Vocal Arts-logo

Vocal Arts

Arts & Culture Podcasts

Hi everyone, and welcome to Vocal Arts, the podcast that explores the world of professional voice artists. My name is Peter Barber, and I’ll be your guide along this path of vocal performance. I’m primarily a professional opera singer, music producer, and bass vocalist. Over the course of my career, I’ve trained and performed with world-class singers. I’ve learned all about the physiology and function of the human voice from leading voice scientists. I started a successful group of four bass singers called The Bass Gang, and I’ve grown my YouTube audience from 0 to over 100,000 subscribers via musical analysis videos. Beyond that, I currently sing opera professionally as a Studio Artist with Arizona Opera. I’ve performed in basically every genre from EDM to chamber choir, and with an undergrad major in audio engineering, I can comfortably bridge the gap between live performance and studio recordings, from the grandiose space of a 3000-seat opera house to the intimate, sound-proof booths used in voiceover. But perhaps most importantly, I’m an artist, fascinated by the various careers in vocal performance, and inspired to learn more about them from the best and brightest vocal talent the world has to offer. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey, and no matter what your involvement is within the world of vocal arts, I hope that here, on this podcast, you can both learn something and enjoy. This is Peter Barber, and I’ll see you next time on Vocal Arts.

Location:

United States

Description:

Hi everyone, and welcome to Vocal Arts, the podcast that explores the world of professional voice artists. My name is Peter Barber, and I’ll be your guide along this path of vocal performance. I’m primarily a professional opera singer, music producer, and bass vocalist. Over the course of my career, I’ve trained and performed with world-class singers. I’ve learned all about the physiology and function of the human voice from leading voice scientists. I started a successful group of four bass singers called The Bass Gang, and I’ve grown my YouTube audience from 0 to over 100,000 subscribers via musical analysis videos. Beyond that, I currently sing opera professionally as a Studio Artist with Arizona Opera. I’ve performed in basically every genre from EDM to chamber choir, and with an undergrad major in audio engineering, I can comfortably bridge the gap between live performance and studio recordings, from the grandiose space of a 3000-seat opera house to the intimate, sound-proof booths used in voiceover. But perhaps most importantly, I’m an artist, fascinated by the various careers in vocal performance, and inspired to learn more about them from the best and brightest vocal talent the world has to offer. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey, and no matter what your involvement is within the world of vocal arts, I hope that here, on this podcast, you can both learn something and enjoy. This is Peter Barber, and I’ll see you next time on Vocal Arts.

Language:

English


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Authentic Artist feat. Corvyx

5/3/2024
Alternative enigma Corvyx concocts an elixir of cinematic dark pop, pairing his ethereal productions with haunting vocals that drip with raw emotion and power. He dons a self-proclaimed “space witch” aesthetic and, with his 5 octave range, has captivated an audience of nearly 1M+ social followers he calls his Corvyx Coven. His name finds origin in the magical Corvus (”Raven” in Latin) for he too has become a messenger for the misunderstood. With nearly 200K YouTube subscribers and 24 million+ YouTube views and growing, Corvyx has proven himself an undeniable visionary and a musical force.

Duration:01:18:33

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Behind the Brand feat. Casper Fox

4/17/2024
Casper Fox is a brand manager and musician, who has contributed significantly to the success of groups like The Bass Gang and The Wellermen, as well as the personal brands of creators like Peter Barber and Jennifer Glatzhofer.

