- Alcohol and caffeine which both dehydrate the throat and system. It’s fine in moderation but only accompanied by lots of water.
- Any medicated lozenges or sprays which numb the vocal folds or pharynx (ie. Difflam, Strepsils)
- Smoking (especially dope which burns at a higher temperature than tobacco)… don’t even think about P!
- Talking over loud background noise (e.g. nightclubs) without using any twang-quality
- Lack of sleep
- Lack of water
- Excess worry about the voice or being frightened to make sound for fear of damage
- Expecting too much out of the voice – e.g. too demanding a touring, recording or gigging schedule without adequate preparation. Expecting a perfect or clear sound out of the voice first thing in the morning or without warm-ups
- Stress
- Emotional ‘energy suckers’ like: Hate: of band members, your voice, a system which doesn’t support your talent, Jealousy, Regret, Helplessness, Victimization
- Pushing or forcing the voice
caitlin smith