Not A Pod

My most recent on-line discovery is The Charismatic Voice. Technically a YouTube channel (not a pod) the show is about analyzing the vocals of a variety of singers, at first listen. The program’s host, Elizabeth Zharoff, is an international opera singer, vocal coach, and video game sound designer, among other things. While donning quality headphones and watching a video performance in the background, Elizabeth critiques the singer’s voice – but always in a positive manner. The YouTuber is no Simon Cowell! Sure, there’s a time and a place for Simon, but Elizabeth demands complete civility by not allowing any negative comments about any of the artists she analyzes on her YouTube channel.

The Charismatic Voice has evolved over the years. Ms. Zharoff grew up embracing the music of her household which was mainly classical, country, and some Christian. So when she began her reactionary videos on her YouTube channel in 2020, people found it hard to believe that she had never heard many of the great classic rock songs of the past. But that was the case. Eventually, the viewers wanted to see Elizabeth’s reactions to hard rock – and then heavy metal – and then even something called deathcore. I think some of her subscribers just wanted to see if they could shock her, or maybe tempt her to go negative. Nope! The YouTuber even found flattering things to say about the harsh vocals of Corey Taylor from Slipknot and Axl Rose. (A good reminder that music is indeed subjective.)

The host of The Charismatic Voice is much more concerned with the technique, science, and vocal health behind one’s voice rather than if it’s traditionally pleasing to a listener’s ear. This could not be more evident when a while back Elizabeth asked Will Ramos, vocalist of the deathcore band Lorna Shore, to “donate his body to science.” She was fascinated with how one human being could make so many sounds with his “singing hole.” (Yes, that is the usual way the YouTuber refers to the mouth. Although I think mine is more of an “eating hole.”) Will, reluctant at first, accepted Elizabeth’s request to subject himself to a flexible laryngoscopy.

A flexible laryngoscopy is a procedure where a flexible scope is inserted through one’s numbed nasal cavity in order to capture images from above the larynx. With Elizabeth by his side, Will performed portions of his unique harsh vocals, he calls “spooky” and “monster” sounds, for the throat camera. The Lorna Shore singer varied his tones, techniques, and frequencies while producing an array of gutturals and pig squeals for his new YouTube friend, as well as for the person administering the procedure, Dr. Amanda Stark. Dr. Stark, a Research Associate at the Utah Center of Vocology, was visibly in awe of what she was hearing from Will and what she was seeing on the screen. To everyone’s relief, and maybe a bit to their dismay, the deathcore singer was found to have good vocal health. “I think often times that we assume that things like metal or screaming or harsh vocalizations leads to damage…and I think today we saw something so polar opposite of what the assumption has been.” said Dr. Stark.

It’s not difficult to immediately be enthralled with The Charismatic Voice. Elizabeth’s passion, and her admitted nerdism, shines through during each episode as she’s constantly pausing the artist of the day’s performance to discuss what she’s hearing. The YouTube host explains things in a practical, yet engaging way, using terms such as vocal folds, nasality, and dipthong (yes, dipthong) and teaches using witty phrases like “Better hydration, easier phonation.” Ms. Zharoff has a sensational smile, her facial expressions are priceless, and you’ve got to love it when a professional uses “wacka wacka wacka wacka wacka” when explaining how to make a pitch with your singing hole. Elizabeth ends each show with her signature, “May you fall more in love with music everyday.” And then blows a kiss to her viewers. (Please don’t tell the missus.) I would highly recommend The Charismatic Voice YouTube channel (not a pod).