Watch a Trained Opera Singer React to Metal Vocals
As we all know, Youtube is outrageously saturated with reaction videos these days. There’s the station with someone crying over every song, or the tag-team duo blathering on about what they would have done differently, or the ever-present “this race listens to that other race’s popular genre.” It can get a bit exhausting weeding through all the gimmicks. So it’s refreshing to come across a station that’s not only filmed professionally with a nice camera, but also doesn’t feature the drivel of schmuck with far too much to say and far too little insight to back it up. Thankfully, with degrees in music and voice from Oberlin Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, and the Curtis Institute of Music, we’d say Elizabeth Zharoff definitely knows what she’s talking about, which is why it’s a pleasure to watch her react to metal and hardcore vocals.
As reported by The Pit, from interviews with James LaBrie and Myles Kennedy to song reviews featuring Johnny Cash and Matt Bellamy, Ms. Zharoff is the professional and charismatic figurehead behind Youtube’s The Charismatic Voice channel. Touted as being “a scientific and practical guide for all-things-vocal,” she demonstrates her vast understanding of the vocal arena by delving deep into the shrieks and growls of metal and hardcore voices.
What makes The Charismatic Voice different from other stations, aside from the fact that Ms. Zharoff is a trained opera singer who has performed in 17 languages? It’s that intermingled within the reaction and analysis videos are concrete vocal technique videos, as well as interviews with some of metal’s best and brightest singers and songwriters. Whether she’s laughing it up with Ayreon’s Arjen Lucassen, getting nerdy with Ad Infinitum’s Melissa Bonny, or chatting about heritage with Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos, Ms. Zharoff uses her Tea Time interviews to talk influence, inspiration, and compositional style. It’s a downright wholesome time with some of heavy music’s most recognizable faces.
Whether you are just a fan or an aspiring musician, Elizabeth’s videos will really bring to life the techniques and people behind some amazing vocals. Check out some of her videos below:
