WEBVTT - Singing Secrets of the Stars with Backstage Pass 0:00:15.436 --> 0:00:26.836 Pushkin. Hey, y'all, it's justin Richmond. I wanted to share 0:00:26.876 --> 0:00:29.876 something special with you this week. Eric Vitro was the 0:00:29.956 --> 0:00:34.396 voice coach to the stars from Ariana Grande, DeShawn Mendez 0:00:34.516 --> 0:00:37.596 to John Legend. Eric has been by the sides of 0:00:37.636 --> 0:00:40.756 your favorite singers for some of the most iconic moments 0:00:40.796 --> 0:00:44.076 in their careers. He's the person they call in the 0:00:44.116 --> 0:00:47.796 middle of the night that they want backstage at every concert. 0:00:48.756 --> 0:00:51.396 Given all that, I had to talk to him about 0:00:51.396 --> 0:00:55.996 his new podcast, Backstage Pass. On the show, you'll hear 0:00:56.196 --> 0:01:00.516 intimate conversations with Eric's most famous students about their singing process, 0:01:00.836 --> 0:01:04.196 their careers, and how it all intertwines with their lives, 0:01:05.196 --> 0:01:08.756 like Chloe Bailey's transformation from singing that summer camp to 0:01:08.796 --> 0:01:13.396 sing with Beyonce's label, or Rosaliyah on her work ethic 0:01:13.596 --> 0:01:18.956 and how perfectionism and persistence made her career. They'll demonstrate 0:01:18.996 --> 0:01:22.676 favorite vocal exercises, and you'll get tips to improve your 0:01:22.676 --> 0:01:27.516 own singing through all the challenges these stars have experienced. 0:01:27.676 --> 0:01:30.396 I was amazed by the central role Eric Vitro has 0:01:30.436 --> 0:01:34.836 played through it all. Shaw Mendez said it himself. Eric's 0:01:34.876 --> 0:01:39.036 part therapist, part life coach. You can listen to Backstage 0:01:39.036 --> 0:01:43.156 Pass wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, here's my conversation 0:01:43.436 --> 0:01:46.396 with Eric. Can you tell me how did you get 0:01:46.436 --> 0:01:49.996 into the Sign of work? Well, it's so bizarre. When 0:01:50.076 --> 0:01:52.436 I was very young, like in the third or fourth grade, 0:01:52.636 --> 0:01:54.996 every morning we would sing as a class America, the 0:01:55.036 --> 0:01:59.356 Beautiful Star Spangled Banner, the usual, and the teacher was 0:01:59.396 --> 0:02:05.036 a horrible pianist, like it would bet. It was just terrible. 0:02:05.436 --> 0:02:07.596 And I was not a ballsy kid. I didn't have 0:02:07.676 --> 0:02:10.116 that kind of bold personnelity. But I couldn't take it. 0:02:10.156 --> 0:02:11.716 And I went up to her one day and I said, 0:02:12.516 --> 0:02:14.996 you know, I can play those songs if you want. 0:02:15.116 --> 0:02:17.516 I can play them really well and then you won't 0:02:17.516 --> 0:02:19.836 have to And so she said, well, let me hear you. 0:02:19.876 --> 0:02:22.076 And I played them and she was thrilled. She was 0:02:22.116 --> 0:02:23.996 like great, and she made an announcement the next day 0:02:23.996 --> 0:02:26.396 from now on, Eric Viacho's playing, you know, all of 0:02:26.436 --> 0:02:29.396 our songs. And so that's when it started. I started 0:02:29.396 --> 0:02:31.916 playing for the class and then she would say, oh, 0:02:31.996 --> 0:02:35.116 so and so is having trouble singing this song. Could 0:02:35.156 --> 0:02:37.276 you spend a few minutes with them, like during the 0:02:37.356 --> 0:02:40.516 recess time, so I would I'd start teaching kids songs, 0:02:40.556 --> 0:02:44.076 and then I started bringing them home with me and 0:02:44.116 --> 0:02:45.676 I would work on them if they had a little 0:02:45.676 --> 0:02:48.796 audition for the school musical. And by musical I mean 0:02:48.956 --> 0:02:52.516 you know, a five minute skit and class. So literally, 0:02:52.676 --> 0:02:55.356 I have done nothing else my entire life but this. 0:02:55.956 --> 0:02:58.476 You found your calling early, you've stuck to it, you've 0:02:58.516 --> 0:03:00.756 become incredible at it. But now you do have a 0:03:00.756 --> 0:03:04.556 new job, you're a podcaster. Have you learned anything new 0:03:04.596 --> 0:03:08.236 