Vocal Evaluation: Reducing Vocal Tension Across 3 Languages

Real Feedback for Real Singers – Spanish, Hungarian, and Italian

In this episode of From Singer to Artist, we evaluated submissions from singers around the world—each performing in a different language, each facing different vocal challenges.

But instead of focusing on the words, we zoomed in on the real stuff:

• How your face creates tension (even when you don’t realize it)

• What to do when high notes feel scary

• Smart “cheats” singers use on difficult notes

• Why your tongue might be the thing getting in the way

• And how to stop building too much pressure before you even start to sing

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each singer’s featured moment—including the teaching point that came from it.

Facial Tension and the “Boring Face” Trick

🎙 Lara: “You’re working harder than you have to—I can see it in your eyebrows.”

Francesco showed up with strong pitch and solid technique, but his face was doing too much work. Eyebrows lifting, jaw straining, mouth shape tightening... all signs of unconscious tension.

Fix: Use “boring face” in practice mode.

Let go of your eyebrows, release the forehead, and give yourself permission to focus on the feel, not the sound.

💡 Takeaway: Try singing high notes with 5–10% less volume and less facial effort—you’ll likely find they’re easier than you thought.

“Too Much Pressure”.

🎙 Lara: “Only breathe in right before your note. Don’t hold a full tank of air and freeze.”

Whenever we breathe in a bit too early and then hold onto that breath it creates a lot of internal pressure, which will then lead to singing with tension and very little control over breath flow. It’s like opening a dam… Once the water is flowing it’s much harder to close it again. So whenever possible try to avoid holding your breath when singing - it’ll only make it harder!

💡 Fix: Inhale right before singing. Then release immediately.

How to Stay Open on High Notes

🎙 Lara: “You’re starting to get a little scared because you know the high notes are coming.”

Robin had a strong start, but as soon as she saw the high notes ahead, her body pulled inward—and the power dropped.

Fix: Instead of shrinking, expand internally.

Try pushing your elbows slightly outward to create a sense of openness and size from the inside out.

💡 Takeaway: Confidence and space go hand in hand. Instead of thinking “small and safe,” try thinking “open and full.” The worst thing that can happen is you’ll crack… That’s ok - just make some adjustments and try again.

When It’s Too High, Flip on Purpose

🎙 Lara: “If that top note is too much, you can flip on purpose. It becomes a choice—not a mistake.”

Robin was looking to add more power to the higher notes, a belt like quality. While that’s great to work on, not everything needs to be loud and powerful. Sometimes using a stylistic flip into a headier mix, then bouncing back into chest with control can create a great artistic moment and add more contrast to the vocal performance. This is a great trick we can use when some notes are starting to get a little too high to stay in a belt and your mix isn’t fully developed yet.

Fix: Choose a lighter sound on the top note intentionally.

It creates variety and saves your voice.

💡 Takeaway: The audience won’t know you adjusted—they’ll just hear it as dynamic range - something they’ll most likely love!

The Tongue Changes The Tone

🎙 Lara: “There’s no right or wrong—it’s just about options. Tongue position affects tone more than you think.”

Miklan naturally has a very powerful voice. One way she achieves this power is by adding a lot of brightness to the notes. She does this by changing the position of her tongue . She naturally stuck her tongue out in one part, changing the tone. We see this a lot in singers when they are belting. This can create space and release tongue tension.

💡 Fix: Experiment with tongue position and vowel shape until it feels and sounds right.

🎧 Want to Hear the Full Episode?

From technical tweaks to mindset shifts, this Vocal Eval: Global Edition is full of real singer moments and honest feedback.

Whether you’re singing in English or another language—these tips will help you find more freedom, flexibility, and expression in your voice.

Prefer Listening To The Podcast On Your Favorite Platform? Listen Below.