To: <vocalist>
Subject: RE: MOUTH VOICE & Speech Level
Date sent: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 22:05:11 -0800
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Hi, List!

This was asked regarding that mouth voice (which I haven't really heard of, either):

>>i have been noticing this particular timbre in the voices of dave grohl, jessica
simpson, enrique iglesias and to some extent, brian mcknight. what do you
seth riggs disciples think?

I'm not too familiar with Dave Grohl's voice. Enrique Iglesias tries to belt and usually fails, especially live. I know he's had some lessons with Riggs, but he doesn't seem to be applying anything he taught him. Jessica Simpson is a good example of what we call hard mix, which is indeed felt
"bouncing off" the hard palate, but her technique is unrefined. Brian McKnight sounds beautiful, mixing well except for a few stylistic Falsetto-escapades. A very mix and head voice indeed. Christina Aguilera is also using a hard mix, but live she tends to push too hard and get flat on pitches.
Also unrefined. But definitely the most interesting "teen sensation" out there in my opinion...real character in her voice.

>From what everyone has been guessing "mouth voice" could mean, I also think it's some form of mix, or "hard mix" for a rockier or gospelier (what a word I just made up!) sound.

My 2 cents.

Rocio Guitard
Speech Level Singing Instructor