The Happy Singer The Happy Singer

Hi Singers! 
 
It's about time we had another podcast episode, huh? Things have been crazy over here with keeping up a totally virtual singing studio and my on-going struggle with ADHD... it has gotten so much worse during this pandemic, ya'll. (more on this soon.) I actually recorded this episode back in November and it took me this long to sit down and edit it. Such a shame to keep such great content all to myself, but FINALLY, it is all yours. :) 
Here is our lovely guest. Give her a follow on all the socials:
https://www.instagram.com/kellyhoppinjams/
https://www.kellyhoppenjans.com/home
https://open.spotify.com/track/7cHA06sHB2yhsr08htrFzN?si=9992c54a9b814a02
https://open.spotify.com/artist/109JFJprhfxiGV3dT3QXwZ?si=62IEvABLQpeBDh95HWrM4Q
 
Kelly Hoppenjans has been teaching voice in the Nashville area for the past seven years. She is an adjunct instructor at Belmont University in Commercial Voice, teaching private commercial voice lessons, vocal styles, and commercial vocal ensembles. She specializes in working with singer-songwriters and unique voices, and her Master’s thesis was focused on determining the connection between vocal qualities and songwriting in female singer-songwriters. Kelly is also an accomplished singer-songwriter, and released her full-length album OK, I Feel Better Now in October of 2019. The album received airplay in numerous AAA and independent radio stations across the country, and was featured in publications like NPR's All Songs Considered and World Cafe, The Alternative, Ghettoblaster, and American Songwriter. 
 
Kelly wrote this fantastic article: "Cross-Voice Influence: The Relationship Between the Singing Voice and the Songwriting Voice" in the Journal of Singing that you can find here: 
https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/_subscription.html?cmd=dl&file=5ED8qhfwgvNSgDS0LhVqg9NIAa6F_21J-yu2a3hpaKI
Let me know if that links doesn't work for you! I can PDF it or maybe Kelly can! 
We talk about this article, teaching, songwriting, vocal exercises, and so much more. 
Thank you so much, Kelly! And also, I apologize for the wait. 
Hope everyone is safe and finding some little form of happiness. Hugs, 
Kristy 

Happy December, Singers!
I am so proud to present this interview with some of the founder's of Music-For-Change! This is an incredible organization in its first year of life. One of my amazing students, Piper Wallace, is apart of it and once I heard what it was - I knew they just had to come onto the podcast to talk about what they have created. If you are interested in helping them grow, please visit their website: 
www.music-for-change.org 
They could use your help and there are a number of ways to help them. 
Happy holiday season! Remember to think of others this time of year. I hope you enjoy this episode! 

Hello, All! 
It is so good to be back making episodes. I have been trying to find stories of hope, resilience, and strength during these times and I really think you're going to like this one. My friend and colleague from New York Vocal Coaching, Arbender Robinson, has been making the most of his down time to continue to still work on his craft and stay healthy and happy with "Early Morning Vocals." Check out his Instagram to hear for yourself: @arbender2
Listen to this episode and start thinking about a routine you can get into to help stay afloat during this crazy year! Thank you so much, Arbender, for coming on and inspiring people. You do so much good for this world. Thank you.  
 
Find out more about Arbender here:
https://www.arbender.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXmIRP1PcnY&feature=youtu.be
 
Arbender Robinson (Actor) Broadway:  In Transit, Shuffle Along (revival), Les Miserables (revival), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Disney's The Lion King, Book Of Mormon, Hair, Ragtime (revival), Disney's The Little Mermaid, Hairspray. T.V.: The Last O.G., Nurse Jackie, Little Voice, Tony Awards, Good Morning America, The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning. 
He made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award winning production of Hairspray; where he covered the role of Seaweed. In the original cast of Disney’s The Little Mermaid he covered the role of Prince Eric. He also served as the Dance Captain and Swing for the Broadway revival of Hair and was seen in the Broadway revival of Ragtime. His Broadway credits continue with Disney’s The Lion King, Broadway’s 6th longest running and all time highest grossing show. Since then he was in the original cast of Beautiful The Carole King Musical and the 2014 of Les Miserables and is the cover for Marius. He is also the first African American to ever play Marius on Broadway. Arbender starred in the 2016 hit music Shuffle Along alongside many Broadway Legends including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Brandon Victor Dixon and Joshua Henry. The show was Directed by Tony Award Winner George C Wolfe and Choreographed by Savionne Glover.
 
