

PS. I've recently decided to start working on my music more seriously, so you may be hearing from myself every now and then! ;)

The CO [Band]

Name: The CO
Where from: Nashville, USA

I personally think there is an excessive amount of self-proclaimed pop/rock bands out there and find it difficult to try and find new music in the genre when there's so much to listen to. I found The CO by going through some of Tyler Ward's videos. I wanted to see if I missed anything, seeing as I've become something of a fangirl, and I fell upon a collaboration done by Tyler Ward & The CO...of course, I had to see what they were all about.

At first listen the band reminds me a lot of a generic and slightly more pop-sounding combination of Kings of Leon and, at times, Muse. After a few more listens, however, started falling into their own and I've found a soft spot for their music. Though it can come across as generic and nothing special, everything that pulls the band apart from everything else is, for one, their lyrics, in addition to their vocalists beautiful and melodious rockstar voice. Everything together starts to sound like a cocktail of great bands put together, which is awesome.

Their song entitled '3 AM' is reminiscent of an Incubus/Muse/Kings of Leon lovechild. I am more than okay with that. In fact, it's just about everything I've dreamed of in terms of collaborations. This is no substitute for those three bands to come together as one, but it's a fair alternative until I can get my fantasies fulfilled.

Of course, it's not a band without a song about love losing touch. Their song "Might Be Leavin'" is perhaps the token love-lost track. Though formulated, I can't say it's a bad song nor can I say it's anything but real. Everyone goes through heartache and everyone's got something to say about it. It also wouldn't be a rock band without a song about making mistakes and wanting to start over- "Permanent Mistake" fills those shoes and then some.

It's not that I'm bashing the generics the band has to offer, just that it is what it is. I enjoy their music very much and think you should take a few minutes to check them out. I think they're worth the time and deserve to be put out there, so go see what you're missing!

Here's where you can check out The CO:

YouTube
Facebook
Twitter
The CO Official Website

Laura Mary [Singer]

Name: Laura Mary
Age: 18
Where from: Canada
What she does: Singer

I fell upon Laura Mary while searching for 'The Last Song I'm Wasting On You' by rock group Evanescence and her cover of said song came up. It always amazes me when people dare cover Evanescence- it's not an easy task and one with some pretty high expectations. As I am a singer myself and they are my favourite band, I tend to judge Evanescence covers harshly. Naturally, I had to check it out and see how she did. No one compares to Amy Lee, that goes without saying, however I have to say Laura Mary surprised me.

Her voice is beautiful and flows nicely with the style of piano ballads Evanescence/Amy Lee put out and for someone who claims to not be taking voice lessons, it's very nicely developed. Her technique seems well rounded and she's got a beautiful, rich tone to her voice. One of the key aspects in Evanescence songs, I think, is the high notes Amy can flawlessly touch, and Laura reaches them, and then some.

She's very naturally talented, Canadian [I guess I'm biased that way, hehe] and seems to be an easy going girl with a bright future ahead of her. I think she deserves to be promoted [hence this posting] and I look forward to hearing more of what she has to offer!

To check her out [and please do!]:

Laura Mary's YouTube

Return from short hiatus!

Hey guys & gals!

So it's been over a month since our last post- for that I am very sorry. Finals and, you know, life were happening and some things needed to be sorted out. But, we're back and going to go through some minor changes, but for the most part things will remain mostly what we are right now- a blog to keep you in the know about upcoming/underrated talent.

Hope you haven't been turned off by our short hiatus, and we look forward to hearing any questions/comments you have for us!

Again, very sorry for the hiatus! Thanks again for your ongoing support, we appreciate it!

-The Music

Eppic [Rapper/Songwriter]

Name: Eppic
From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
What he does: Rapper/Songwriter

I don't know if it's just me, but rap seems to be one of those things that portrays a broad set of themes through a very powerful art. I mean, each rapper has their style and their own ways of doing things...but it's rare that I find one I care to listen to past one or two tracks due to insincerity and tracks done with only half the emotion necessary. It just seems like something that has to be done right, otherwise it's just not as effective. I guess it's just one of those things that either works or doesn't for me. Either way, Eppic caught my ear and interest when I saw him perform on a collaborative video with Krista Nicole, which we've previously featured [click on her name to see her article!], and I have to say, I'm intrigued by his style and performance. I can't say all rap I've heard sounds half as genuine as Eppic's. Every word spoken means something, you can feel it. In my opinion, that's what makes a rapper true to his art.