Duration:00:58:58

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

The Future of Opera feat. Will Liverman

4/3/2024
Called, “a voice for this historic moment” (The Washington Post), GRAMMY Award-winning baritone Will Liverman is the 2022 Beverly Sills Artist Award recipient and co-creator of The Factotum (Lyric Opera Chicago, 2023 world premiere). This season’s engagements include the Metropolitan Opera (X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, Roméo et Juliette), Opera Philadelphia (10 Days in a Madhouse, world premiere), Dayton Opera, Tanglewood, Caramoor, Cincinnati Song Initiative, Lexington Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, The Washington Chorus, Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys, Nu Deco Ensemble, and Experiential Orchestra. He’s Artistic Advisor for Renée Fleming’s Song Studio at Carnegie Hall. Liverman’s Dreams of a New Day: Songs by Black Composers (Cedille Records, 2021) was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. He’s an alumnus of the Ryan Opera Center (Lyric Opera of Chicago), The Juilliard School (M.M.), and Wheaton College (B.M.). www.willliverman.com. Please welcome Will Liverman.

Duration:00:56:57

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Is Olivia Rodrigo Worth the Hype?

3/28/2024
Over the course of an hour, professional singer Peter Barber breaks down Olivia Rodrigo's performance for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series, and analyzes just what makes her so brilliant. Stay until the end to learn more than you ever thought possible about Olivia's vocal techniques, songwriting, and all the rest. So, is Olivia Rodrigo worth the hype? I'll let you decide. Peter Barber is a professional singer, music producer, YouTuber, and member of The Bass Gang.

Duration:00:56:47

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

That Bass Voice feat. Eric Hollaway

3/20/2024
Meet Eric Hollaway, the man with a voice as deep as the ocean and as versatile as the wind. Known globally as "thatbassvoice," Eric boasts a rare 5-octave range, enchanting over 2 million followers on social media with his captivating vocals. A prodigy who began singing at 5, Eric's voice has graced numerous viral hits, including the Viking anthem "Valhalla Calling" by Miracle Of Sound and Hans Zimmer's 'Hoist The Colors' from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean. His unique "bassharmony" technique, seamlessly blending deep tones into any melody, has become his signature. You'll recognize his stirring vocals in the soundtracks of "Doom Eternal" and "Runescape3." Beyond music, Eric is a highly sought-after voice actor, lending his distinctive timbre to thousands of projects, notably for Fableticsmen and Manscaped. Experience the depth and range of "thatbassvoice" - where every note tells a story. Peter and Eric chat about being bass singers in the modern music world, the rise of the bass voice in popularity, Eric's work as the voice for "Doom" and other voice actings jobs, going viral on social media, philosophies behind music, how Eric's voice has changed over the years, upcoming collaborations, and much more. Please welcome Eric Hollaway.

Duration:01:14:14

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Analysis Essentials Series: So Hyang | "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

3/13/2024
Welcome back to the Analysis Essentials Series -- this episode comes from my first time ever hearing So Hyang, a voice that continues to boggle my mind. Her emotional connection, her power belting, her riffing -- all of it. Please enjoy this breakdown.

Duration:00:21:40

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

The Uncrowned King of Modern Acapella feat. Tomi P

3/6/2024
Tomi P is a bass singer from the Czech Republic, widely known for his musical talent as a vocal arranger and acapella music producer. Many that are familiar with his work consider him to be among the founding fathers of modern acapella, given that he's been making high-quality vocal arrangements for nearly a decade. Tomi is a founding member of The Bass Gang, and currently sings as the bass for renowned Czech acapella group, Shot-C. He has garnered tens of millions of views across platforms for his music, and tens of millions more for his work with The Bass Gang. Peter and Tomi discuss the future of The Bass Gang and Shot-C, dealing with creative burnout, music as a career vs. hobby, upcoming projects, and Tomi answers many questions from the Patreon community. Please welcome Tomi P!

Duration:01:08:07

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Analysis Essentials Series: Pentatonix | "The Sound of Silence"

2/28/2024
One of the first analysis videos Peter ever made was for this iconic cover from Pentatonix. Peter goes into detail about the musical arrangement, vocal technique, blending of voices, belting, vocal registration, and more. Please enjoy this breakdown of "The Sound of "Silence" as part of the Analysis Essentials Series.

Duration:00:19:33

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Endless Bass feat. Elliott Michael Robinson

2/21/2024
Elliott Michael Robinson is a seasoned veteran of the contemporary a cappella community currently residing in Dallas, Texas. Though most known for his insane low notes and nearly five-octave vocal range, the Illinois native is also an award-winning songwriter, arranger, and vocal educator. (And attorney, but who's counting?) Throughout the years, he's performed with countless vocal groups--InPulse, Home Free, Re: Voiced, Chapter 6, Street Corner Symphony, The House Jacks, AXIOM, and more--as well as recording background vocals for projects spanning just about every genre you can think of. Oh yeah, and he also sang all the low bass vocals for Das Sound Machine in Pitch Perfect 2. (Remember them? The group that definitely would've won in real life...) These days, you can find Elliott doing regular corporate things, being a proud and relatively new Girl Dad, deadlifting with your entire family on the bar, grabbing barbecue somewhere, and/or contributing his multifaceted bass skills to collaborative online projects with artists from all over the globe. Peter and Elliott discuss life as professional musicians, vocal range, how voices change and develop overtime, advice for young bass singers, fitness, work/life balance, collaborative projects, career goals, and much more. Please welcome Elliott Michael Robinson.

Duration:01:12:55

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Musical Genius feat. Eric Whitacre

2/7/2024
Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor, Eric Whitacre, is among today’s most popular musicians. His works are programmed worldwide and his ground-breaking Virtual Choirs have united over 100,000 singers from more than 145 countries. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Eric is currently Visiting Composer at Pembroke College, Cambridge University (UK) and is an Ambassador for the Royal College of Music (London). Eric served two terms as Artist in Residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and is proud to be a Yamaha Artist. His long-term relationship with Universal/Decca Classics has produced several ‘hit’ albums. Recent compositions include a long-form work - The Sacred Veil - and an orchestral piece - Prelude in C - commissioned by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. His collaboration with Spitfire Audio has resulted in two trail-blazing vocal sample libraries which are used by composers the world-over. Peter and Eric discuss Eric's Grammy Award-winning compositions, electronic music, philosophies on creating art, the relationship between music, conductor, and ensemble, and many more topics. Please welcome Eric Whitacre.

Duration:00:57:45

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Hoist the Colours feat. Bobby Bass

1/31/2024
Bobby "Bass" Waters is a bass singer, music creator, and core member of three musical groups: The Bass Gang, The Wellermen, and Pitch Slapped. Across platforms, Bobby boasts a following of over 2 million people, and his videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has collaborated with many of the biggest names in the short-form content space, like Lauren Paley, MALINA, Vinny, Luke Taylor, Peyton Parrish, and more. Bobby has even been featured in an Apple commercial for his amazing bass voice. Peter and Bobby talk about the meteoric rise of "Hoist the Colours," how to create success as a musical artist, the financial viability of various platforms, the evolution of The Bass Gang, upcoming projects, and much more. Please welcome Bobby Bass.

Duration:01:00:06

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

The Music of Arcane feat. Alex Seaver (aka Mako)

1/24/2024
Composer, songwriter, and producer Alex Seaver (aka Mako) has created a unique niche for himself in the entertainment industry. He has released two best-selling albums; performed at Coachella, Lollapalooza, and EDC; and collaborated with the likes of Sting, Pusha-T, Avicii, Madison Beer, and Alan Walker. A classically-trained musician, Seaver earned a full scholarship to Juilliard. Upon graduation, he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film music. Alex has established himself as a songwriter and composer for Riot Games’ League of Legends, beginning in 2017. His first track, “Legends Never Die” (performed by Against the Current), has earned over 400 million streams on Spotify alone, while his role expanded with Netflix’s League of Legends-based animated series, Arcane (2021). In addition to scoring the hit show with Alexander Temple, Alex co-wrote songs for the soundtrack, alongside Pusha-T, Sting, Wooded, Bea Miller, PVRIS, and others. Please welcome Alex Seaver.

