Bad Vocal Habits are not Artistry

Many people (like I used to) mistake bad vocal habits for artistry. Eg. Wobbling vibrato, or slurring up to a higher note.

Technically, if you CANNOT control when you do NOT want to have them, then they are simply bad habits. A sound in singing, is only mastery when we know how to add, or remove, as we intend.

We require technique, using the right muscles, when we train how to NOT have wobbling vibrato, or slurs when we don't want to. And there are many reasons why we don't - for artistry.

Don't conflate sounds that lack technique, with artistry.

I've met unicorns who instinctively know which parts of the lyrics to put glottal fry, glottal stops, where to insert a bit more breath in front OR at the back of a selected word, so that these bring out the intention of the words OR phrasing better.

But KNOWING these does not mean that the person CAN produce a good TONE with STABILITY.

A good tone, is never muffled/ muddy; and good singing is never slurred up (unless with real intentions for artistry at selected places).

If you learn singing, you must know what is a good tone, and it usually involves resonance, articulation using the tongue, lips, palate, teeth; and most importantly, the correct breath support that gives your voice stability not just in your singing, but also clearly felt in your physical body.

The correct breath support should make you feel more and more supple with sufficient air as you train over time. Without any tension.

Also bear in mind that artistry is not technique, and technique is not artistry.

We all have to train for technique before we talk about artistry, because the dangerous thing is to conflate the two and not kno what exactly we are training for.