Though most of the videos on his YouTube page are covers, there are originals good enough to hold us off until some more material is released, which I'm very much looking forward to. The covers themselves, however, are pretty awesome. Most recently Eminem's 'Space Bound' was covered as a collaboration with Krista Nicole, and being an Eminem fan I listened with an analytical ear and a skeptical attitude. I have to admit, though not perfect, it was pretty darn great! Eppic's delivery against the soft vocals that define Krista's style was very nicely balanced. There's a certain air of confidence and an honest foundation to his style and delivery that makes you believe anything he says as if it were his own story, and who knows...it could very well be. Whether it is or isn't, it's very well done and there is a lot of talent in him.

Funny enough, Eppic also collaborated with another of our features- Julia Sheer. They recently released a video together, produced by Tyler Ward, called 'Doubt' which is very much worth a look-see [video is posted below]. Aother track I very much enjoyed was 'Will You Still Love Me', which is instrumentally more on the Funky Rock-Hip-Hop fusion [is there such a thing? Now there is!] side of things, which is a very welcome move in styles.

This is definitely someone to look out for, so keep your eyes and ears open!

Here are some links you can check out:

YouTube
Twitter
Facebook
MySpace
ReverbNation

Hello there :)

We're working on a very special addition to the blog, so stay tuned for some really cool stuff. In the meantime, I want to remind you all that if there are any artists you believe deserve to be featured on 'Music, It Is', don't hesitate to suggest them!

You can send your requests/question/comments several ways, as listed below:

Twitter
E-Mail: themusicitis@yahoo.com

OR Leave a comment to this post.

Thanks for your continued support and I look forward to developing this blog and seeing where this goes.

Peace!

-The Music

Alex Goot [Singer/Musician]

Name: Alex Goot
Age: [Mystery!]
From: New York, USA
What he does: Singer/Musician

I can't help but get giddy around guys with thick-rimmed glasses. But don't under estimate his nerd-esque look, Alex Goot is immersed in his craft and quite skilled, might I add. His broad knowledge of instruments is put to use in his videos, where he tends to play several instruments to later bring it all together with some smooth, ear-pleasing vocals.

It's talent such as Alex's that makes me wonder why certain people aren't more known. He's probably more qualified than most 'artists' out there. I understand the entertainment value of certain performers, as someone who genuinely appreciates music as an art however, I can't help but notice the ones who have talent versus the ones who use music to amplify their talent. Alex is a genuine musician and I absolutely love the way he uses his skill in each video.

There's an obvious trend of YouTube musicians making nicely put-together videos documenting the process of making the music come alive, which essentially creates a music video in its truest form. Alex is not above this. His videos basically enable us to see what instruments he uses and shows off his remarkable skill with a variety of instruments. I really dig musicians who can apply themselves so universally and remain genuine as musicians and people in general.

To see all the Alex has to offer, click some of these links:

YouTube
Facebook
Twitter

Sliebernot? Maybe! "Psychosocial Baby:"

Now, I never thought I'd be reaching out to Justin Bieber/Slipknot fans, but this is just too awesome! Please listen to all of it, this is actually worth listening to!

Very well done mash-up of Justin Bieber's 'Baby' and SLipknot's 'Psychosocial'. Enjoy!

Caitlin Hart [Singer]

Name: Caitlin Hart
Age: [It's a mystery]
From: Los Angeles, CA, USA
What she does: Singer

Caitlin Hart is definitely what I categorize as a sweetheart talent. Besides the fact that she's absolutely adorable, her unique style makes her stand out against many artists actively in the industry. Her simplistic approach to singing and the way each song is delivered in such a touching, gentle way is beautiful and something I personally quite enjoy.

Most artists will bank on filling songs with runs or extra stuff to show off just what they can do and I think it takes someone with confidence and audacity to embark in the industry in such a unique and simplistic manner. Not everyone understands the facile way Caitlin does what she does, but it's one of those things that just sounds good.

Caitlin's YouTube doesn't have many videos so there isn't much to go on, but her style is definitely something I can appreciate and I think it' totally worth sharing. I admire anyone who can take that road and be successful in what they do whilst keeping with their own personal style, and that is something I hope she carries with her throughout her journey.

I'll be on the lookout for what Caitlin has to offer, and you should too!

YouTube
Twitter
Personal Website

--

Don't forget to check us out on Twitter and Like our Facebook page to keep up with the blog!

Thanks!

-The Music

New Twitter Account!

Hello everyone!

Hope all is well with everybody!

I just wanted to let y'all know that I finally created a Twitter account solely for this blog. If you have Twitter and want to be kept up-to-date with the blog and know as soon as a post is up, I encourage you to follow the account! Just click on the link below and you'll be brought to the profile.

Twitter

Thanks for your patience and as always if you have any criticisms, comments, artist suggestions....whatever, don't hesitate t contact me either through here [Blogspot], Twitter or by e-mail at: themusicitis@yahoo.ca

Keep it real!