from that or how's that experience been, Like, well, I 0:03:08.436 --> 0:03:11.076 really don't get to myself a my podcaster or yet 0:03:12.156 --> 0:03:14.796 that's kind of hard, and I'm talking to my students, 0:03:14.796 --> 0:03:16.796 so I talked to every day, so it's not really 0:03:16.836 --> 0:03:21.316 a huge change there a big leap. I've learned that 0:03:21.356 --> 0:03:25.196 it's a lot harder than I ever would have imagined 0:03:25.236 --> 0:03:28.236 it to me. Not the interviews. The interviews are great, 0:03:28.676 --> 0:03:31.276 but you know, you're editing. If you've got two hours 0:03:31.356 --> 0:03:34.556 worth of talking to someone and you get kind of 0:03:34.676 --> 0:03:36.876 excited or married to some of the material and you've 0:03:36.876 --> 0:03:38.356 got to cut it down because they're going, now, I 0:03:38.436 --> 0:03:40.236 got to cut it down to thirty minutes or whatever. 0:03:40.876 --> 0:03:44.356 That is really hard for me. Every fiber of my 0:03:44.436 --> 0:03:47.476 being resists listening. Well, first of all, because I don't 0:03:47.476 --> 0:03:50.276 like the way I sound. I don't enjoy my own 0:03:50.356 --> 0:03:53.076 It's not even just my voice, it's just me talking. 0:03:53.156 --> 0:03:57.116 I go, why can't you be more sophisticated? Now, oh 0:03:57.156 --> 0:03:59.516 so when we do this exercise. But I'm just not 0:03:59.596 --> 0:04:02.036 that person. I just can't be that person. But that 0:04:02.156 --> 0:04:04.596 being said, a couple of the people have said things 0:04:04.596 --> 0:04:06.916 that I didn't even know. As well as I know 0:04:06.996 --> 0:04:09.396 these people. I mean I know some of them so well. 0:04:09.676 --> 0:04:12.476 I've worked with you know, Ariana over twelve years, or 0:04:12.676 --> 0:04:15.956 Shawn Mendez for years, Camilla, so many of the people, 0:04:16.396 --> 0:04:18.716 and they have said sing that surprised me, like even 0:04:18.756 --> 0:04:21.636 what's your favorite exercise? And they'll tell me, Like in 0:04:21.676 --> 0:04:24.556 my head, I'm like, really, I have no idea that 0:04:24.636 --> 0:04:27.236 was your favorite exercise. You've never really said that was 0:04:27.276 --> 0:04:31.476 your favorite exercise. So I am actually learning about these people. 0:04:31.716 --> 0:04:34.516 And I'm also learning about some of them about their 0:04:34.636 --> 0:04:38.396 very early days because I never knew what their childhood 0:04:38.396 --> 0:04:40.516 was like. I know them from when I started with them. 0:04:40.796 --> 0:04:42.596 They might have told me if they took lessons or 0:04:42.636 --> 0:04:46.196 saying in school, but they didn't say, you know, oh 0:04:46.236 --> 0:04:49.596 my father played drums on the side or blah blah blah. 0:04:49.596 --> 0:04:52.276 Most of that doesn't really come up in our voice lessons. 0:04:52.676 --> 0:04:55.236 So I'm learning a bit about them, which has really 0:04:55.276 --> 0:04:58.036 been great. All I've ever done is work with people 0:04:58.476 --> 0:05:02.436 and they're singing. I mean, I truthfully have enjoyed it 0:05:02.636 --> 0:05:06.276 more in increments with every single passing year. Like right now, 0:05:06.476 --> 0:05:08.556 If you asked me when is the best time you've 0:05:08.556 --> 0:05:11.756 ever had doing I would say right now, this month. 0:05:12.036 --> 0:05:14.076 You know, right now, How do you feel that you 0:05:14.116 --> 0:05:17.036 were a better vocal coach now than you were even 0:05:17.076 --> 0:05:20.596 two years ago. Well, first of all, I hear where 0:05:20.596 --> 0:05:23.996 someone is starting from and where they get to. So 0:05:24.876 --> 0:05:27.756 you know, if I hear that constant improvement, if I 0:05:27.836 --> 0:05:30.076 hear their voice mature and sound better and better, if 0:05:30.116 --> 0:05:33.596 I see their range get wider, they start singing higher notes, 0:05:33.716 --> 0:05:36.276 or you know, the lucky ones get up into that 0:05:36.316 --> 0:05:39.956 whistle register, or they sing lower notes deeper and stronger. 