::Thoughts::

What you wish you knew vocally at 17?

I wish I had known that there is most always a way to change what I didn’t like or achieve what I thought I couldn’t do. I was taught that you’ve got what you’ve got and it’s a matter of “placement” from there. I wish I’d known that there was a way to sing through my entire range with the same sound quality and texture, rather than feeling like I had two different voices depending on how high or low I was singing. What One Voice provides, among many other things, is clarity. Teachers and coaches I’d had growing up were always talking around certain ideas, but no one really had concrete answers for why a certain tool helped achieve a certain sound - “it just does.” At One Voice, we know what our theories, tools and concepts help us achieve, and we know why.

What has been your most memorable singing moment?

I was asked to sing “Once Upon a Time” from the musical Brooklyn for a local theatre gala, and I was very nervous about it, so I asked Alex Zeto for help. She explained Resonintial Awareness and neutralizing the vocal tract, and within three days I was singing that song in a loud, heavy weight with more feelings of ease than ever before. I still have a long way to go with shaking up those mental barriers, but it was the first time I started to understand the separation between volume, weight, and shaping my sound.

What should the world know about singing?

The world should know that the ability is accessible to anyone who wants it. With a combination of consistent work, deliberate goal setting, and willing open-mindedness, anyone can become a singer.

What’s your favorite One Voice theory, concept, or technique?

This is a hard choice! My favorite One Voice technique right now is Vocal Setting because it represents what One Voice is all about: demystifying singing and marrying the skill set with the emotion or story behind it. As a musical theatre performer, I had always done well with acting in monologues and scenes, but as soon as I needed to act while singing, it was like an out-of-body experience. I found it hard to focus on singing AND apply my acting choices. I always felt like the song was happening to me - like I had no control - and before I knew it, the song was over and I could barely remember what I’d even done. I never felt present. With vocal setting, the vocal choices support the acting choices, which helps marry singing and acting, and gives performers a clear path to accomplish a cohesive musical theatre performance. 

Highlights

Shows performed at and where?

I am currently working on a regional production of Newsies in Nashville TN in the role of Katherine, and after that I’ll be working with the Nashville Shakespeare Festival on their production of Julius Caesar.

Artist website, instagram, facebook, youtube, or other? 

My personal Instagram account is @shesgotpersonatalie - you’ll find a compilation of my day to day life, including selfies, other people’s children and dogs, and the occasional inspirational and/or thought provoking quote. I am a certified makeup artist for TV and film, and my Instagram handle for that is @natalierankin.makeupartist

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