-The Music

P.S I would LOVE it if you could help me get some more readership- pass on the word, show off your favourite artist, whatever... I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

Jake Coco [Singer/Musician]

Name: Jake Coco
Age: [It's a mystery]
From: Los Angeles, CA, USA
What he does: Singer/Musician

It doesn't just take skill or talent to be a great artist- passion and personal connectedness in addition to things aforementioned make for something pretty awesome. Jake Coco embodies the spirit of talent and personal bond to create his unique and pleasant sounding style.

A solo artist, he depends on no one but his knowledge of many instruments and many duet partners, notably other YouTube artists. Amongst them, Julia Sheer [as you may remember from a previous posting in which I posted a video of Jake and Julia covering Pinks 'Fucking Perfect']. Though his duets are just plain awesome, his solo work is remarkable. He's no diva, but doesn't need to be. The skill is there and I'm certain that he can out sing Americal Idol contestants without struggle, but the simplicity of his musicianship is beautiful and very easy to listen to and appreciate.

Alongside his many covers, Jake has some great originals posted that are well worth a good listen to and add to your spring playlist! You can purchase his music on his Facebook page as well as his iTunes, which I will post below as per usual.

In addition to his ability to serenade, he always looks like he is 100% into it, which is a beautiful thing and says much about his dedication to his art.

Here are some links to check out the wonderful Jake Coco:

YouTube
Facebook
Personal Website
BandCamp
Twitter

Just poking by!

Hey guys!

I just wanted to pop by and thank you for your support and patience! Mid-terms were good, but now it's back to business.

This is something I do for fun, I absolutely love seeking out new talent and sharing it with everyone and I would love it if you would share your thoughts with me! If there are any questions, comments, artist suggestions...or anything that you think will be good to add to the blog, please give me a shout! I love receiving feedback. This blog is still in its beginning phase, so try not to judge too harshly.

If you want to know when new posts are up, don't hesitate to follow me on Twitter: @Sarah_Noella

Again, thank you for your continued support and patience, and please spread the love [a.k.a this blog]!

-The Music

Julia Sheer [Singer]

Name: Julia Sheer
Age: 18
From: Golden, Colorado, USA
What she does: Singer

It always pleases me to see artists looking genuinely moved by what they do and that says a lot about how much they really care about their art. Julia Sheer seems to be an authentic, down to earth girl with a spunky attitude and a bona fide fondness for music.

Her voice isn't up there with the Diva's, but it just goes to show that you don't have to be in order to be talented and worth a shot in the industry. The emotion carried by her heartfelt performances gets me every time, especially in the cover of Pink's "Perfect" done with Jake Coco. Don't get me wrong, the original is always the best, but theirs is by far the best cover I have heard thus far. It gives me chills.

Julia classifies herself on My Band as a country artist, although I'd say more pop/country. Either way, both her covers as well as her original music is sincere and easy to listen to. It's the kind of music I can listen to no matter what mood or or what I'm doing. It makes great background music and slightly thought provoking. It's the kind of music with which I can drive with the windows down and it feels great.

She doesn't try to out do herself or any other musician- what Julia does, she does because it works, not because it's better or more appealing. It's bare and real and I love that she can be so down to earth with everything.

Here are some links to check out:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/JuliaSheer
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/@j_sheer
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/juliasheertunes

Krista Nicole [Singer]

Name: Krista Nicole
Age: 16
From: Oregon, USA
What he does: Singer

I've been keeping up with Krista's YouTube page for a few years now and it's easy to see how much she's grown as a person and improved as a singer. That's not to say she was a bad singer, but that she's slowly growing into her own as an artist and that her talent has matured and developed over time.

Although I know there's more technique to her than what she lets on, Krista keeps her songs simple and straightforward and I find that refreshing; I get tired of singers going over-the-top on the vocal gymnastics to showcase their talent. You don't need to do that, and frankly I find that Krista's method is modest and suits her voice beautifully. It also keeps the singer down to earth and they don't seem so uptight about their art, which is what it's all about really.

In most [if not all] of her videos, Krista is accompanied by her father on guitar and sometimes the box drum. She also has a few collaborations with other non-celebrity status artists that are well-worth checking out.

Krista seems passionate about her art and is very down-to-earth. Her first EP entitled 'Dreams' is released and available on iTunes!

Enjoy!

Here's where you can check her out:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/KristaHeartzuz
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ImKristaNicole
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Krista-Nicole
Persona Website: http://www.kristanicole.com/
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/krista-nicole

Peter Lee Johnson [Musician]

Name: Peter Lee Johnson
Age: 20
From: Seattle, Washington, USA
What he does: Musician

As I was searching for an instrumental of Travie McCoy's 'Billionaire' earlier today, I came across an incredible violin cover of the song a young man from Seattle, Washington. Judging by the skill and obvious passion, this lad definitely lives and breathes his art.