0:05:40.156 --> 0:05:43.876 To me, that is the exciting part. I love that. Now. 0:05:44.356 --> 0:05:47.436 Icing on the cake would be that they get good reviews, 0:05:47.796 --> 0:05:49.996 or people stop and tell me, hey, so and so 0:05:50.116 --> 0:05:52.356 is sounding so great, or I saw them on such 0:05:52.396 --> 0:05:54.076 and such a show or the awards show. I heard 0:05:54.116 --> 0:05:56.716 him on the Grammys. They sounded amazing, so of course 0:05:56.876 --> 0:06:01.116 that is thrilling to me. And if they win awards 0:06:01.356 --> 0:06:03.916 for their singing, then of course that's also thrilling. But 0:06:03.996 --> 0:06:06.996 that's all I seen on the cake because, like I said, 0:06:07.036 --> 0:06:08.916 I'm the only one who knows how far they've come, 0:06:09.276 --> 0:06:13.516 the only one who knows the obstacles that they've overcome, 0:06:13.636 --> 0:06:16.516 that they've broken through. Some people have, you know, mental 0:06:16.556 --> 0:06:19.676 barriers that stop them from doing their best. They might 0:06:19.716 --> 0:06:22.916 sound great in a lesson and then freeze in front 0:06:22.916 --> 0:06:24.796 of an audience or freeze in front of a camera. 0:06:25.036 --> 0:06:27.156 So if I can get them over the humps so 0:06:27.236 --> 0:06:29.436 that they are set free and they are able to 0:06:29.436 --> 0:06:32.516 sing their best when it's really important in front of 0:06:32.516 --> 0:06:36.116 an audience, then that to me is really thrilling. I wonder, 0:06:36.396 --> 0:06:39.956 what said some part a great singer from from you 0:06:39.996 --> 0:06:43.876 know average singer? Well, you know, that's a tricky question 0:06:43.956 --> 0:06:49.436 because different singers and singers who are singing in different styles, 0:06:50.116 --> 0:06:53.116 you know, have different goals, I suppose, but I would 0:06:53.156 --> 0:06:55.996 say I try to focus on everything, all of it, 0:06:56.276 --> 0:06:59.236 so always starting with the technical. How can we make 0:06:59.476 --> 0:07:02.876 this sound it's very best, and how can we make 0:07:02.876 --> 0:07:06.076 it the easiest so it's going to be sustainable for 0:07:06.116 --> 0:07:08.996 them to sing live. A lot of times they'll record 0:07:09.156 --> 0:07:11.756 a song and then I go, Okay, my job is 0:07:11.796 --> 0:07:14.156 now to get you to sound as good live as 0:07:14.196 --> 0:07:16.356 you do on the recording and be able to do 0:07:16.396 --> 0:07:18.996 it night after night, and not just night after night, 0:07:19.036 --> 0:07:23.436 but after a full day of interviews, talk shows, meet 0:07:23.476 --> 0:07:27.196 and greets, all sorts of things that they have to do, photoshoots, 0:07:27.236 --> 0:07:29.316 you know, and then get on stage and do it. 0:07:29.716 --> 0:07:31.836 So but I try to focus on everything, so it's 0:07:31.836 --> 0:07:34.596 the technical first, getting it to sound as good as 0:07:34.596 --> 0:07:38.036 it can, making it as easy as possible that you know, 0:07:38.076 --> 0:07:40.916 A big part of technique is for someone to understand 0:07:41.476 --> 0:07:43.956 where do I place it, how do I support it, 0:07:43.996 --> 0:07:45.756 where do I place it so I can get to 0:07:45.836 --> 0:07:48.676 that sweet spot so it sounds really good, so that 0:07:48.716 --> 0:07:51.876 they can access that immediately even when they're nervous or 0:07:51.916 --> 0:07:55.236 they're distracted. That's really important. That's what technique is all about. 