VOKILLS INTERVIEW : Scott Sinclair / Sin MG

1.Please introduce yourself and tell us who you sing for

Hi I am Scott Sinclair, lead singer of Sin MG

2.What / Who made you want to sing?

I was in a talent show in college as a lead guitarist. I watched my friend Jimmy Cox working it as the frontman. I thought to myself at that time, “why the hell am I the guitarist??” Soon after I started taking vocal lessons.

3.Who was the first singer you saw live that gave you chills?

Not sure if it was the first, but I remember seeing Bon Jovi at the Rosemont Horizon when I was much younger. They performed Living on a Prayer and the entire stadium sang it louder than the band. It was amazing!

4.Many people say heavy music is just screaming, How would you combat that statement?

We hit people in the face with a wall of heavy guitars and 808’s. Screaming is one of the tools in our arsenal, but we do mostly clean vocals.

5.If you growl or do harsh vocals how do you keep your voice after such violent performances?

I use a lot of different holistic healing herbs and remedies and I sometimes just simply rest my voice. But the trick to intense singing is to manage it while you are doing it, so that you don’t damage your voice.

6. Do you have a warm up routine? Tell u bout it ?

Yes. I start by drinking a ton of water and I eliminate beef and dairy from my diet the day of the show. About an hour before the performance I motorboat scales to warm up my vocal chords and align my breathing.

7. Do you think power or performance is more important?

 

Performance is way more important. Audiences are way more interested in what they see vs. what they hear. Oh, they care what they hear, but they want to see a performance. They want to be entertained. They didn’t pay admission to see a bunch of stiffs stare at their guitars and lead vocalists singing with their eyes shut.

8. Who do you think gets unfair vocal praise, someone the world thinks is great but is not? / And who is great but does not get the credit?

Every poser who uses autotune gets unfair praise. Didn’t we already weigh in on the analog version of autotune when we chased Milli Vanilli out of the music business? Michael Barnes from RED is an amazing lead singer and one of the best frontmen. Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge is one of the best rock singers alive right now.  Jonny Hawkins from Nothing More is awesome too!

9.Name your top 5 vocalist

Chris Cornell
Sebastian Bach
Myles Kennedy
Freddie Mercury
Prince


10.Micheal Buble or Jim Gallette? Just testing your skills here

Gallette for sure out of these two.

11.Who do you love to listen to that would surprise people?

Pink

12.If you could remove the autotune from any singer who would it be?

Really? I don’t think we should remove autotune from any of these pioneers of shit singing. We should take their word for it and kindly show their careers the door.

VOKILLS INTERVIEW : Ena Estrella (eee-nuh eh-stray-yuh) / Lost Sacrament.

 1.Please introduce yourself and tell us who you sing for: 

​My name is Ena Estrella (eee-nuh eh-stray-yuh) and I am the singer for Lost Sacrament.
 2.What / Who made you want to sing?

 ​I was born singing from conception to now. I have been singing for as long as I could make sound. I grew up around performers (my parents are/were Mariachis, my mother has since retired from the group, my father still performs, my brother is a guitarist/musician in LA, and my baby sister is an opera singer like I was at one point), and my job requires it daily. (Choir director at secondary schools) 

 3.Who was the first singer you saw live that gave you chills? ​

Whitney Houston singing the National Anthem at the '91 Super Bowl. (Saw on TV); and my mom sing "Amor Eterno"

4.Many people say heavy music is just screaming, How would you combat that statement?

 There's more to heavy metal than screaming vocals, and people would know that if they paid attention to actual singers in metal and recognized non-screamers more often.

5.If you growl or do harsh vocals how do you keep your voice after such violent performances? 

The few times I have done harsh vocals, I take all precautions, prep my body and throat for that technique. 

 6. Do you have a warm up routine? Tell u bout it ? 

​My warm up consists of vocal sirens, singing to my favorite tunes in the car, and light body stretches.

 7. Do you think power or performance is more important? ​

You need a balance of both to make a statement. 

