Finding Your Voice: The Art of Vocal Stylization and Expression

One of the most exciting aspects of being a vocalist is the ability to make a song your own. Whether you’re performing an original or covering a classic, the way you interpret and express with your voice can turn a good performance into an unforgettable one. But how do you develop a signature vocal style without overthinking every note? It starts with exploration, recording, and allowing yourself the freedom to play.

Experimenting with Melody and Dynamics

Adjusting your voice for style, One aspect to this is that you don't.

You literally don't change your voice for the style of music. You create your sound through the expression of who you are and through mechanics. You can sing any song and make it your own.

You can bring YOUR style to any song and make it unique. That's really key.

Maybe when you’re writing you find yourself returning to a certain melody instinctively. It feels comfortable, familiar. But part of the joy of singing is breaking out of those patterns and discovering something new. The best way to do this? EXPLORE!

One artist I work with, for example, they described to me, I feel like I have seven voices.

And they would just kind of sing by numbers.

In this part, I'm gonna sing like that, and this part, I'm gonna sing like that.

It's very limiting - seven voices instead of infinite choices, seven colors, seven ways of doing things.

And it was a constant decision. Like, oh, I'm gonna do this here, do this here.

So the surprises were gone, and we wanna feel surprised in our creative flow.

One way to explore and find those changes, build an arrangement is a vocal game I like to use -

ONE SYLLABLE AT A TIME

Change one syllable in every line, You’re going to play with melody, dynamics, lyrics + rhythm - which changes the phrasing, change how you relate to the lyrics, change your expression - making it more unique and enhancing your own style.

Record yourself + listen back - when you do something that thrills and surprises you, that’s when you know—this is a moment worth keeping. Building a vocal arrangement is playing until you’ve put together an entire performance you love, that excites and moves you.

For example, take the phrase: I was still a child.

• I was still a child.

• I was still a child.

• I was still a child.

Each variation tells a slightly different story. The key is finding the one that feels most authentic to you.
And doing it differently when that chorus comes around the 2nd or 3rd time.

Creating a Live Experience

Singing live is a completely different experience from recording. When performing, you have the chance to expand and reshape the song to fit the moment. Have you ever sung a song for years and suddenly thought, "I want to change it up"? Maybe you want the bridge to stretch longer or the chorus to build differently. That’s the beauty of live performance—you get to evolve the music in real-time, making it a new experience every time you sing it. Playing the game One Syllable at a Time can help you discover a new, live version of your song.

When considering changes, allow your EMOTIONS to lead you - to make organic expressions.

The Power of Word Painting

One of my favorite exercises is "word painting," where you shape the melody to reflect the meaning of the lyrics. For instance, if a lyric contains the word fall, can you make your voice physically mimic the sensation of falling? If there’s an explosive word, can you give it the intensity it deserves? Sometimes, it’s about stretching a word, repeating a syllable, or shifting the way you attack the note.

Finding Your Artistic Identity

The goal isn’t to mechanically map out every vocal choice—it’s to develop an instinct for what feels right. When I was younger, I used to plan every single detail of my vocal performances. But I quickly realized that overplanning made my singing feel stiff and predictable. Instead, I now focus on understanding the possibilities within a song and allowing myself to respond in the moment.

Your voice is your instrument. The more in tune you are with it, the more organically your stylistic choices will flow. That’s what makes a true artist—not just hitting the right notes, but delivering them in a way that moves people.

So, my challenge to you: record yourself, experiment, play. Try emphasizing different words, altering melodies, or adjusting dynamics. And when you find something that gives you goosebumps? That’s your magic. Keep it, refine it, and make it yours.