0:07:55.636 --> 0:07:59.036 And then once they do that, then I really try 0:07:59.036 --> 0:08:01.036 to work on how can you really get to the 0:08:01.036 --> 0:08:04.036 heart of the song, because even if you've written it yourself, 0:08:04.076 --> 0:08:07.716 you sing it, you know, in front of people, sometimes 0:08:07.796 --> 0:08:09.876 a lot of the emotion goes out the window because 0:08:10.076 --> 0:08:12.076 you're nervous. You're looking out at the front row and 0:08:12.076 --> 0:08:14.796 you're seeing all these famous people like in an award show, 0:08:15.076 --> 0:08:17.276 you know, people you might really look up to, people 0:08:17.276 --> 0:08:20.436 who you've idolized, and that's nerve wracking. So I always say, 0:08:20.716 --> 0:08:22.476 let's really try to get to the heart of it. 0:08:22.516 --> 0:08:25.596 What are these lyrics saying? What were you thinking when 0:08:25.636 --> 0:08:27.956 you did write them, or if you didn't write them, 0:08:28.956 --> 0:08:31.396 How can you make this so you really feel like 0:08:31.436 --> 0:08:34.916 you did even though so and so rodem these really 0:08:34.956 --> 0:08:37.876 belong to me? Now? Is there an episode of the 0:08:37.916 --> 0:08:42.476 podcast where you talk about breakthrough moments? Yeah? Yeah, there's 0:08:42.516 --> 0:08:46.436 a couple, you know, I mean, it's interesting each one. 0:08:46.796 --> 0:08:49.476 We talk about some similar things and then some different things, 0:08:49.636 --> 0:08:52.996 you know, like Camila Cabello actually gives an example of 0:08:53.116 --> 0:08:55.316 there was a line in a song that she just 0:08:55.316 --> 0:08:57.716 couldn't hit the note. She would really tense up, get 0:08:57.756 --> 0:09:00.316 really tight, and then she talks about how the things 0:09:00.316 --> 0:09:02.836 we talked about, the techniques we use to relax her 0:09:02.916 --> 0:09:07.156 so that then she could hit the note freely and easily. So, yeah, 0:09:07.196 --> 0:09:09.996 We do talk about those things because you know, some 0:09:10.076 --> 0:09:12.356 of it's mental, some of it's physical. You know, some 0:09:12.436 --> 0:09:15.156 of it's just getting better breadth support, some of it 0:09:15.276 --> 0:09:19.356 is realigning your posture, and some of it is just mentally. 0:09:20.036 --> 0:09:23.676 What is going to help you? What can you think 0:09:23.756 --> 0:09:26.196 that's going to help you hit this note? Can you 0:09:26.556 --> 0:09:32.076 pretty quickly tell where a person needs the most help? Usually, yes, 0:09:32.356 --> 0:09:37.116 very quickly. However, sometimes it reveals itself a little more slowly. 0:09:37.596 --> 0:09:40.236 You know, once I start to get to know someone, 0:09:40.276 --> 0:09:44.556 then I start getting into you know, their world and 0:09:44.756 --> 0:09:47.556 what it is, what makes them nervous, what makes them happy, 0:09:47.636 --> 0:09:51.196 what makes them feel free, what doesn't. So I would 0:09:51.236 --> 0:09:54.436 say usually I can get it pretty quickly, but then 0:09:54.636 --> 0:09:57.116 as time goes on, I get to those deeper levels. 0:09:57.276 --> 0:10:00.436 Got it. I'm amazed how much you talk about the 0:10:00.476 --> 0:10:03.676 emotional and mental work of singing. You know, well, I 0:10:03.716 --> 0:10:05.756 think it's just a huge part of it. You know, 0:10:06.236 --> 0:10:08.716 our emotions really affect our voice. Just think about it. 0:10:08.756 --> 0:10:10.956 If you're telling someone, let's say you're going to break 0:10:11.036 --> 0:10:13.356 up with someone and it's really gonna be hard because 0:10:13.356 --> 0:10:15.396 you really care about that person, but it's just not 0:10:15.436 --> 0:10:18.876 working out. You know, they really love you. They don't 0:10:18.916 --> 0:10:20.396 want to break up. This is going to come as 0:10:20.436 --> 0:10:25.036 a real shock and just devastate them. So you might 0:10:25.076 --> 0:10:27.756 start talking and you get choked up. You can't even talk, 0:10:27.916 --> 0:10:31.636 you know. Well, that is just one example of how 0:10:31.676 --> 0:10:34.436 our emotions affect our voice. So you can imagine someone 0:10:34.516 --> 0:10:37.756 really nervous, everything might constrict and get tight and their 0:10:37.836 --> 0:10:41.396 voice might not come out, you know, and or someone 0:10:41.476 --> 0:10:44.316 I've seen the opposite where someone is so relaxed and 0:10:44.436 --> 0:10:48.996 feel so confident, but once again, it's devoid of that urgency. 