Emotional Performances: How to Map a Song

This is ONE way to dive into material and come out with a more dynamic interpretation of the material.

Important Questions to Ask Yourself:

• What drew you to the song initially?

• In your own interpretation, what is the song about to you?

• Can you relate to the material and the lyrics being expressed?

• Who are you singing the song to?

• Why do you need to sing this song right now?

Any song needs to take the artists through a journey. It needs to be alive and unpredictable.

This keeps you connected with each word and keeps your audience engaged the entire time.

Set the Scene for Yourself

Think of yourself as a character in a movie. The sound paints the backdrop, the colors, the sensory imagery. Fall into that first. Keep yourself in this world, interact with it, respond to it. What happened to you right before you began singing? This will also come back to why you are singing the song right now. Did the person you loved tell you they don't love you anymore? Did your friend just finish telling you how much you changed their life? Did someone you haven't talked to in year just give you a call?

Connect with Your Feeling About the Situation

When you fall into the first moment, where do you feel that in your body? Do you get tightness in your chest? What about a warmth in your belly? Tune into that. Keep connected with your body. Whenever you are expressing your instrument it is important to let your energy flow through you. If you keep it tight in your chest, shoulders, stomach, that tension will make it very hard experience freedom with your sound. Audiences also feel much more safe and inviting if you share vulnerability rather than keeping it all in.

Feeling Change- Use that!

Connect with each word you are singing. Sing from your gut, your heart, and your head. When you feel a slight change in your energy, go with it! You will most likely have your inner critic coming in during this time. "Where do you put my hands? Where do you normally put my hands? I look awkward!" First thing to do if connect back to the words you are singing. Point the camera back inward instead of outward. Focus on the imagery of the world you are singing in. Keep connected.

Be Fearless

Do weird things. Let your body dance if it wants to. Let your body move exactly how it wants to. If your body wants to stand still and relaxed, let it! Your body and your heart will let you know what to do if you put your trust into the material and the power of "being enough". You have every right to use your voice, relaxed and confident in it's beauty.