8. Who do you think gets unfair vocal praise, someone the world thinks is great but is not? / And who is great but does not get the credit?

 ​Alot of growlers/screamers get vocal praise for being "heavy/brutal" in the metal genre. There are alot of clean singers who do not get alot of love because of the misconception that to sing in a metal band, you have to "scream/growl".  

 9.Name your top 5 vocalist:
 ​Tarja Turunen,
 Russel Allen,
 Devin Townsend,
 Tony Kakko,
 Floor Jansen

10.Micheal Buble or Jim Gillette? Just testing your skills here.

 ​Definately Jim G.! Vocal power! \m/ 

 11.Who do you love to listen to that would surprise people? 

​Old Arch Enemy or Pantera. There is an appreciation for growlers who know what they're doing and did it well. And Daft Punk. I'm a sucker for 80s 90s techno/dance music. 

 12. If you could remove the autotune from any singer who would it be?
 ​Alot of pop singers! But​ ​I would be curious to hear Eiffel 65 without their autotune (the guys behind "I'm Blue (Da Ba Dee)") 

 

VOKILLS INTERVIEW : Masha of Feelament

1.Please introduce yourself and tell us who you sing for

Hi! I'm Masha of Feelament :)

2.What / Who made you want to sing?

I think it comes naturaly. Just love it whole my life.

3.Who was the first singer you saw live that gave you chills?

I think this is Heidi of Butcher Babies. We supported their once and you know on records Heidi sing high parts and Carla low, yes? But on the live session Heidi did sooooo low screaming vocals and i didn't expect this.

4.Many people say heavy music is just screaming, How would you combat that statement?

I didn't listen minds like this :) As much people on the Earth = as much minds.

5.If you growl or do harsh vocals how do you keep your voice after such violent performances?

 

You have to keep vocals not after perfomance, but before and whole time when you're on stage. You have to do right breathing, use you're false cords when you're screaming, use your singing position and don't harm yourself. And sure keep your water balance every day of your life :)

6. Do you have a warm up routine? Tell u bout it ?

My warm ups are short: just do the breath exercises and strobass.

7. Do you think power or performance is more important?

More important than what? :) I think everything is important for music project: records, performances, your communication with audience and all other stuff.

8. Who do you think gets unfair vocal praise, someone the world thinks is great but is not? / And who is great but does not get the credit?

I don't think someone gets something unfair. If people love it for something what i don't understand that means only that it's not for me. Everyone have something unique and good for someone else.

9.Name your top 5 vocalist

Greg Puciato, 
Rob Halford,
Kelsey Lu, 
Amy Winehouse, 
Björk
This is just my favs, but i can tell about a lot of skilled guys :)

10.Micheal Buble or Jim Gallette? Just testing your skills here

Who's that? :)

11.Who do you love to listen to that would surprise people?

Ohhhh here's a lot of not metal stuff. I realy love good hip-hop like old Cypress Hill, Little Simz, Princess Nokia, Kendrick Lamar (onle DAMN LP), russian band Krovosrok - i'm sure you will understand why if you will try to listen xD

12.If you could remove the autotune from any singer who would it be?

Sorry I'm not focused on judjing people and don't care about stuff like this :) * ( its not a judgment at all it is about a vocal effect) Wes J

VOLKILLS Interview : Scarlett Dark from Lipshok

VOLKILLS Interview

with Scarlett Dark from Lipshok

www.lipshok.com

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us who you sing for:

-- Hello there. I’m Scarlett Dark and I sing for Lipshok, a San Francisco Bay Area original gothic rock/symphonic metal act. I also play keyboards and write all the songs. As well as do all the multiple harmonies/back ups on all the music, which is big in the Lipshok repertoire.

2. What/who made you sing?

--- I don’t know if anyone or anything made me sing. It was just something I did from very young childhood. I have always loved performing and singing. I am compelled to keep doing it and I have no choice.

3. Who was the first singer you saw live that gave you chills?

--- Sarah Brightman. Jackie Evancho.