0:10:49.156 --> 0:10:52.876 It's devoid. Like John Legend on my podcast talked about 0:10:52.956 --> 0:10:55.756 the difference between you know, having a great voice, but 0:10:55.876 --> 0:11:02.236 singing with urgency and singing with sincerity and really making 0:11:02.276 --> 0:11:05.356 it an emotional moment as opposed to just oh it's 0:11:05.356 --> 0:11:08.476 a beautiful moment. That's a beautiful voice. That's interesting. I 0:11:08.476 --> 0:11:10.956 feel like if I think about John Legend's career, I 0:11:10.996 --> 0:11:13.636 do feel like he sings with a bit more urgency 0:11:13.716 --> 0:11:15.796 than and I love his early work as well. I 0:11:15.876 --> 0:11:20.276 love all of it. That first album he did it 0:11:20.396 --> 0:11:22.196 was very like, I mean, you're like, man, this guy 0:11:22.316 --> 0:11:25.076 is comfortable, you know, like he is well, yeah, I 0:11:25.116 --> 0:11:29.756 think he's an example of someone who is cool and 0:11:29.836 --> 0:11:33.316 confident and yet does have a really big heart, and 0:11:33.316 --> 0:11:36.236 so that comes through and when he sings those all 0:11:36.276 --> 0:11:38.436 of me. You know, of course he wrote it for 0:11:38.476 --> 0:11:40.476 his wife, so that's a big part of it that 0:11:40.516 --> 0:11:42.956 he's thinking of her. But you know, when I hear 0:11:43.036 --> 0:11:45.916 that song, I just melt. I just think it's so beautiful. 0:11:46.156 --> 0:11:49.116 And it's not just because his voice sounds beautiful, but 0:11:49.156 --> 0:11:52.076 it's you can tell he really means it. He really 0:11:52.156 --> 0:11:54.916 means all of those words. And I think when people 0:11:55.556 --> 0:11:59.876 can really get into that space, they almost lose themselves 0:11:59.876 --> 0:12:02.196 that it's almost not for the audience anymore. They're just 0:12:02.316 --> 0:12:05.436 living it at that moment. They're living in that moment 0:12:07.556 --> 0:12:11.556 when someone like John Legend, Indoor, Ariana Grande or Mariah 0:12:11.636 --> 0:12:14.396 Carey might come through your doors looking to work on something. 0:12:14.436 --> 0:12:18.636 I mean, like these are like world class singers, like 0:12:19.036 --> 0:12:23.396 they can sing. You know, what do you work on 0:12:23.476 --> 0:12:25.196 with people? Well, let me ask you. Have you ever 0:12:25.236 --> 0:12:28.756 watched a boxing match ever? And you're like, Okay, have 0:12:28.836 --> 0:12:31.196 you ever said what is the trainer doing there in 0:12:31.236 --> 0:12:33.636 the corner? What's he whispering in his ear? The bottom 0:12:33.676 --> 0:12:36.676 line is, look, these people a lot of these people 0:12:36.676 --> 0:12:38.676 and these people you've mentioned that I work with it's 0:12:38.716 --> 0:12:42.196 Ariana John Whatever. They're great, There's no question about it. 0:12:42.196 --> 0:12:45.596 They're not great because of me. They're great. However, when 0:12:45.596 --> 0:12:48.116 you have a coach, it's too how can I best 0:12:48.156 --> 0:12:52.076 maintain my instrument? How can I work on my instrument? 0:12:52.236 --> 0:12:55.116 So it's better than ever, So it's highly tuned. I mean, 0:12:55.196 --> 0:12:57.756 you can get the most expensive car on the planet, 0:12:57.916 --> 0:12:59.956 you still got to get a tune up. You know, 0:12:59.996 --> 0:13:02.356 you still got to rotate those tires. So that's what 0:13:02.436 --> 0:13:05.316 I'm doing. I'm tuning up, I'm rotating the tires, I'm 0:13:05.396 --> 0:13:09.196 keeping it in shape. I'm helping them. Sometimes it's just 0:13:09.396 --> 0:13:12.436 remember the things to do because they might forget they 0:13:12.436 --> 0:13:16.356 have a lot going on. Or I try to inspire 0:13:16.436 --> 0:13:19.996 them with different exercises, new and different ones so they're 0:13:19.996 --> 0:13:21.996 not doing the same one, so they're working their voice 0:13:21.996 --> 0:13:25.236 in a different way. That usually really excites people. But 0:13:25.356 --> 0:13:27.436 like I said, no one ever thinks twice about a 0:13:27.476 --> 0:13:32.196 sports coach being around. So I think everybody needs an 0:13:32.196 --> 0:13:36.116 outside ear and an outside eye that