I was recently exposed to one of the coolest singers I’ve heard in a long time, Sturgill Simpson. I was listening to some bands at The Basement on South 8th in Nashville when in-between sets I heard some music that really caught my attention. It was immediately familiar, and yet I new that it was new.
It had this very early 70’s country music vibe, yet it was very fresh and current and the songwriting was actually pretty edgy. I immediately loved it.
I’ve since spent a lot of time listening to various Sturgill Simpson recordings and I’ve definitely become a fan, and am excited to be inspired by a new discovery.
It seems that Sturgill has been making the rounds lately, playing everything from The Dave Letterman Show to The Grande Ole Opry. I actually got to see the Opry show, and the only downside was that he only got to play two songs. His live energy was great, and I look forward to seeing more shows.
There are a lot of very good singers in the world but it’s rare to hear someone that is truly captivating. Someone that can just pull you in from the energy and emotion radiating through their voice alone, with no need for glitter and gloss. Sturgill Simpson has a voice that is organic, rootsy, honest and delivered with amazing vocal clarity and a powerful rich, deep tone. It’s like listening to a strange mix of Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard, with a dose of the songwriting spirit of Kris Kristofferson thrown in. And yet it’s completely unique and belongs entirely to Sturgill.
If you’re working on some of the aspects that make Sturgill’s voice so cool, check out some of the free vocal technique video lessons listed below.
Check him out and feel free to share any singers that have inspired you lately and why you find them interesting.