4. Many people say heavy music is just screaming. How would you combat that statement?

--- Well, there certainly seems to be a lot of screaming, but I don’t think that’s all it is. The raw power and emotion that comes from that is fantastic. Although certainly there are different techniques to it. I actually like the combination of the harsh vocals with the melodic vocals. Too much of the screaming though to me gets boring. I like the drama and technique of different kinds of singing. Loud, quiet, harsh, passionate, melodic, etc.

5. If you growl or do harsh vocals, how do you keep you voice after such violent performances?

--- I don’t do harsh vocals, although I have tried. I was in a thrash metal band for a while but my technique I’m sure was incorrect as it was tough on the old vocal chords. Especially if you’re switching it up. (i.e. some harsh stuff and then into melody)

  

6. Do you have a warm up routine? Tell about it.

---Actually I do. On the day of a show, (or studio work for that matter), I don’t eat or drink any milk products and try to minimize talking as much as possible. I do light singing on my way to a show or during the day to warm up slowly, and then I try to pace myself during a show as well. Recording studio work is a lot harder though. Especially since I double track everything and do 2 – 4 parts of harmonies, backups, etc.

7. Do you think power or performance is more important?

--- I think both are important. And I think it depends on the music/song at the time. Some of my songs start with emotional soft singing and that is harder to do than power and takes a lot more diaphragm control. Controlling the intensity is super important especially if you want to convey the emotion of the song. Dynamics are key to my songs and I don’t think they’re used enough in my opinion.

8. Who do you think gets unfair vocal praise, someone the world thinks is great but is not? And who is great but does not get the credit?

--- Anyone who can make a living in this field has my respect. I think there are a lot of singers who suck and a lot of singers who don’t get the praise they deserve. And that’s on all levels. Is it just a matter of taste or opinion? Probably.

9. Name your top 5 vocalists:

--- Tarja Turunen, Amy Lee, Sharon den Adel, Cristina Scabbia, Barbra Streisand, and I have to add Bette Midler and Ann Wilson.

10. Michael Buble or Jim Gallette? Just testing your skills here.

--- I don’t know who Jim Gallette is, but I like Michael Buble. Super smooth and rich voice.

11. Who do you love to listen to that would surprise people?

--- I don’t think anyone would be surprised by my favorite artists. But I admit, my ego is huge and I like to listen to myself the most.

12. If you could remove autotune from any singer, who would it be? --- Everyone.

VOKILLS INTERVIEW : James Founds / Low Spirits

1.Please introduce yourself and tell us who you sing for

    I am James Founds and I am the vocalist for Low Spirits from Little Rock, Arkansas.

2.What / Who made you want to sing?

    When I was 16 I got into Bring Me the Horizon’s “This Is What the Edge of Your Seat Was Made For”. I used to scream along to that album while driving around. One day I received a phone call from a good friend Marcus, that is no longer with us, asking if I wanted to try vocals for a metal project he was working on.  That band was Mary Bell’s Day of Doom. It was a short lived band but I learned a lot about being a vocalist and live performances. My buddy Marcus gave me a platform to let out my teenage angst during a time in my life when I was trying to find my place. I’ll be forever grateful for him for giving me the opportunity and experience.  

3.Who was the first singer you saw live that gave you chills?

    Growing up my stepdad was always listening to Blues music.  I can’t remember exactly who the guy was, but I was maybe 14 years old on Beale Street in Memphis. The guy had so much heart and soul in his voice it was captivating we sat there listening to him paint pictures with his lyrics.  That’s probably where I began searching for music that pulled certain feelings out of me. 

4.Many people say heavy music is just screaming, How would you combat that statement?

    I understand how some people perceive heavy music and can’t relate.  I usually tell those people to go to a live underground metal show. The energy in a packed out small venue with the music just driving into your chest and everyone losing their minds is unexplainable.  You have to witness it first hand to really understand it. 

5.If you growl or do harsh vocals how do you keep your voice after such violent performances?

