MasterClass Lady Top 7: Songs from the 21st Century

http://masterclasslady.com/2011/04/21/vocal-masterclass-article-for-american-idol-season-10-top-7-singers-music-from-the-21st-century/

JAMES DURBIN: “Uprising”

Strengths: James – you are full of surprises, aren’t you? Again this was another artistically creative and vocally strong performance. Your visionary approach to this and all your songs is absolutely extraordinary, dare I say, almost genius? Yes, I do! You possess brilliance in your vocal approach and it comes from a very raw, unbridled place that I just love.

I loved the marching drummers; their inclusion in this number was a stroke of genius and catapulted this song to a theatrical level the likes of which we haven’s seen since Adam Lambert hit the stage a couple of years ago.

However, this is not to draw comparisons. It is merely to point out that this kind of performance doesn’t happen too often on the American Idol stage because it is risky and requires a strong, confident performer to pull it off with flair and credibility. And, James, you fit all the criteria and then some! The dramatic and imaginative manner in which you told your story was unique and entertaining. No one could take your eyes off you. We just hopped on the “James Train” and enjoyed the ride!

And when you sang an octave higher in the refrain of this song, it really took my breath away. That’s when I threw my IPad aside and said to myself, “This guy is not for real“. Your voice comes from deep within your soul and you are not afraid to bare every nuance, every level of your vocal range to your listener because you are so in tune with the emotional core of the music.

This was such a dramatic performance, so intrinsically driven and realized. You are truly a remarkable artist.

And, somehow, someway, you have equipped yourself with some wicked technical skills to propel your vocals to stellar heights. The circular mouth, the strong diaphragmatic support, the cohesive approach to your vowels, your strong articulation skills, your God-given musicality – all of these elements are responsible for your strong musical presence this week and every week.

Bravo and Standing “O” from Masterclass Lady! Kudos!

Critique: James – I noticed a problem last week and failed to mention it because it was short-lived during your performance. But, it crept up again and so I must address it.

At the beginning of this song, your lower voice would have benefited from stronger diaphragmatic support and clearer articulation. This week, as in last week, you began each song in your lower voice. Your voice was barely audible, almost breathy. Maybe you were going for a quieter dynamic, but even the softer passages would have benefited from a more intense and focused sound.

Therefore, because so much air was escaping with your vocal sound, your voice lacked presence and clarity. Now, if you had adopted a cleaner approach to your articulation skills, the lyrics would have been more transparent and the crisp enunciation would have created energy and focus to your vocal delivery.

Never short change your lower voice and/or softer dynamic in terms of the correct diaphragmatic approach. And spit out those words – don’t let them fall aimlessly from your mouth when you sing through your lower range. If you correct this problem, then your voice will have even more dimension and, more important, have consistency and purity through every level of your vocal range.

However, congratulations again, James. This was outstanding! Really something special!