The Spice GIrls Spectrum

The second installment in the Belt Series!

Remember The Spice Girls?  Those of you who were born in the 2000s (!!) may not, but you can find them easily!

I use The Spice Girls in two different ways:  A spectrum of archetype and a spectrum of vocal weight. 

If we work clockwise from Baby Spice as far as archetype is concerned,  this takes us from ingenue to girl next door, to leading lady, to character actor to femme fatale - and every nook and cranny in between!  Male voices can find the same equivalent in their archetypes.

If we work clockwise from Baby Spice in the weight category - specific to belt - we are working light, light/medium,  medium,  medium/heavy,  heavy.  

Interestingly,  vocal weight does correlate to the archetype! 

Now, not every voice weight HAS to belt.  However, the voice needs to access the stylistic requirements of the song/era/style/show it is presenting. Having access to those physical, functional, musical & dramatic nuances is crucial for discovering authenticity of style.

The definition of belt means different things to different people.  The end result is a high intensity of emotional relief in the tone. It is not bringing chest voice higher, contrary to what some would think. It is not screlting.  It is not pushing.  It is not clenching.  It is a coordination between intrinsic muscles, breath pressure and fundamental vibration and acoustic.  It is a healthy function when approached clearly.

If that just made you glaze over, stay with me!  We will explore it!

What we hear in a “belted” sound and how it actually FEELS to produce it is often VERY different.  The sensation of our voice is the crucial component.  

The end result is what is perceived in the room.  How each voice finds it, can be very different.

When I hear a singer say “It should sound like…” my response is “why?”

“it shouldn’t feel so easy” - my response “why not?”

Our first step is to be realistic.  Claim what you have, what you are, not what you wish you were.  

I remember a young soprano coming into my studio for the first time telling me she was actually a dramatic colorature.  I blinked and smiled.  Her speaking voice was high;  she was about 5’1”. She spoke like a Disney princess.  She wanted to “belt”.  We stretched the voice to find what what it wanted to do and was actually doing in neutral.  As you can imagine, “dramatic” was not part of that instrument.  She thought if she just sang louder;  if she just pushed what her concept of chest voice was, higher and higher, she’d find her belt and her voice would be “dramatic”.

Language reveals.  Language confuses.  Language needs to be gently challenged and riddled out.  A lighter mechanism doesn’t mean “less than”.  Bigger is not better if it’s not yours.  What you have is Goldilocks enough - just right.  Figure it out now!  It’s enough, you’re enough, and now, what does that mechanism do?  How do we get it into a workable coordination?  Where does that take us in the spectrum of archetype and repertoire?  

Start exploring, and stop assuming!!  There are just so many possibilities within the spectrum of your voice and your archetype!  Every one is crucial in the storytelling process and we need ALL the voices to tell those stories!

The following basic vocal characteristics can be found within the spectrum.  It is simply a jumping off point - and a way to explore and then get into YOUR details, YOUR isms,  YOUR specific traits. Enjoy as you explore where you are or where you might be!

So, where are you ACTUALLY? Not where are wanting to be? Remember, this week we are simply working on basic characteristics of the voice weight. The vocal weight will help determine HOW the belt is developed and what it will FEEL like in your voice!

I got you!

No have some fun and comment below as you figure out your spice!