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Lost my Mojo :(
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Author:  Nlouch [ Thu May 22, 2008 5:29 am ]
Post subject:  Lost my Mojo :(
I used to really love singing, but was not great.  That was mostly because my voice was still developing, and I was singing too high.

Over the last 5 years, singing on a weekly basis, I got good.  Not "Wow" but good enough that people would ask me, stop and listen, you know?

I got more daring with my songs, moving from easy ballads to some Metallica, Creed and even to some tricky stuff like Scissor Sisters (higher notes).

I recently had some severe facial trauma, a week in hospital, 8 weeks rehab.  I now "look" absolutely fine though.

But something has changed.  And I don't know what.  I don't sound like I used to.  Admittedly I am currently missing 3 teeth (plate soon), but should that really effect my voice?

Moreover, I lost some comfidence, and now when I hear myself, more confidence in my singing is going.

It sounds lame, but I'm really upset by this.  Am thinking of booking a course of singing lessons, for no other purpose than to get re-trained on how to use my voice and get a little confidence.

Part of me thinks "When the teeth are replaced it will be fine", but I dunno :(
Author:  Rising_Phoenix [ Thu May 22, 2008 5:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
Based on what you've said, your voice probably hasn't changed; but how you hear yourself probably has. Without getting much more technical information, some of your vocal resonators (including missing teeth) have been significantly affected which will cause minor changes in the way you sound; this difference will be a lot more noticiable to you than to anyone else. And unless you had any damage to your larynx, vocal chords, or other part of your vocal tract, your voice should not have changed.

Also, if you haven't been practicing over the 8-week period, you my have lost an edge; but that should come back soon with a bit of practice. Kind of like an athlete who has been out of training for an extended period.

Hope this helps. Also, my best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Author:  Nlouch [ Thu May 22, 2008 5:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
Thank you.  This is the thing, I am getting the same reaction from people, but I sound different to me.

I certainly put a lot of it down to confidence, and moreover I am not currently pushing myself to reach the notes I used to - mainly because I don't want to put too much stress on my jaw just yet.

I did have a pipe down my throat but only for a few hours supplying air while I was being operated on (jaw).  So my actual vocal ability should (if I pushed myself as I used to) be the same.

Another factor is that I never used to sing when stone cold sober.  Now I am avoiding alcohol while working, as my tolerance has dropped (liquid diet of 8 weeks does weird things to the body).
Author:  ericlater [ Thu May 22, 2008 6:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
since you seem to be getting the same reaction to your singng, i'll go with rising_phoenix excellent diagnosis.  good work dr house
Author:  Nlouch [ Thu May 22, 2008 6:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
Quote:
since you seem to be getting the same reaction to your singng


Yeah, still can't get them to stop throwing the rotten veg.

Sometimes it's still in the cans too :(

I guess I just need to get my confidence back, have more fun with it again.
Author:  Bill H. [ Thu May 22, 2008 7:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
The more you continue to sing in sobriety the more your confidence will return. And the better you will sing. It takes time to learn how to do things without the crutch of alcohol. Been there...
Author:  Nlouch [ Thu May 22, 2008 7:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
100% agreed.  I guess all I have done is taken a sep back by a few years, so just gotta get back to where I was.

Also, I should point out - I don't get "drunk" and sing, just to the point I am comfortable.  Morever, it's not a case of "I think I sound better after a few drinks".  I honestly do, just become a little more loose :)
Author:  Bill H. [ Thu May 22, 2008 8:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
So OK I'll leave my own personal battle with alcohol out of this and just talk about my singers.

They all think they sing better after a few.

Practically none of them do. They all lose some timing, intonation, or both.

The only real exception I have is a guy (with a great voice BTW) who is so shy that he'll sing in a whisper until he loosens up.

Now I don't know your situation so I'm not suggesting that you not drink, but for the time being I think you will be OK as soon as you get comfortable onstage without a few under your belt. That's assuming that your mouth can handle it if you sing with the volume you did before your incident.

Speedy recovery Nlouch. :)  It sounds like whatever you went through was terrible.
Author:  Nlouch [ Thu May 22, 2008 8:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
You are 100% right.  I don't need the alcohol, I need to loosen up.  Just that the alcohol helps it, as does anotehr substance I used to use (but no longer do).

And I know the cliche of "I sing better", but I have been told I do many times - to the point of the comment "Have a few beers, you chill a lot more then!".  But hey.

As for what I went through - we all go through things, and hey I hit 30 before I ever damaged myself.  Everyone else seems to make worse of it than me,  I just see it as a trial that I overcame, and morevoer a heads-up to a few things :)
Author:  Catseyeview [ Thu May 22, 2008 8:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
Having also suffered from a jaw injury several years ago I definitely relate to what you're going through.

Many people don't realize the severity of this kind of injury as many times it can affect other areas:  the nerves that are between your jawbone and your skull run through your whole body and therefore can leave you with a whole slew of ailments/symptoms you never experienced before (including sinuses and ears, sounds like part of your residual problem).  I lost my voice for over a year and had to learn to sing over again.

The main thing you need to do is have patience with yourself which isn't an easy thing to do.  Pace yourself and hopefully you'll be back to yourself soon.  I'm living proof it can happen :handshake:
Author:  Babs [ Thu May 22, 2008 10:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
I feel for you - I'd give it some time and don't be so hard on yourself. Your body has been through a trama and is probably still healing itself.
Author:  Karen K [ Thu May 22, 2008 12:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
It is said that the body begins to lose its great youthful resilience starting at age 30 - Head trauma is often VERY long to resolve and if you had your jaw wired (which I seem to recall you mentioned a while back?) for any length of time at all, your jaw is still going to be recovering from that. Your voice will sound different because in all probability, there is slightly different jaw movement secondary to trauma. I had to have a tooth pulled from my left lower jaw, which I have not replaced yet,  and it has made a difference in my voice to me - I have asked others if they hear it and they don't.  So, you'll probably get back to where you were, but it may take another six mos. Relax, don't worry about it. You've come a long way already ... Understand about the feeling, though - our singing is such a part of who we are.

k
Author:  seattledrizzle [ Thu May 22, 2008 1:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
Sounds like you went through some real trauma.  Best wishes in a speedy recovery.  I would think if you're missing three teeth, it would affect your singing just because everything feels so different, and it might take awhile to "relearn" how things used to be.   I suspect things will improve enough that after awhile your new self will be like your old self. :drunk:   In the meantime, you are probably your own worst enemy.  Don't worry too much about how you sound.  We are often our own worst enemy, and if we don't like our own singing, that's when it shows!  Singing karaoke in a bar...should never be a source of stress.
Author:  mckyj57 [ Thu May 22, 2008 1:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
Sometimes you can end up hearing yourself *better*. I had a septoplasty (straighten deviated septum from broken nose) and it changed the way I heard myself -- for the better.

Keep plugging. I am sure you realize, having sang for a number of years, that singing is not a science but a bit of an art. You will develop subtle feelings of how to regain your former control, and it will get better.

You might try taking lessons, too. Sometimes a third party can see stuff that you can't from your perspective. Most voice teachers are surprisingly affordable.
Author:  Nlouch [ Thu May 22, 2008 2:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lost my Mojo :(
Thanks everyone :)  I have just been messing with my hardware and had to sing in a flat environment (no amp, just getting recording levels) and I sound pretty much the same as I did before in such an environment.

I am being a bit harsh on myself I guess.  But as has been said - It's part of who I am, singing!

But yeah, I should probably take the trauma a little more seriously than I do! LOL
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