Prioritise Vocal Health, Preserve Voice Identity - Syafinaz

By Marfika Adnan Haris Fadzilah

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- The tendency among singers to pursue performance opportunities without considering their vocal health calls for greater awareness of proper voice care, said popular singer and vocal coach Datuk Syafinaz Selamat.

She said the voice is an instrument that is highly  susceptible to damage if continually overworked.

“When the voice is pushed too hard, there is a real risk of damage that may be irreversible. Everyone needs to understand a singer’s need for rest and physical limits.

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“If rest is needed, then you must rest. Maintaining vocal health is a vital prerequisite for a long and consistent artistic career,” she told Bernama.

Commenting on a singer’s vocal identity, the Ingin Bersamamu singer stressed that every performer must have a distinct identity that sets them apart from others.

Syafinaz said vocal identity is not merely about having a pleasant sound, but also reflects an artiste’s uniqueness and personality. Without a clear identity, listeners may find it difficult to recognise or remember a singer, and their voice may end up sounding like an imitation of someone else.

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“If you close your eyes and listen, you should be able to tell whose voice it is. There was a time when everyone wanted to be (Datuk Seri) Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, but when you listened, it wasn’t her voice.

“Pop singers sometimes develop the habit of imitating the original singer of a song. So the question is, who are you really? Today you want to sound like Mariah Carey, tomorrow like P. Ramlee. We want to know who you are,” she said.

She added that a strong vocal identity also serves as a signature that helps a singer stand out and be recognised.

-- BERNAMA