Duration:01:08:57

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Luke the Voice feat. Luke Taylor

1/10/2024
Luke Taylor is a bass singer from Thornton, Pennsylvania who is pursuing a songwriting career in folk and western genres. He has amassed a following of over 4 million people on TikTok from his bass singing videos, as well as performed on American Idol -- he is known throughout the world for his deep, rich voice. Luke is also a member of The Wellermen, and is studying voice at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Peter and Luke chat about bass singing, going viral on social media, vocal technique, career goals, getting recognized in public, philosophies on life, and much more. Please welcome Luke Taylor.

Duration:01:06:33

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Viking Vocals feat. Danny ”Big Brev” Brevik

12/27/2023
American bass-baritone and social media influencer, Daniel Brevik, is praised for having "a massive, focused, rich, warm timbre." Boasting an impressive following of over 65,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and 465,000 followers on TikTok. Brevik's singing and teaching channel extends even further, with a staggering 650,000 followers on Instagram - with over 100 million views across platforms which have amassed over 20 years of total stream time, effectively captivating audiences on a global scale. A recipient of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis' Richard Gaddes Career Grant, and the Wendy Shattuck Presidential Scholarship from the New England Conservatory, Brevik was hailed by The Washington Post for having "an impressive, sonorous voice" while Opera Today claimed he could "rattle the rafters one moment and be lullingly conversational the next." Brevik was featured on the cover of Opera News for creating the role of Ernest Hemingway in the world premiere of Ricky lan Gordon's Twenty-Seven. The album recorded with the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is available on all major music platforms. Brevik later reprised his role with the orchestra of St. Luke's in his New York debut at City Center Theatre, and then again at Intermountain Opera in Bozeman, Montana. Notable venues Brevik has performed in include Boston's Symphony Hall, St. Louis' Powell Hall, Lyric Opera of Chicago's Civic Opera House, Amarillo Texas' Globe-News Center, Venice Italy's St. Marks Cathedral, and the Vietnam Opera and ballet in Hanoi Vietnam. In a recent collaboration with Bobby Bass and the Bass Singers of TikTok, their cover of "Hoist The Colours" garnered over 6 million views on Youtube and 8.5 million streams on Spotify. In 2022, Brevik was showcased on stage in concert with Pentatonix legend Avi Kaplan in Boston, MA. Brevik is on the voice faculty at The University of Hartford, and at the Falcetti School of Music in Simsbury, CT. Peter and Danny talk about going viral on social media, performing opera on a professional level, getting to work with Avi Kaplan, travel stories, fitness, and much more. Please welcome Big Brev.

Duration:01:27:45

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Military Bass feat. J.None

12/7/2023
J.None is a singer, songwriter, and producer. Featured in the September 2008 issue of “GQ”, he was selected to perform for Grammy Award-Winning super producer Timbaland. J is very giving when it comes to his gift -- he has performed at various community concerts sponsored by Kollission Records, donating all proceeds to the Children’s Kings Daughters Hospital Miracle Network. In 2011 he attained International recognition for placing in the Top 32 on Simon Cowell’s newest talent show The X-Factor as ¼ of the young Pop group 4Shore. Audiences love his hilarious demeanor on stage and his buttery-smooth vocals. J auditioned for Season 14 of the hit Fox singing competition American Idol and advanced to the Top 48. Currently, he is singing bass for The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters, working on original music and producing/writing for other artists via Soundbetter.com, including his nephew, "Naz G." You can find J.None’s newest music on all digital outlets, available now for downloading and streaming! Peter and J.None talk about his life in the Navy band, singing with VoicePlay, setting and managing career goals and expectations, his experience on X-Factor and American Idol, and much more. Please welcome J.None.

