Resonance of range

Since the mid-2000s, Thai newspapers have carried several reports of the country’s top singers suffering from ongoing vocal trouble.
Sakolrat Woraurai of pop-dance duo Four-Mod was out of action for a while in 2007 with laryngitis. In 2008, pop star Kiatkamol “Tui AF 3” Latha underwent surgery to remove a benign polyp from his vocal cords and a nodule was found on rocker Athiwara “Toon” Khongmalai of Bodyslam’s vocal cords.
In 2009, rocker Thanida Thamwimon, aka Da Endorphine, and luk thung singer Fon Tanasoonthorn suffered from nodules. Early this year, indie rock band Musketeers’ singer Chakree “Ten” Lapboonruang was forced to give up singing for two months because of chronic inflammation of the vocal cords.
They all were temporarily faced with reduced vocal range and hoarseness. They weren’t sick but they had abused and overworked their voices. Furthermore, none of them had a clue as to what constituted a healthy or unhealthy vocal technique.
“These singers misused and overused their voices as they performed show after show. It’s like the old adage ‘nam khuen hai reep tak’ meaning ‘when the water rises, hurry to collect some’. They forgot that voice is an important part of body and also needs some rest,” says Rungroj Dullapan, better known as Kru Rodj, who merged his own vocal studio with GMM Grammy and now runs GRVS – Grammy Kru Rodj Vocal Studio.
“Most singers in this country suffer from vocal problems. Sometimes they work so hard, they never really recover but the demands on them mean that they have to continue working. And therein lies the problem. Singing’s like sport. If you don’t rest enough, you have no voice,” he says.
Rodj is speaking from experience: he underwent vocal fold surgery after working nonstop for 10 years with his band Hot Chilli since 1979. He was constantly singing out of his range, trying to hit the high notes of songs by Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau and Michael Jackson.
In 1989, he found Seth Riggs’ book “Singing for the Stars” and followed the techniques recommended. Five years later, his voice had recovered and he headed to Los Angeles to sign up for the “Speech-Level Singing” course run by the author.
He was the first in Asia Pacific to receive a certificate from Riggs and the first Thai to get permission to use the curriculum in his own vocal studio. He was delighted to note that his name had been included as one of the many accomplished teachers in the 1998 reprint of the book.
“Soon after I came back, Grammy CEO Busaba Daoruang asked me to act as vocal coach for superstar Thongchai ‘Bird’ McIntyre,” recalls the 50-something teacher.
“Even today when Bird is getting ready for a concert, I give him warm-up exercises in his dressing room so his voice is ready before going on stage. It is essential for him to have a vocal coach if he’s going to perform three-hour shows on three consecutive days.
“Celine Dion always warms up her voice. Seth Riggs was always with Michael Jackson on his world tours. A vocal coach works with the singer to discover his or her full vocal range and helps him hit high notes with ease as well as builds his confidence.”
Rodj says that all singers have a vocal problem, from veterans Setha Sirachaya and Srisalai Suchartwut, to superstars Bird McIntyre and Nanthida Kaewbuasai, to heartthrobs Golf-Mike and Bie the Star, and even teenagers Napat “Nong Mark” Wanabaworn and Nathanich “Pinta” Ratanasereekiet.
“Some people might wonder why such professionals need to learn vocal techniques. I don’t teach them how to sing but how to empower their voices. I help Setha sing more comfortably while hitting the high notes. Yesterday, Priyawit Niljulaka of Instinct told me he felt exhausted every time he sang Queen’s songs. So, I helped him sing the high C note without tightening his muscles. Pod Moderndog asked me whether I would change his singing style. No, my duty is making him feel relief while singing. Now he can hit the high notes in ‘Khrai’ with ease,” he says.
Surprisingly neither LoSo’s Seksan Sukpimai or Carabao’s Yuenyong “Ad” Ophakul seem to suffer any voice disorders, compared with younger artists like Toon Bodyslam and Da Endorphine.
“True, Sek and Ad have never taken any vocal coaching but, in my view, their way of singing is actually in tune with basic vocal techniques. Toon is different. He has a falsetto sound, which puts him at risk of vocal disorders.
“Nowadays, vocal technique and singing style tend to be two different things,” says Rodj. “Your singing style can make your outstanding. But to achieve that outstanding singing style, you may be using an incorrect technique like roaring, which causes vocal damage. Many singers have good, fresh voices when they start their careers but lose their voices later on because they lack vocal techniques to support their singing style. I think the vocal technique and the singing style should go together.”
Some singers like Da Endorphine or Au Haruthai are naturally hoarse and use that abnormal pitch to great effect. Are they damaging their voices?
“No, not really. They shouldn’t develop vocal problems if they look after their health and don’t take unnecessary risks,” he says.
At the end of the interview, Kru Rodj asks to test my voice and instructs me to follow him on the piano starting in my home key through to the higher notes. He nods as we finish, informing me that my voice and vocal cords are normal.

 Right notes
_ Want to be a singer? If you’re between 12 and 25 years old, apply in person for “Singing for the Stars 2011” at GRVS on the fourth floor of GMM Grammy. Applications close on Tuesday.
_ Call (02) 669 8827, (02) 669 9988 or (089) 481 8264.