Discover Your Unique Voice

Discover Your Unique Voice
As a singer and songwriter, I have tried many different styles of music in the quest to find my own “personal sound.” As with most people just starting out in their creative pursuits, I originally found myself imitating the styles of others, hoping to find my own niche. However, as helpful as it may be to learn the style of others, I’ve concluded that even the best imitation is not as good as the original.
When I was recording the song “Hide Me in the Shadow” on my Carry Me CD, I felt as if I finally had “found my voice.” Although there were many other good songs on the CD, something special happened in the recording studio when I sang that song. I “came home to myself” in that magical moment.
What style of music is this song? It’s hard to categorize! The Irish in me came out, because the song is a conglomeration of folksy, alternative, Irish/Celtic music. When we truly find our voice—something we really enjoy doing—it’s likely that others will enjoy it too. “Hide Me in the Shadow” has been one of my CD’s most popular songs on radio stations across the country. Some of the other tracks on the project are arguably better songs, but “Hide Me in the Shadow” has had an extraordinary impact because of the way it resonates with who I am.
Remember: Your voice is expressed in your design. My design happens to have a musical bent, but yours may have some other kind of creative expression. In The Source, we call this “Finding Your Voice-Discovering Your Design-Living Out Loud.”
To what degree do you feel you’ve discovered your own voice rather than just echoing the voice or opinions of others? Was there a time in your life when you felt truly alive and able to fully express who God created you to be?
Maybe you’ve found some helpful keys you can share with others who are seeking to discover their voice. If so, I would love to hear what you’ve learned!