Most of Peter's videos consist of covers of old and newer popular and not so known music, as well as song mash ups done with unusual song combinations [such as 'Meet Me Half Way' by The Black Eyed Peas and Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing'] that work exceptionally well together.

Peter has been playing violin since the age of four and hasn't stopped since. In fact, he is currently studying Popular Music Performance at USC and is top of his class! In addition to the violin, he plays keys- notably for an L.A based R&B, Funk band called The Beat Advocate [Check em' out also!] and enjoys producing.

I quite enjoy listening to his song renditions, especially the mixes. More than anything, I admire his skill and only wish I could play half as good as he can, haha!

Anyways, you should check him out, so here are some links:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PeterLeeJohnson
Personal Website: http://www.peterleejohnson.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pljmusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/peterleejohnson

-The Music

A Quick Note [From Yours Truly]

This blog is fairly new and still in its developing stages. In the near future, I would like to incorporate artist interviews and span out to more than just music, however for the time being I will keep it simple until I feel ready to expand.

Despite the fact that I haven't set a goal and it's only been one week, I've managed to keep a fairly regular pace at posting- I'm pretty happy about that. Provided that I manage my time as I have, it will continue this way.

If you've got any questions, comments, advice or if you've got an artist you would like to see featured, please don't hesitate to contact me at: themusicitis@yahoo.ca

Thanks for reading!

-The Music

P.S Would you do me a favour and share this blog? The more people know about it, the more input I have and the better it will get. I would love for this to become something but I need your help! Another thing you could do to help would be to follow my posts [little button on the right side above the 'Archives' that says 'Follow'; I would greatly appreciate any support!

Sarah LaMantia [Singer/Musician]

Name: Sarah LaMantia
Age: ?
From: West Virginia, USA
What she does: Singer/Musician

I first came across Sarah LaMantia roughly a year ago while browsing some YouTube talent and having watched most [if not all] of her videos, I can say that she's only grown as a musician. I don't think I've seen one bad video or performance [with the exception of the occasional distraction of her cat].

Although it's fairly typical pop-sounding, Sarah's voice is almost flawless and incredibly developed. Her skill level is solid and I'm sure she's capable of more than what we see in her videos. One thing I would like to see different is the fact that most of what she does is down-tempo- I think it would be great to see her do something upbeat.

Most of Sarah's videos are covers and, like I said, are down-tempo, even if the original song is not. For the most part she is accompanying herself on piano and claims to play it by ear, although she also admits to have taken 8-10 years of piano. Whether she does or not doesn't matter, it sounds great.

Besides the fact that she is a total die-hard Hanson fan [who is these days?!], she seems like an incredibly sweet girl with an infectious smile, GREAT hair and I'm looking forward to what she has been working on!

On a side note, Sarah was featured on Maury Povich; for his 'Most Talented Kids 2009' episode! How cool is that?

If you want to check out Sarah LaMantia's music [or her gorgeous hair...], here's where you can:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SarEliz0131
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahLaMantiaMusic?v=app_178091127385
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/SarahLaMantia
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SarahLaMantia
Personal Website: http://www.sarahlamantia.com/

Alyssa Bernal [Musician]

Name: Alyssa Bernal
Age: 21
From: San Antonio, Texas [USA]
What she does: singer/songwriter/musician

I've been watching singer/songwriter Alyssa Bernal on YouTube for three or four years now and have seen her grow and mature as an artist, a lovely one at that. For the most part her videos consist of covers with a hint of originals, both of which are fantastic.

Alyssa's got a soft, kind of raspy-sweet voice that's perfect for summer soundtracks and winter love songs. Her technique is developed, definitely not artificial and you can tell by her infectious smile that she genuinely loves doing what she does. Her dimples are also adorable!

On camera she seems very easy-going, almost timid and very talented. She was recently [like, a year ago] discovered by Pharrell and has, since then, been developing fairly quickly as a professional artist.

Her debut EP 'Alyssa Bernal', recorded in London, England, launched last October and includes 'Cali, Cali, Cali', 'Hold Me Tight' and 'Easy'. Check out her very first music video for 'Cali, Cali, Cali' - it's my favourite of her original songs thus far and a wonderful throwback to the summer [especially in these arctic temperatures we've been getting]!

Enjoy!

Website: www.alyssabernal.com
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/alyssabernalala OR http://www.youtube.com/user/hchsknights08?blend=2&ob=4
VEVO: http://www.youtube.com/user/AlyssaBernalVEVO
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/alyssabernal
MySapce: http://www.myspace.com/alyssabernal