they can trust 0:13:36.716 --> 0:13:39.876 that says, oh that's great, do it like that? You know, 0:13:39.916 --> 0:13:41.796 I think that could be a little bit better. Ladies 0:13:41.796 --> 0:13:45.796 and gentlemen, the world's best vocal coach. Thank you for 0:13:46.316 --> 0:13:51.876 know the one of not the justin. This has been 0:13:51.916 --> 0:13:54.916 so great. I've really enjoyed it. Take care, Thanks man bye. 0:13:55.236 --> 0:13:57.596 Thanks so much to Eric for coming on Broken Record 0:13:57.676 --> 0:14:00.276 to talk about his new show. Now, I want to 0:14:00.316 --> 0:14:03.436 give you a sample of Backstage Pass. In this episode, 0:14:03.716 --> 0:14:06.596 Ariana grond It talks to Eric about her vocal range, 0:14:06.996 --> 0:14:11.316 how Broadway influences her music touring, and the struggles of 0:14:11.396 --> 0:14:14.036 perfect pitch and how can be both a blessing and 0:14:14.156 --> 0:14:18.396 a curse. You can hear more Backstage Pass episodes wherever 0:14:18.436 --> 0:14:22.436 you get your podcasts. Here's the episode. I had asked 0:14:22.436 --> 0:14:24.996 you which was your favorite vocal exercises, and you said 0:14:24.996 --> 0:14:27.636 the roller coasters up and down. Can you give an 0:14:27.676 --> 0:14:34.716 example of that so people know what you were talking about. Oh, okay, 0:14:34.796 --> 0:14:43.276 aim high on the low note, very quiet? He well, perfect, 0:14:43.556 --> 0:14:46.916 much better, much better better. I needed to stretch it out. 0:14:47.476 --> 0:14:51.156 That was Ariana Grande singing. She may be world famous 0:14:51.196 --> 0:14:54.436 for her spectacular voice, but that's really just one part 0:14:54.476 --> 0:14:57.396 of who she is. She's also one of the sweetest 0:14:57.396 --> 0:14:59.876 and most caring people I know. So when I asked 0:14:59.876 --> 0:15:01.876 her if she'd be down to demonstrate how a voice 0:15:01.916 --> 0:15:08.196 lesson works. She said, sure, which is a good. Whatever 0:15:08.196 --> 0:15:14.636 you want there, Let's try this on a wee wee 0:15:14.796 --> 0:15:18.516 wee wee wee wee. Then I might say, give it 0:15:18.556 --> 0:15:21.756 a little more support on the high note. Wee wee 0:15:21.756 --> 0:15:26.316 wee wee wee. Now just to loosen up your shoulders. 0:15:27.676 --> 0:15:34.316 Wee wee wee wee wee more, Oh my gosh, we 0:15:34.556 --> 0:15:41.476 we wee wee wee. You're probably more familiar with hearing 0:15:41.556 --> 0:15:45.996 her singing songs than exercises songs like positions dangerous woman, 0:15:46.276 --> 0:15:48.916 thank you, next, God is a woman? You know. There's 0:15:48.916 --> 0:15:50.796 a lot of hits in there, so I won't keep 0:15:50.876 --> 0:15:53.676 going with that. You might have grown up with her 0:15:53.676 --> 0:15:57.076 on Nickelodeon, where she played the adorable book shall we say, 0:15:57.276 --> 0:16:01.276 very dimwitted Cat Valentine on the show Victorious, or you 0:16:01.436 --> 0:16:03.836 might have actually seen her on Broadway, where she first 0:16:03.916 --> 0:16:10.836 got her start in the musical Thirteen Day. And then 0:16:10.916 --> 0:16:13.116 if I thought, well, she's sounded a little not you, 0:16:13.196 --> 0:16:15.636 because you don't ever get stiff. But let's say something 0:16:15.836 --> 0:16:19.516 was feeling stiff or whatever, I'd say, hey, move around 0:16:19.676 --> 0:16:23.916 loosen up your body a little bit. I'm so stubborn 0:16:23.956 --> 0:16:25.716 when you ask me to move, I'm always like, I 0:16:25.796 --> 0:16:31.436 don't want to flail around. He I'm waving my arms now, 0:16:31.516 --> 0:16:34.596 just so everyone can visualize. Yeah, it's not just stubborn 0:16:34.716 --> 0:16:41.236 on that. Hey, There's been times when I've given you 0:16:41.276 --> 0:16:43.876 an exercise and you I told someone this one time. 0:16:43.876 --> 0:16:46.036 I said, Yeah. There's times I'll say I'll play in 0:16:46.156 --> 0:16:49.276 it and you'll go I'm literally like, Eric, that's insane. 