   

  

  Starting out I didn’t know what I was doing.  I used to just chug chloraseptic spray and all my screams came from my throat.  Overtime I practiced and used different techniques to project my vocals more from my chest.  Since then I haven’t had any issues with my voice being raspy or throat being sore.  

6. Do you have a warm up routine? Tell u bout it ?

    I usually just do a quick breathing exercise to get my breath ready. Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold it for 4 seconds, and breathe out for 4 seconds.  I do that a few times then as the guitars ring out before we start I’ll scream out a few words off mic then jump right into the set.

7. Do you think power or performance is more important?

    I think you have to have both.  The performance will depend a lot on the vibe of the music or the emotion you are projecting to the audience.  My emotion is a direct reflection of the lyrics I write. Everything about our performance highlights how the words I’m screaming make me feel. Sometimes it’s hectic, sometimes it’s depressing.  

8. Who do you think gets unfair vocal praise, someone the world thinks is great but is not? / And who is great but does not get the credit?

Without naming any names. I personally don’t like deathcore or slam metal. It comes off as a bit gimmicky to me.  

All the true wretched black metal vocalists don’t get enough credit.  That’s some of the most sad/horrifying vocals I’ve ever heard. You can feel the pain and hate in their voices. The whole aesthetic of that genre is interesting with the blasting atmospheric riffs and shrieking vocals. That stuff will start to mess with my head in weird ways I am a generally happy person.  I have to take breaks from time to time.

9.Name your top 5 vocalist

Yvonne “Onielar” Wilczynska – Bethlehem

Tomas Lindberg – At the Gates

Neil McAdams – Black Breath

Andrew Drury – Baptisits

Christoffer Öster – Dödsrit

   

10.Micheal Buble or Jim Gallette? Just testing your skills here

Buble – That christmas album is a banger.

11.Who do you love to listen to that would surprise people?.

    Little Dragons haha

12.If you could remove the autotune from any singer who would it be?

   

    T-pain.  His tiny desk performance on NPR is worth checking 
out to see why I said that.  Dude has a voice of an angel. 
 From a metal standpoint, all autotune should be removed. 
 That’s my personal opinion. I don’t like overly processed or
 programed metal. Heavy music has always intrigued me
 because of the rawness and power of the music. 
 The humanness relatability begins to get lost with
 all the effects and programming. 

https://www.facebook.com/lowspiritsar/

U.G.L.Y. You aint got no.......

So in my time off from being the supreme lord of  PR , Podcasting and in general all things Metal, I like to tell people things they dont want to hear. I honestly thought bout calling this opinion column The Butthurt Chronicles. Lets go over some of my favorites mistakes bands make every day and I just shake my head........

1. Your girlfriend , your momma , your family , the drunk guy across the street and people in bars but MAINLY your girlfriend are LYING to you!! DO NOT EVER let your girlfriend be your " manager"  DO NOT EVER listen to your buddies opinion on your music. DO NOT EVER listen to the drunk guy! Dont you find it interesting how everyone becomes a professional about the music scene when they find out you are in a band? That drunk guy is going to tell you stories of his time being a roadie for Skynard and will probably convince you he knows someone who can get you places, Your buddies want to party and get laid hoping you become a rock star and THE DEVIL your girlfriend well besides you dropping the D you also might become rich and THAT my friend is WAY more important than the D . #1 reason for band breakups GIRLFRIENDS. They will convince you they will make you a star even if you suck monkey balls and you WILL listen. DO NOT LISTEN! Want a real opinion on your music? Lie to someone who does not know you are in a band and say " hey I heard this band on the radio check it out" play them one of your songs and see what they say OR if you are really brave play it to a KID they have no reason to lie and if you really have the nerve play it for your X thats where you will get some real honesty.

