Diva of the Week: Adele

Adele has the voice. She can belt a song with intense power, emotion and character. She is this generation's rising diva simply because of her absolutely, incredible voice. Sometimes, you're just born with it.

The Solution to Sore Throats: Ricola

As a singer, having a cold or sore throat can be very uncomfortable and inconvenient. Regardless of whether or not I am sick, I still need to use my voice on a daily basis. Besides my Throat Coat tea recipe, another solution to sore throats is Ricola cough drops.

I recommend the Ricola Honey-Lemon with Echinacea flavor. The combination of honey, lemon and echinacea is the most gentle on the voice. Echinacea is a natural ingredient that helps fight colds and flus. The honey serves as a great lubricant for the vocal cords and the lemon helps stimulate the immune system.  

I woke up today with a sore throat and you better believe it that I'm going to the store to get my own bag! I've been using these cough drops for years and they never disappoint! Not to mention, they are really yummy, too!

Diva of the Week: Jessie J.

Jessie J. is fresh, talented and quirky, not to mention she has an incredible voice! Being a diva is about being a great performer, not just a vocalist. Let your personality shine through your songs, no matter how silly you think you may be. We will love you!

Home Remedies For Your Voice: Steaming

During this time of the year, a lot of us suffer from allergies and congestion. One home remedy that we can do for our voice is something called steaming. Just simply do the following:

1- Boil 2 cups of water.
2- Add 1 teaspoon of salt.
3- Breathe deeply into the steam.
4- Repeat 5-10 times. Clear your nose in between if you need to.

I learned this trick from my old voice teacher in college and it works! The steam will loosen up your congestion and the salt will serve as an antibacterial. Try this whenever you feel yucky. It'll clear up your passageways and allow you to breathe and sing a lot better!

Diva Tip: Be sure to pull your hair back and take off your mascara! One time my eyelashes almost melted and that's not fabulous! Hope this helps to keep you singing this summer!

Men Can Be Divas, Too: Marc Anthony's National Anthem Performance

Being that I was born and raised in Miami up until two years ago, I was very excited that my hometown team, the MIAMI HEAT, made it this far in the series. (Even though I am technically a Magic fan, we shall wait til next season!) Anyway, I was even more excited to hear Marc Anthony sing the national anthem! I gained respect for him after I saw his portrayal of Hector Lavoe in El Cantante.

Anyway, his performance was exactly what every diva should do when asked to sing at a championship. Not only does he sound absolutely incredible, his delivery was passionate, powerful and appropriate. Too many singers butcher this song and he did it just right. Marc Anthony performed the National Anthem with bravado and confidence. This just proves that men can be divas, too. :)

Diva of the Week: Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is talented, smart and amazing--truly one of the best songwriters of our time. Her songs are like anthems for girls young and old. Being a diva is about opening your heart to your music. Being genuine. Telling us the story of you.

Vocal Warm-Ups On The Go: Lip Trills

There are several vocal warm-ups that we can do without a piano or when we are on the go. A lot of times we do not have access to a piano (or teacher!) before we need to sing. Or maybe some of us don't even know how to play the piano or don't even have a teacher to help us! Well, what we can actually do to help jumpstart our voice are Lip Trills.

The Lip Trill 3-Step:
1- Breathe in.
2- Blow lips.
3- Hum at any pitch until you hear a buzz.

Demonstration:


Hope this helps!

Keep Your Voice Hydrated This Summer

As we enter the summer months, it is important that we take the time to drink plenty of fluids and keep our voices hydrated. The hotter the weather, the more hydration is required. Just think about how much you sweat when you're outside under the hot sun, that's how much water you need to drink in order to replenish yourself--even more so if you are a singer!

When we are dehydrated, the mucous membranes in our vocal cords dry out as well. Without lubrication between our vocal cords, it becomes harder on the voice to produce sound. The wheels become creaky. As a result, our vocal cords become fatigued. This makes it harder for us to sing.

I recommend always keeping a refillable water bottle. You can fill it up while you're at home and take it with you on-the-go. I use SmartWater bottles because they are durable and can hold up to 4 cups of water. I suggest drinking at least 2-3 of these servings a day.

Trust me, your voice will thank you and singing will become more enjoyable. =)

Diva of the Week: Jill Scott

Jill Scott has an amazing ability to manifest raw emotions into her vocals. Her lyrics are poetic masterpieces from the heart. She exudes femininity, confidence and passion.

Being a diva is about being bold. Don't let other people's negativity influence you otherwise. Be strong. Be free and let them be.