How Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds Found His Voice
Do you focus on sounding like other singers?
The first few years of finding my voice, I often beat myself up for who I am. Sound more angelic. Less throaty. More commercial.
In our I Heart Singing Program we begin investigating who we truly are as singers to set our lives up for success. To embrace our unique sound, leverage it, lean into our authenticity and record a song from that place.
So many of the BIG stars today have been misunderstood because they are a throaty singer, a nasal singer, or have a different sense of style. These stars have stories of why they believed they were right when they were first starting out.
But they stood by who they were until one day they won the hearts of millions for being outrageously unique and authentically themselves.
I want to reference one of my favorite workout anthems, "Thunder" by Imagine Dragons. The lead singer Dan Reynolds says this song is kind of like the origin story of Imagine Dragons.
The lyrics take us back to the years before his success when he was a dreamer, "not a follower who fit the mold." He sings, "Kids were laughing in the classroom; who do you think you are, dreaming about being a big star?"
He did not let anyone or anthing hold him back.
He told NPR: "My brothers would call me Cookie Monster growing up." Perhaps because of this, he thought he was singing from the wrong place and damaging his voice. Even he describes his singing in the early days as "pitchy."
But every great singer would agree, he was just experimenting, expressing himself and finding his signature superstar sound.
Reynolds told Radio.com: "I had to take action."
He had a spark. Passion. He was "lightning before the thunder." He knew he was meant for something BIG. And look at him now. Thunder is currently #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Many singers tell me how it's hard for them to truly love their whole voice.
In our coaching programs, these uniquely awesome, successful, vibrant singers have the courage to challenge this limiting belief, because your voice is your gift.
Your perceived flaws or imperfections are totally what makes you sound special and fuels your passion to embrace the hero within you.
If you've got a glimmer of lightning in your heart, then by all means: "feel the thunder!"
Take action on your BIG dreams. And love yourself fully along your journey!
You ARE ready for this.
It is time for you to take a leap of faith and put your voice out there, so you too can help more people stand in the spotlight of their life and change the world.
You CAN do this.
Just be you and sing from that space.
As strong as we are, we're also sensitive. I've become and am becoming far better at celebrating who I am as a coach and singer. And I'm giving you permission to sound like you and dream bigger!