2.There is a possibility you SUCK , I know I know the astronomical chances of every group of people who decide the make music not each being the greatest ever is very likely.... Look every town in every state , province , township etc even in the damn congo has a band think about it so the likely hood of your particular group being amazing enough to stand out or even be noticed is about as big as the President Trump Support Mexico Chapter ever happening. We were 1000% lied to as children " You can do anything if you put your mind to it" WRONG! There are people who have been putting their mind into winning the lottery for 60 years like crazy Aunt Tonya whos bought a lotto ticket each week wince she was 17 and smokes cheap cigarettes to be able to afford her next ticket and is broke like more broke than you. You are probably NOT going to make it and you most assuredly are NOT the greatest band. Put your mind to this if you work RELENTLESSLY for years for NOTHING you are probably going to have to PAY people to show any interest in your music and then PAY someone to get it into the world at large then MAYBE you can pay AGAIN to tour so that MAYBE you csn break even..... probably not. Here is the point It is NOT about the music, Not about the talent or the heart or the drive or the passion its the LOTTO and maybe you win maybe you dont but jut like the lotto does not care who wins neither does the music biz. Have fun with it ya never know!

3.Is your singer ugly? Mick Jagger is Tom Petty was, Ric Okasic from the cars was obviously an alien and dont get me started on Roy Orbison. You do NOT have to be attractive to make it in music but it is a GOOD idea to make your curb appeal well appealing. Literally attraction IS the key to getting peoples attention now it can be ANYONE in the band screw the drummer he is burried in drums lol and most importantly it can be what that person does. You WANT to have the best guitarist, bassist or drummer etc so people will be like have you seen Justin Van Noodle play etc. But guess what there re only a few musical miracles out there and ready or not its most likely NOT you or anyone in your band. BUT there are attractive people and music is an aphrodisiac Chicks LOVE hot sweaty rock stars and dudes LOVE hot sweaty Chicks so call it shallow call it on the surface or give me your top ten ugly ass musicians and I will give you 30 attractive ones to each one you name .
What the following article fails to say is that people LOVED his voice but when MTV showed the world what he looked like his career took a nosedive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Cross 

I am ugly thank God I have wit...... maybe 
Coming up in the next edition of Details. Local Scene not supportive? Why Its the bands fault

METAL COFFEE WELCOMES Jason Stallworth

I’m a heavy metal recording artist, songwriter, and musician living in Seffner, FL (Tampa Bay area), originally from Pensacola, FL. I think that makes me a native Floridian!
My music style is best described as ‘Melodic Metal with a Twist of Death!’ The music is filled with heavy guitar riffs, and plenty of soloing and shredding, and you’ll hear melodies that will captivate you and draw you in.
My first three albums (and one single) are instrumental metal albums. My first album with vocals will be released towards the end of 2018 (more to come on that). This album will have the perfect mix of clean and death metal style vocals.
Some of my current influences include bands like Nightwish, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Delain, and Evergrey. These vibes are prevalent in my musical style. You can also hear hints of my original influences, such as the early Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, and several others from that late-80’s - mid-90’s era.

So what I do I do outside of writing metal music? My beloved wife (and best friend) and I spend much of our time supporting mom-and-pop restaurants, kayaking, and traveling. I enjoy craft beer while she’s sipping wine. I also study Thai as a second language.
To add, another passion of mine is lifting weights, which is something that’s helped me in so many ways over the years. I hit the gym around 4:45AM most mornings. If you lift, you should definitely check out my instrumental metal album series ‘Heavy Metal Workout!’ If you don’t lift, you should start!
And I'm also a writer and released my first book ‘Heavy Metal and Weights’ in 2017, which coincides with the album series I just mentioned. I plan to write more books to go with future albums.

Keep it Metal,
Jason
P.S. All of my albums and releases can be found on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Google Play, CD Baby, and most major digital retailers.

m.me/jasonstallworthmetal
jason.m.stallworth@gmail.com
https://www.jasonstallworth.com
@jasonsmetal75
https://open.spotify.com/artist/03RvPHOTl4iHprqJ8Zcciu
https://www.instagram.com/jasonstallworth/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonstallworth
https://www.youtube.com/jasonstallworth