This summer I traveled to Boston to teach songwriting at Berklee College of Music, and while I was in town I sat down with Boston's hometown hero, Stephanie James. We talked about vocal technique, practice routine, practicing too much, what teaching teaches you, my Josh Groban era, singing by instinct, how to cnotrol the audience, lifestyles of a musician, manifestation vs. mindfulness, and Stephanie's new EP!

Stephanie is a singer, songwriter, vocal coach and Berklee alum. I've written several songs for her and with her, including the title track of her new EP, Manifesting a Man. She's also one of a few vocal coaches who have really helped me as a singer, and she's a collaborator and confidant I lean on. We talk about vocal technique, what Barbra Streisand and Kacey Musgraves can teach you about singing, a Ben Folds post on finding your voice, and a friendly disagreement about manifestation versus mindfulness.

This is a special on-the-road episode.

Recorded on the road in Boston
00:00 – Cold Open
01:25 – Iced Coffee at Stephanie's in Boston
01:59 – On the Road: Teaching at Berklee
03:20 – Sleep, Hustle & Making Good Art
06:30 – The Rock 'n' Roll Myth
13:16 – The Brownies That Weren't
14:15 – What Teaching Teaches You
16:48 – The 17-Year-Old Producer & the AI Question
19:11 – Build a Practice Routine
22:17 – Getting My Voice Back
26:15 – Vocal Load & Vocal Fatigue
28:59 – Barbra Streisand Sings by Instinct
30:13 – Why Singers Cancel Tours
36:33 – Open Your Mouth, Make the Noise
37:34 – Role Models for Male Singers
39:00 – My Josh Groban Era
41:44 – Ben Folds on Finding Your Voice
46:26 – Manifestation vs. Mindfulness
49:34 – The Non-Negotiables List
54:36 – Do You Write Down Your Goals?
57:05 – Fixing Our Song in Real Time
58:20 – Rehearsing a Song 100 Times
01:00:39 – Be Face-Melting
01:02:10 – Living With 89%
01:07:35 – Manifesting a Man — The New EP
01:11:59 – Wrap Up

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Follow Stephanie James:
🌐 https://www.stephaniejamesmusic.com
📸 Instagram: @stephaniejamesmusic
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniejamesmusic
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTo9yuVL1I6lqRk1UORcO6w
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5gHGL4PK4oAWEQCItOu2ey

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