by Sophie Curran

When you start your singing career you might not have any of your own songs to sing. If you do not sing your own material, that’s ok, but try to choose your songs carefully.

Choose songs that suit your voice, your style and range. If you have a soft or gentle voice if would not be wise to sing hugely powered vocals like a Mariah Carey just because you admire her!

Remember that there are many different types of singers and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. When you choose a song, it is far better to sing something within your own vocal ability. If you are just starting your singing career, sing within your ability but be passionate about what you have and what you can personally bring to the arena.

If you choose to sing someone else’s song then remember that people are already familiar with how it “should” sound so you need to either interpret the song in a totally different way or at least match or better the original performance.

Choose a song that looks believable coming from you! People should be able to relate to the lyrics as sung by you. It would look a little silly if a 16 year old was singing about getting a divorce and being all alone!

People often ask; “Is it is bad for me to sing another artist’s songs?” The answer is yes and no. Listening to and mimicking other singers can help you in developing different tones.

Listening to and exploring the “roots” of your music genre (be it pop, soul, jazz, rap, country or rock) can be very helpful. Most modern day artists have been influenced by the music of those before them. Talented people take that influence and, using creativity, come up with something unique. What you should avoid doing is copying the whole performance of another artist. As you progress in your singing career,keep working on developing your own identity.

Record companies often say they are looking for someone with the “X factor”. The X factor is a combination of different qualities that make up the unique identity of an artist. No record company is going to want a copycat artist so you evetually need to find your own sound.

Sounding identical to a well known singer is fine if you are a karaoke singer or want to work with a cover band but if you really want to further your singing career it is important to choose the right songs for your voice and develop your own unique identity. Be patient. It will take a little time but keep honing your skills, have confidence in yourself and enjoy the journey!

About the Author

Sophie Curran is a singer and chief editor at “The Sing Studio.com” where you can find more free articles and advice. How to start your singing career, how to promote yourself, record your songs and sell your music online. To learn more visit http://thesingstudio.com

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