Every day the Internet is full of advice for guitarists, keyboardists, DJ's, drummers, and engineers, but the one that gets overlooked all the time is the singer. I'm always on the lookout for anything that might help a singer, especially in the studio, when I came across the products of
Superior Vocal Health. I thought about doing a special post on the products, but then it occured to me that it might be better to go to the source and interview the man behind the products -
David Aaron Katz.
What led you to create your products?
I have been singing opera, Broadway and popular music internationally, as well as teaching and coaching singers of all styles for about twenty years. Throughout my career, I have always been super conscious about how I used my voice and what is good or bad for my instrument.
I have always been interested in and concerned with nutrition and natural living i.e., herbs and diet and a clear mind and heart. About 8 years ago I became incredibly sick with a poisoning of my body from the foods I was eating. I almost died, and I was hospitalized for some time. I lost the ability to produce almost any sound and lost about 20 pounds and could barely walk or even hold my children. My body was wrecked. This led me to the path of raw foods and a complete lifestyle change related to what I put into my body. After many months of being completely committed to my new diet choices and lifestyle, I began singing again. I was blown away that my voice had almost doubled in size and my ability to produce sound was easier than ever before. This led me to study more and more about nutrition and the body; specifically, nutrition's effect on the voice.
I continued to study and became an Herbalist and Nutritional Consultant. Year after year I researched and tried different remedies for a tired, over-used voice, a sore throat, a tired body, a cough or sinus congestion, etc. Believe me when I tell you that I've tried them all! Some worked and some did not. Most worked for only a short period of time or did not work they way they claimed. Some actually did more damage than healing! This led me to search for what really does work, naturally, without chemicals or drugs, and without adversely affecting the voice, throat and body. My goal was to find what actually helps the body as well as the voice.
I wanted an optimal formula that could do everything and address all the issues, not only for singers but also for voice professionals such as broadcasters, actors, lawyers and teachers who have to deal on a regular basis vocal problems. What I found was that one formula could not address all of these issues the way I wanted, so I created the current product line such that, with all four products in tow, a singer or voice professional can have in their bag a full Vocal Health Care Maintenance Kit whenever a specific issue arises.
What's the main problem that singers have and why does it happen?
This is a difficult question because every "body" is different and each voice is unique. However, my experience with countless numbers of awesome singers has led me to see a few universal issues or problems that singers deal with.
Number one is diet. There are certain foods that create more mucus than others and can also lead to acid reflux. Lately in my practice and coaching, I have found that more and more singers are affected by or allergic to foods which negatively affect their voice and body. These are foods that can create mucus, make their cords and throat swell or zap their body of energy, and these singers do not have a clue it is happening to them. We sing with our whole body, not just our throat, so when we clean up the colon and the body, the results are reflected in the crystal clear sound of the voice, easier and better breath flow, more energy and stamina, and a more powerful sound. You can find a huge amount of information on diet and its effect on the voice at my blog site:
Superiorvocalhealth.blogspot.com.
It is inevitable that all of us at one time or another will be under the weather or need some type of help. In my
Vocal Health Care Kit, the Superior Vocal Health product line assists you in getting thru those difficult times, no matter what your level of study or career as a singer or voice professional.
How do your products differ from some of the other similar products on the market?
This is probably the number one question I get from all of the artists, producers, and voice professionals. The difference between my products and others on the market today is: Intention, quality, production, consistency and effectiveness.
First and foremost, Superior Vocal Health is a company created by a singer for singers. It is not an herbal company or an ENT who wants to tap into a niche market to make some extra money! I know the voice and I use the products. In fact, I've been using the products for over 10 years. I know what the singer needs. My company mission is to help the singer.
Our products are 100% organic and certified Kosher, GMP Certified, and made in the USA in an FDA regulated facility. The quality is absolutely the best you can find. Our formulas are stored in dark blue cobalt bottles because the herbs are live. This is extremely important. While it is more costly for us, it ensures that the consumer gets the very best product. This type of storage retains the efficacy of the live herbs and allows the product to continually work and do the job it is meant to do. In addition, the shelf life of the product is up to five years!
I always encourage artists and voice professionals to be very careful about what they put in their body and on their vocal cords. Any product stored in plastic bottles means that the singer is putting petroleum into their body and on their vocal cords, since plastic is made from petroleum.
As I mentioned before, the Superior Vocal Health product line is not a magic bullet. Balance and moderation are the keys to a healthy and successful life. Our products are for helping and aiding the voice professional when they need some support. Never rely on anything to help you sing better.
For more info on
Superior Vocal Health products, go to their website.
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