Singer Songwriter, SJ Mortimer pulls back the curtain on the reality of following her dream as a front-woman of multi award-winning Americana Rock Band, Morganway. From recognising the red flags of the burnout cycle, to the paralysing perfection trap that often kills the very creativity it’s trying to polish. We move past the highlight reels to discuss the need for healthy sleep patterns, a genuine support system and a deep look inwards as the cure for imposter syndrome, burnout and the balancing act of life, business and creativity. If you’ve ever felt like you’re faking it—or just wondered if everyone else is struggling as much as you are—this conversation is the reality check you been needing.

Takeaways

• Live performance has potential to be your friend and foe depending on your mindset
• If the love for it is gone, don’t assume it’s dead; take a break.
• Support from partners and friends is crucial in the music industry. Don’t go it alone.
• Everyone feels imposter syndrome at some point.
• The people you think have ‘made it’ probably feel the same about their life as you do.
• Perfectionism isn’t often in the best interests of the overall creation
• The first take is often the best
• Mistakes on stage can create a deeper connection with the audience.
• Community and shared experiences in music foster support and understanding.

Chapters

00:00 SJ Mortimer's Onstage Persona

02:56 The Stage as Your Friend or Foe?

07:53 Fear of the Unknown as an Independent Musician

09:30 Balancing Everyday Life with Music

11:35 How Going Full Time Changed the Creative Process

15:06 Sleep Patterns and their Impact on Creativity

19:19 The Reality of Life as a Gigging Musician

23:52 Mistakes Onstage and The Musician's Inner Critic

31:03 Remembering the Purpose of Music in Our Lives

34:33 Working Around Perfectionism in the Recording Studio

38:33 How to Keep the Creative Juices Flowing

46:58 Where to Find Sj and Morganway

48:34 Quickfire Questions

Mentions:

SJ’s Americana Rock Band: www.Morganway.co.uk

SJ website: www.SJMortimer.net

www.instagram.com/sjmortimer/

www.facebook.com/sjmortimermusic

About the Host

Grace is a seasoned singer-pianist, vocal coach and composer. Over the past decade she has dedicated her life to music and creativity, performing aboard luxury cruise ships across the world and composing for theatre and short films. Her original compositions have been recognised by festivals such as the Paris Film Awards and Only the Best International Film Awards. She strives now to determine how to cultivate authentic expression in music and the importance of it for mental health and human connection.

Contact Method

gracehancockmusic@gmail.com

www.gracehancockmusic.com

Instagram: @gracehancockmusic

Facebook: @gracehancockmusician

#Americana #rock #musicindustry #burnout #liveperformance #creativity #independentmusician #impostersyndrome #songwriting #singersongwriter #frontwoman #musicianlife

Are you confused about whether to sing like you speak? Grace takes you through how singing in a speech-like quality can rob your voice of a certain ‘je ne said quoi’ and how to alter your vowels for that flowing, professional sound. The episode explains the concept of dipthonging and why it’s detrimental to your sound. It’s a practical, virtual lesson focusing on the importance of vowel alterations, tongue positioning, and airflow management in singing. The discussion includes practical exercises and examples from professional singers like Adele, illustrating how to navigate high notes and manage consonant sounds effectively. The session concludes with key takeaways for singers to enhance their vocal performance.

Takeaways

• Singing requires breaking the habits of conversational speech.
• Diphthonging is when a singer sings through the smaller vowel sounds in each word
• Maintaining a consistent airflow is crucial for singing
• Tongue positioning affects sound quality and resonance
• Professional singers often alter their vowel sounds without you realising
• The largest part of the vowel should be juiced for maximum resonance
• Narrow vowels should open up when singing higher notes, wide vowels should round off.
• Consonant sounds should be softened to maintain airflow.
• Understanding vowel trees can reduce pressure and resistance especially in higher ranges

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Diphthonging and Vowel Juicing

01:46 Understanding Diphthonging and Its Impact on Singing

06:17 Practical Examples of Adele's Vowel Alterations

09:52 Consonant Sounds and Maintaining Airflow Exercise

14:13 Vowel Trees Exercises to Relieve Pressure Up High

19:51 The General Rule for Making Your Vowels Work For You

21:10 Breath Support Exercise for Maintaining Open Throat

25:20 Conclusion

Mentions/Resources:

Brett Manning’s Singing Success - https://singingsuccess.com

Vowel Trees (part of Brett Manning’s Singing Success teachings): -

‘Oo’ as in ‘boot’ —> ‘Ouh’ as in ‘book’ —> ‘Uhh’ as in ‘buck’

‘Ee’ as in “beat’ —> ‘Ih’ as in ‘bit’ —> ‘Eh’ as in ‘bet’

Narrow vowels should open a little and wide vowels should round slightly as you sing higher in your range to enable better airflow and resonance. Feel the pressure lessen on the top notes as you migrate these vowels from left to right.

To use this in practise, pin point ‘problem words’ in any song you’re singing where the pitch is high and the vowels are narrow or splatty. You might find it feels squeeze or shaky. You can tweak the vowel more towards the left side of the diagram to release some of the pressure and stabilise the sound in your voice.

About the Host

Grace is a seasoned singer-pianist, vocal coach and composer. Over the past decade she has dedicated her life to music and creativity, performing aboard luxury cruise ships across the world and composing for theatre and short films. Her original compositions have been recognised by festivals such as the Paris Film Awards and Only the Best International Film Awards. She strives now to determine how to cultivate authentic expression in music and the importance of it for mental health and human connection.

Contact Method

gracehancockmusic@gmail.com

www.gracehancockmusic.com

Instagram: @gracehancockmusic

Facebook: @gracehancockmusician

#vocaltechniques #dipthonging #singingesson #diphthonging #vowelshapes #vocaltone #singing #vocalexercises #airflow #highnotes #consonants #singingcoach