Duration:01:17:41

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

The Legend of Korra feat. Janet Varney

11/22/2023
Janet Varney is an Emmy-Nominated actor, comedian, writer and producer. She can be heard as the voice of Korra on "The Legend of Korra” on Netflix, where she can also be seen as Summer in the comedy series “Country Comfort." On HULU, she fights dark forces starring opposite John C. McGinley on "Stan Against Evil" and appears as Becca on FXX’s "You’re the Worst.” She also created, wrote, produced and starred in the critically-acclaimed IFC online series "Fortune Rookie.” And as of this summer, you can also catch her recurring on Apple TV+’s “Platonic” opposite Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. Onstage, Janet performs with Rachel Dratch, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Oscar Nunez and more in their improv supergroup Theme Park, and alongside Paul F. Tompkins, Busy Philipps, Paget Brewster and more for the Thrilling Adventure Hour. Janet co-created/wrote/produced “Neil’s Puppet Dreams” starring Neil Patrick Harris. You can also find Janet on YouTube for Geek & Sundry’s “Escape!" which she co-wrote, produced and hosted. She also hosts three hit podcasts: The JV Club with Janet Varney; Avatar: Braving The Elements; and Truth and Justice with Bob Ruff. She is Co-Founder/Creative Director of one of the largest and most acclaimed comedy festivals in North America, SF Sketchfest: the San Francisco Comedy Festival, now in its 20th year.

Duration:01:09:55

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Behind the Music (of VoicePlay) feat. Layne Stein

11/8/2023
Layne Stein is an arranger, beatboxer, vocalist, audio engineer, and video editor for world-famous acapella group, VoicePlay. Peter and Layne talk about Layne's arrangement process for VoicePlay songs, the development of the group since its origin, the impossibility of predicting which releases will be commercially successful, how to add creative spin to a classic song, PattyCake productions, how VoicePlay creates a song from start-to-finish, and much more. Please welcome Layne Stein.

Duration:01:01:25

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Opera Star feat. Lisette Oropesa

10/25/2023
Cuban-American Lisette Oropesa is a highly acclaimed and in-demand operatic soprano known for her exceptional vocal skills and stage presence. She speaks 5 languages and excels in a wide range of operatic repertoire, from Baroque and Mozart to Bel Canto and French composers. Her outstanding performances have earned her enthusiastic global recognition, and she regularly stars in productions in the world’s greatest opera houses, from New York’s Metropolitan Opera to London’s Royal Opera House, Vienna’s State Opera, and Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, among many others. In addition to her successful singing career, Lisette is also known for her dedication to health and fitness. She is an outdoor enthusiast and devoted runner who has completed several marathons, and been featured in major fitness publications such as Runner’s World Magazine. She’s followed a fully plant based diet for the past 12 years. Lisette is also a mentor and role model to young singers, giving masterclasses and lectures at universities and young artist programs around the world. She is active on social media, and she and her husband Steven personally curate her website and all her platforms. Her most recent solo album, “French Bel Canto,” released on the Pentatone label, has achieved major critical acclaim, and has been one of the top selling classical opera aria albums since its release. Peter and Lisette talk about what it's like to perform opera on the world's greatest stages, industry biases, obesity vs. health & fitness, pros and cons of social media, taking a stance on politics and religion, vocal technique, role preparation, and much more. Please welcome Lisette Oropesa.

Duration:01:45:10

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Analysis Essentials Series: ”We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Disney’s Encanto

10/18/2023
One of the most popular Disney songs ever made -- I couldn't resist jumping on the reaction bandwagon when this first came out. However, I added a lot of analysis to the music, singing, voice acting, etc. as usual, and it has resulted in one of the more popular analysis videos on my channel. Please enjoy the analysis.

Duration:00:20:02

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Covered In Metal feat. Jonathan Young

10/11/2023
Jonathan Young is a singer, songwriter & music producer who independently grew to a fanbase of over 2 million fans with his viral music videos, reimagining songs from nerd culture, writing fantasy-themed power metal music, and collaborating with iconic brands like Dragonball, Beyblade & Magic: the Gathering. In addition to his own discography, Jonathan also runs a production company that offers services & consulting to other music content creators. Peter and Jonathan talk about everything from music composition to the evolution of YouTube to rock belting. Please welcome Jonathan Young.

Duration:01:41:10