Prior to moving to NYC, Arbender was a featured Vocalist with Royal Caribbean Cruises as well as an actor and vocalist for numerous Disney productions at Walt Disney World. He spent 4 years as a studio session Vocalist for the Disney Organization and can be heard in various parades and attractions worldwide. Arbender also performed extensively in Regional Theater in the US as well as numerous shows abroad including: Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Five Guys Named Moe, Sweeney Todd, Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida, Ragtime, Secret Garden, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Songs for a New World, Parade, Miss Saigon and Into the Woods.
When asked to describe the vocal ability of Arbender, one critic said “clear, effective, killer range of death...and that is a good thing. Look out Billy Porter, Arbender has arrived“ As a teaching artist, Arbender has worked with many organizations around the country and has a very unique teaching style that's accessible to all ages and talent levels. He also works significantly at bringing arts awareness to programs all over the country as well as serving as a huge advocate for Autism awareness and research. You can find more information here by following the link for "Teaching" or you can visit him at the New York Vocal Coaching Studio in Manhattan.  www.NewYorkVocalcoaching.com
Arbender also mentioned a few things to keep his mom happy:“I am a huge advocate for education, the thirst for knowledge, and believing in the power of your dreams. Dream big because sometimes these things can come true. I studied theater, music, dance, and management at Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I have lived and or worked professionally in more states than I can ever recall and I now consider NYC and The Great White Way my home”

Wow, it has been a while! Thank you so much for being patient while I am navigating and juggling a lot of work and life. This is an interview/chat with the wonderfully kind, Jamila Ford. Jamila is the host of "The Working Singer Podcast." This convo goes all the way back to October, I believe. Like I said, life has been crazy. Sometimes a very good crazy. 
You can find out more by checking out Jamila's website:
https://jamilaford.com/home
Jazz/soul singer/songwriter Jamila Ford has garnered attention for her sizable singing chops. Her slight frame belies a bewitchingly powerful yet smooth mezzo-soprano voice that gets your attention and demands a second listen.
 
Majoring in music with an emphasis in vocal performance, Jamila attended the University of California Riverside, graduating with her BA in 2001. Since then, she has performed around the world as a solo artist and as a backing vocalist, lending her talent to the projects of artists such as Seal, Angelo (Fishbone), Melody Gardot, Spiritualized (Coachella Festival), and Bonnie Pointer (The Pointer Sisters). Drawing influences from jazz to R&B to pop, she can give you a history of 50 years of American popular music during one of her sets, with her sultry voice providing the linchpin. 
 
Jamila released her debut EP, the breezy Traces of the Day, in January of 2001; the funky ‘70s R&B-inspired Fabulous EP in 2003; and her first full-length album, the soulful and revealing Enough (a nominee for Independent Music Awards best Soul/R&B album), in October 2010.
 
Her latest EP, the critically-acclaimed The Deep End, was released in September 2014. A collection of reinterpreted standards and an original composition. Jamila’s smoky, sophisticated, and self-assured vocals breathe new life into “All Blues,” “Gentle Rain,” “Sugar,” and “Wild Is the Wind.” Her original composition, “Silencio,” is a strutting Latin-jazz tinged ode to the unspoken connection between lovers.  Says Jamila, "I love music and I love to sing. Music is my genuine path in life. It is the best way for me to give of myself to this world. I sacrifice for it in a way that I do for nothing else. I feel most whole and most connected when I’m on stage singing." 
 
The Deep End was included in the first round of ballots for three GRAMMYs for Best Jazz Vocal Album, Best New Artist and Best Engineered Album and earned raves from critics, who hailed her as "...an exquisite song stylist validating an impressive artistic repertoire with economy and style" (CJ Bond, jazmuzic.com) and proclaimed "Ford is ready to take her place among the elite of sophisticated jazz vocalists" (Paul Freeman, Pop Culture Classics). 
 
An active member of West Coast Songwriters (WCS), Jamila was awarded Hollywood Songwriter of the Year for her song “Not Exactly Perfect” in 2007. She went on to compete at the grand finals alongside the year’s other regional winners at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA.
 
Jamila has played to enthusiastic and supportive audiences at L.A.’s Café Cordiale, Room 5, First and Hope Supper Club, Pips, and Genghis Cohen, and is also excited about her recent foray into performing at house concerts, which gives her a chance to connect with her audience on a more intimate level.
 
Host Jamila's acoustic duo for a house concert! It's easy and fun! Find out more here. 
 
Here's to happy singing! 
Kristy :)

Bonus episode for this week! 
I am getting all fired up over here over the climate change and young activist, Greta Thunberg, being amazing. Have you heard this girl speak yet? 
Hope this reaches you when you need it. I think we all have great power to make a difference. Big or small - it counts. 
Hugs,
K 

Hi again, Friends! 
Here is an episode all about my trip to this really cool museum located in Memphis, Tennessee. I really hope you get to go someday because it really meant a lot to me as a musician. When you are there, you are engulfed in history about where our music came from and its whole journey. Very humbling. 
Here is a link to find out more information on it: 
https://www.memphisrocknsoul.org/
There are so many artists that we have forgotten about. I hope this week's episode will encourage you to take the time to buy some old records and let these artists live again. Many of the artists you know and love today were influenced by the forgotten, so be cool and do some investigating of your own. :) 
I will be posting some pictures of the museum on the Facebook group (The Happy Singer Discussion Group) so you can see some of the jukebox's, costumes, instruments, and records I talk about.
Thanks, as always, for listening to the podcast. : )
K