0:16:50.276 --> 0:16:54.876 It'll literally be like no, no, no, no, no, no no, 0:16:57.956 --> 0:17:00.956 And I'm like, Eric, that's seventy eight notes. I don't 0:17:00.996 --> 0:17:03.156 have time that's a whole or have to sing God 0:17:03.196 --> 0:17:05.276 as a woman in four minutes. I don't have this 0:17:05.436 --> 0:17:11.956 kind of time, babe. This is backstage pass. I'm Eric Vitro. 0:17:16.436 --> 0:17:19.596 In this podcast, I'm inviting you into my studio to 0:17:19.716 --> 0:17:22.236 hear how some of the most successful and famous singers 0:17:22.316 --> 0:17:25.276 work on their craft, the art of singing. They also 0:17:25.356 --> 0:17:27.396 happen to be students of mine, so I have to 0:17:27.476 --> 0:17:30.316 say I know them pretty well. We'll talk about everything 0:17:30.556 --> 0:17:34.196 their vocal process, their careers, how their emotional life affects 0:17:34.276 --> 0:17:37.676 their voice, and how it all intertwines with their lives. 0:17:39.876 --> 0:17:42.596 For me, being a vocal coach is all about listening 0:17:42.756 --> 0:17:45.476 and thinking on my feet. I ask a student to 0:17:45.556 --> 0:17:48.836 do a vocal exercise, and then how their voice responds 0:17:48.956 --> 0:17:52.396 determines what the next exercise should be. I have to 0:17:52.436 --> 0:17:54.796 ask myself a lot of questions along the way. How 0:17:54.836 --> 0:17:57.116 does their voice sound at that moment, or how did 0:17:57.156 --> 0:18:00.316 it react to the exercise. What I hear tells me 0:18:00.436 --> 0:18:03.676 what my student needs at that moment. I'm so glad 0:18:03.716 --> 0:18:06.316 we just did that because now people can understand that's 0:18:06.356 --> 0:18:10.316 how a voice lesson works. I've learned by doing it, 0:18:10.556 --> 0:18:12.916 because you're now singing an a cappella. I think it 0:18:12.996 --> 0:18:16.556 improves people's ears because they're really hearing themselves. Oh yeah, 0:18:16.636 --> 0:18:18.676 it's not fun. Yeah, and they're singing along with the 0:18:18.756 --> 0:18:22.156 piano they don't even know, like the little tiny things 0:18:22.196 --> 0:18:24.796 where it goes a little in and out. Arianna and 0:18:24.916 --> 0:18:27.716 I have been working together for over fourteen years now, 0:18:27.916 --> 0:18:30.196 well maybe even more. I think we met in two 0:18:30.276 --> 0:18:33.356 thousand and seven. We don't always spend all of our 0:18:33.436 --> 0:18:35.636 time with singing lessons, though, I mean we've had some 0:18:35.836 --> 0:18:40.316 great conversations and we've spent some really fun holidays together. Guys, 0:18:40.436 --> 0:18:47.316 we painted each other mugg Are we okay? Yeah? I 0:18:47.396 --> 0:18:50.956 think we are okay because it was really fun, no surprise. 0:18:51.076 --> 0:18:54.556 The one she painted was gorgeous and amazing and creative, 0:18:55.076 --> 0:18:58.276 and mine was okay. But let's rewind. Let's go back 0:18:58.356 --> 0:19:02.276 to the beginning, because of course her journey started before hours, 0:19:02.356 --> 0:19:07.436 did Now, didn't your grandmother take you to your first audition? Yeah? 0:19:07.516 --> 0:19:10.636 So Nona took me to audition to sing the national 0:19:10.676 --> 0:19:14.756 anthem at the Panthers game. That was a really cool moment. 0:19:14.956 --> 0:19:19.036 I remember singing on the ice and being freezing cold, 0:19:19.796 --> 0:19:22.716 and it was like my first real gig. And I 0:19:22.836 --> 0:19:28.316 sang the national anthem for the Panthers, my hometown, Florida's 0:19:28.836 --> 0:19:44.276 hockey team. Oh say, can you see Bye Thesy At 0:19:44.356 --> 0:19:46.556 this point, she's only eight years old, but if you 0:19:46.716 --> 0:19:49.716 could see her, watch her when she sings this. She 0:19:49.796 --> 0:19:52.596 has this beautiful look in her eyes, and she's already 0:19:52.636 --> 0:19:55.796 connected with the audience. You can really predict she's going 0:19:55.836 --> 0:19:58.916 to go somewhere with this singing thing. And it was 0:19:58.956 --> 0:20:00.516 so fun because I used to go to the games 0:20:00.516 --> 0:20:03.076 all the