(Emma Stevens) Setting the Bar High

I have always been very musical, played a lot of instruments and adored creating parts/harmonies, and singing came second to me after that. After a few playlists on radio 2, I had to get my singing together pretty quickly, but the bar I set for myself was so high that it made every single gig a real threat to my self esteem and I would be overly anxious before I went on stage. I knew something was wrong when I would come off stage feeling upset, angry or defeated after most of my gigs. I could easily recall to my band every single note from the set that wasn’t perfect, I just wanted to cry, instead of rejoice at how happy I had made people and how great the show was. I had such a love hate relationship with being in the spotlight. The fear of imperfection, vs the joy I really felt sharing my music with people.

I am ever grateful for my vocal coach, who reminded me that, particularly in my genre, people don’t come to hear a song sung with ego, with perfection but no emotion. They come because they want to listen to my heart. I am a messenger of song. Gradually I have begun to care less about delivering the most outstanding performance, and care more about the emotional delivery. Getting my head into this mindset has actually transformed my performances, and the feelings I have when I come off stage. I’m not saying I don’t still strive to be the best I can be, but I’m letting go of the critic inside of me who would just destroy all the fun I’d had!