I work hard to make better songs and videos, and lately that includes something new: voice lessons. I’m three sessions in with a coach. No overnight transformation, but there’s already movement in the right direction—and a shift in how I work.
Why now
My old workflow went like this: finish writing a song (chords, melody, lyrics), then record it—sometimes within hours. (Sometimes within minutes.) I’d sing each part a handful of times, call it “good enough,” and fix issues digitally with tuning and edits.
Honestly, that approach generally works. Based on the views and streams my songs get, one could argue it is, in fact, “good enough”. But I rarely listen back and think, “Dude… nailed it! ”
I want to change that. I want to feel good about the sounds I make. I want to stand in front of a live audience and not lean on comedy or acting to distract from mediocre singing. I’m not chasing Jeff Buckley-level brilliance, I just want to sing better.
The hand-made pledge
Part of my guiding philosophy is to keep Mister Kipley human and hand-made, especially as AI-generated everything floods our feeds. I want kids to feel in their gut—consciously or not—that a real person is actually singing. I want to show up for the kids. I don’t want to process the life out of a performance, slice phrasing into digital confetti, and auto-tune it until it sounds robotic. It should feel more cabin-in-the-woods than glistening tower of condos.
That doesn’t mean I worship imperfection. There are imperfections, and then there are imperfections, you know what I mean? 😉 My goal is to fix the problems in the performance, not on the computer, so the recording can simply be what it is—and so I can do it live in person.
Modeling a growth mindset
I also want to show myself (and my kids) that learning is lifelong. I may never be called a “beautiful singer.” People enjoy my songs, but I don’t think anyone’s ever complimented my voice. That’s fine. But it doesn’t mean I can’t improve dramatically. The point is a growth mindset: where I am now isn’t where I shall remain henceforth. Singing, musicianship, producing, animating, fitness, parenting, finances—everything can move forward with focused practice.
What I’m changing in my process
- Practice before recording. Build time into the schedule to rehearse vocals before I hit record.
- Daily exercises. Short, consistent vocal routines from my coach. The only way this is going to work is if it’s part of my daily life.
- Better takes. Aim for honest, complete musical performances instead of heavily chopping up vocals and stitching together the best bits. I know a music producer who insists on musicians playing the whole part all the way through to preserve the complete expression, a moment in time. I love that.
- Light-touch editing. Keep phrasing and flow intact; use tools as polish, not crutches.
- Live-ready mindset. If I can’t do it live, it’s not done.
That’s the update. Focus, practice, keep working, and get a little better each project. Even a few weeks in, the combination of exercises, coaching notes, and a less-rushed timeline is already making a difference. It took me 30+ takes to get the vocals I was happy with on our last song, but I did it!