As a coach I’m super proud to have three awesome Singers Playground artists nominated for JUNO Awards this year —JP Saxe for Artist & Album of The Year, Sally Shaar of Monowhales for Breakthrough Group Of The Year & Elizabeth Shephard for Jazz Vocal Album-  each Artist a strong example of what creative power and hard work can bring in a career. 

Elizabeth Shepherd was my first client after arriving back in Canada from in Los Angeles. We worked together on vocal technique before her first album and listeners around the globe have supported this deeply individual musical talent.  

In fact this nomination for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year is the sixth nomination for Elizabeth who is now based in Montreal! 

Monowhales' (2022 Breakthrough Group of the Year) manager Andrew Turner suggested that lead vocalist Sally Shaar and I work together to help support her recovery after surgery- and for preparation for their current tour following a lengthy pandemic-related hiatus.  

“Micah is not only the most devoted vocal coach I have ever met but also the most emotionally in-tune and wonderfully empathetic teacher you could ask for,” “He did this with such custom care and with a steady goal of healthy rehabilitation in mind,” “and was able to take me from starting all the way back at a terrifying ‘ground zero’ to the strongest and healthiest my voice has ever been!  “Anyone who works with Micah should call themselves lucky.” -Sally Shaar 

When a 12 year old JP Saxe first arrived at the Singers Playground studio no one could have predicted his 2021 GRAMMY Award-nominee for Song Of The Year (If The World Was Ending” or his 2022 JUNO Award-nominations for Artist of the Year & Album of the Year for “Dangerous Levels Of Introspection". 

BUT as I watched this young creative artist grow into one of his generations finest songwriters it soon became abundantly clear that JP’s future in music was going to be bright. 

“There is no meaningful part of my career I haven’t looked to Micah for advice, and I don’t expect that to ever change,” the 2021 Breakthrough Artist of the Year Juno winner says. “Having such a dedicated and loving mentor such as Micah has been an invaluable part of my life and my career.” 

“I’m honored to have these awesome Singers Playground artists nominated for JUNO Awards this year — and I’m especially proud of the widespread across genres, which is very true to my coaching methods,” Barnes shares of his process. “One-to-one coaching is not ‘one size fits all’; it’s very tailored to the specific needs of each artist. Exactly what I wished I had access to when starting out as a singer myself!

In my experience there are 3 distinct kinds of Singers in this world. Lets have a look at them shall we? 

“The Perfect Plan Singer” 

The Perfect Plan Singer has got every step of their career mapped out in their head. How they will sound, what they will wear, where their career is going every step of the way. . 

But often they have very little of that plan actualized in the world. And of course it's super hard to get started when we are expecting ourselves to enact a “perfect plan” isn't it? (Real life doesn’t work like that!) 

So the "Perfect Plan Singer" often comes up frustrated with a lack of forward motion, feeling "stuck" and frustrated. 

"Fly By The Seat Of Their Pants" Singer 

The “Fly By The Seat Of Their Pants Singer” is big on instinct- but weak on organization or self discipline.  

They have big big dreams but no clue how to make them a reality, so they take giant stab now and then and when it doesn’t all “click” at once, retreat into “failure”... wondering why nothing is happening in their career!  

In fact this singer usually feels that a "step by step" plan would be uncreative and boring and dull!  

"The Slow & Steady Singer" 

Someone who is willing to work at their craft and their career on a daily basis, setting realistic goals and putting daily non-negotiables in place to help them achieve those goals... An artist with an overall game plan but who is open to learning and discovering new approaches as they go. 

The Slow and Steady Singer might get "stuck" but they have non-negotiables in place which help them get moving again..so even when it doesn't look or feel like BIG dramatic "wins" everyday ... they are still moving forward and still "in the game"! 

I say all this without judgement, after all each of us is built differently, learns differently and has something different and unique to give to the world...BUT my question to you is which singer feels like its you right now.... 

.... And which singer do you want to be? 

Happy to talk about supporting you wherever you are in your career!  

I know getting “stuck” in our careers doesn’t feel good. In fact, when we are feeling stuck it can feel down right horrible. After all, artists are built on creative joy and excitement… and possibility. When we are suddenly overwhelmed with negative feelings about our career, our talent, (our worth in the world!),  it can feel like the end of the world! 

But when we feel stuck it’s actually a fantastic moment in our career. 

How in hell can that be!!?? 

First of all… feeling stuck is an indication that what we ARE doing ..isn’t actually working.  That's an uncomfortable feeling BUT it means we have the opportunity to sit still for a moment.. and have a good long hard look at why we aren’t able to move forward. 

That's a potentially hugely beneficial moment in any career! 

If we don’t slow down and take stock once and a while, then we’re not doing ourselves any favours… blindly banging into walls and wondering WHY we’re not able to get over them is NOT an efficient way to move forward! 

Asking the HARD questions of ourselves, that's the way to start problem solving. 

Is there something in our artist identity that is out of alignment in some way? Is our “package” missing a sense of unity? 

Perhaps the songs not strong enough?  Maybe our voice is not fully expressing our individuality and our uniqueness? 

Is our live show lacking the kind of power  and engagement that will get folks talking about us? 

These are all important questions to be asking ourselves. ..whether we can solve them right now or not! 

So, first and foremost, getting stuck is a golden opportunity to take stock and have a really good look at “what is working and what isn’t”! 

AND… STOP BLAMING EVERYBODY ELSE! 

But getting stuck is only a positive if we are willing to take responsibility for where we find ourselves!! 

If we are going to stay angry at the team member that has let us down, or blame the music biz in general, or our lack of resources or money, 

or a granting institution for our being stuck… then it isn’t going to be a useful moment for us at all. 

In fact blaming others for  our situation is the SAME thing as “arguing to stay stuck”… because it keeps us wallowing in our “bad situation”! 

That's not good for our spirit ..and that's not good for our forward motion at all!! 

So.. see about letting go of anger and frustration and resentment in your “emotional reaction” to being stuck…and don’t waste any energy or time in that vibration! 

Better to focus on what you DO want instead!!! 

GETTING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT! 

The fact is when we stop blaming others -we end up putting ourselves firmly in the drivers seat! 

And thats where we want to be if we want to get unstuck… 

Because when we take responsibility for where we find ourselves …then we are able to make decisions about the next steps.. 

That alone makes us feel more powerful in our lives and in our careers.. 

I would suggest that you make a list of your goals and the ALL ways in which you feel stuck, and let’s talk about your practical steps forward together!    

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