PHOTO BY MATT GRANZ
Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm, grooves, riffs, melodies, emotions, dynamics, poetry & love.
I have loved Zeppelin since I first heard Misty Mountain Hop when I was 11 year old. It's the syncopation, the slinky weaving yet piercing melodies, the deep anchored grooves, the smacking riffs, the dynamic highs and lows, the tapestry of poetic lyrics, and all with an intense emotional conviction that hits me to the core.
What I've always loved about singing jazz, swing, and scat singing is the freedom it allows me to bring my voice in like an instrument. It's one of my favorite ways to sing. I feel very connected to the rhythm and feel of any song I sing. To me, Plant's approach, the way he uses his voice, and his sensitivity and connection to the moves of the band, functions as another instrument in the band. In songs like "Nobody's Fault But Mine" and "In My Time of Dying" he's rhythmic and improvisational with a fierce intensity. Yet in "Ramble On" he's stripped down and sensitive. And in "Kashmir" he goes from floaty story telling, to deep lows, to high energetic vocal releases. Stepping into his shoes is like stepping into a swirling and dynamic world of endless percussive, melodic, and tonal creativity.
Taking on Plant's vocal range, energy and dynamics lets me open up and explore an array of different areas in my voice and performance. Tones, styles, sounds, high notes, low notes, soft, loud…no limits. And all of these are on top of gripping, infectious grooves and deep moving riffs that can't help but make me move. I never get tired of hearing this music and I never get tired of singing it. Zeppelin doesn't just appeal to my head but gets me deep in my soul and body every time. It's authentic, raw and searing with pure emotion. And even though it's hard pushing rock, so many of the lyrics are about love and coming together. At the heart, the lyrics are uplifting and bring you into a magical world. They are beautiful stories to tell.
And getting a chance to blow on the harmonica is an added bonus! Plant isn't just a singer he's a musician. He brings his blues background and natural percussive feel to his harmonica playing as well and I love getting lost in that. Playing the harp allows me to express on a whole different level and it's so freeing.
It's a true joy to sing and play this music, and it fills my soul and lifts me up every time.