time anyway as a kid. My parents would 0:20:03.116 --> 0:20:05.996 take me and I had really bad luck. I was 0:20:06.156 --> 0:20:09.836 hit by the puck like twice, and so I got 0:20:09.916 --> 0:20:13.996 to ride the zamboni like because they felt bad because 0:20:14.076 --> 0:20:16.516 my wrist was like broken and mangled, and I was 0:20:16.556 --> 0:20:21.396 like sad. So I was already a huge Panthers fan 0:20:21.636 --> 0:20:23.876 growing up, so getting to sing and having that be 0:20:24.036 --> 0:20:26.916 my first like real gig kind of was so sweet 0:20:26.996 --> 0:20:29.556 and so special and so yeah, it was really cool. 0:20:29.716 --> 0:20:31.956 And I remember finishing and being like, I want to 0:20:31.956 --> 0:20:35.076 do it again, only you would get hit to. No, 0:20:35.916 --> 0:20:39.036 that is my total luck. That really set the pace here. 0:20:39.276 --> 0:20:43.836 It sure did. But really, Arianna says the bar high 0:20:43.876 --> 0:20:46.556 with everything she does. I mean, have you heard this 0:20:46.636 --> 0:20:49.396 girl saying I Have Nothing? By Whitney Houston. It's one 0:20:49.436 --> 0:20:52.836 of the hardest pop songs there is. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 0:20:52.876 --> 0:20:56.076 I love that song. That's always one of my favorites. 0:20:56.236 --> 0:20:58.196 That was one of our first songs that we did 0:20:58.276 --> 0:21:00.476 together when we had our one of our first lessons, right, 0:21:00.876 --> 0:21:03.956 yeah exactly. I remember I always think of you with 0:21:04.116 --> 0:21:06.196 that song and how great it was. I think it's 0:21:06.276 --> 0:21:08.036 one of the best songs ever written. I love that 0:21:08.156 --> 0:21:10.476 song so much. And then when David Foster came and 0:21:10.596 --> 0:21:12.636 played the piano for you that night. I remember it. 0:21:14.116 --> 0:21:17.436 For anyone who doesn't know, David Foster is a hugely 0:21:17.596 --> 0:21:22.036 successful songwriter and producer. His really long, long list of 0:21:22.076 --> 0:21:26.316 collaborations includes artists like Slean, diond Whitney, Houston, Michael Boblet. 0:21:26.436 --> 0:21:29.436 The list is endless. That was so insane. I remember 0:21:29.716 --> 0:21:32.956 being like so in awe and just so shook that 0:21:33.076 --> 0:21:35.836 that happened. This was obviously a way later for those 0:21:35.956 --> 0:21:38.876 listening who don't know the context. This was after thirteen 0:21:39.036 --> 0:21:41.476 and after I met Eric and he had introduced me 0:21:41.556 --> 0:21:43.116 to David and I got to sing it with him, 0:21:43.796 --> 0:21:49.756 and that was a really cool thing. That was at 0:21:49.796 --> 0:21:51.676 the Forum. But you're also saying it at my house 0:21:51.756 --> 0:21:55.396 at parties. The only parties, just for context, that I've 0:21:55.436 --> 0:21:57.076 ever been to in my entire life, have all been 0:21:57.156 --> 0:22:01.596 Eric Vitro parties. That's just so everyone knows. I have 0:22:01.716 --> 0:22:04.236 been to four parties in my life and they've all 0:22:04.276 --> 0:22:07.956 been Eric Vitro parties. Not true, it is. I promise 0:22:08.156 --> 0:22:10.436 they were the best. It's so much fun. There's always 0:22:10.436 --> 0:22:13.356 so much music and so much singing and great company. 0:22:13.476 --> 0:22:17.116 So I gotta tell you, there's something really so special 0:22:17.156 --> 0:22:19.996 about seeing Ariana sing in an intimate setting, you know, 0:22:20.156 --> 0:22:23.196 in a house or in a backyard at a small party. 0:22:23.276 --> 0:22:25.396 Of course, not all of the parties we had were 0:22:25.436 --> 0:22:27.876 small and cozy. For one of them that her mom, 0:22:27.996 --> 0:22:31.076 Joan and I threw together, we actually crammed about three 0:22:31.196 --> 0:22:33.916 hundred people in a gigantic tent we put up covering 0:22:33.996 --> 0:22:37.596 my tennis court. We brought in all white sofas and chairs. 0:22:37.956 --> 0:22:40.596 We placed a gorgeous grand piano right in the center 0:22:40.676 --> 0:22:43.116