Singers Sound Off! 2019

Josh Todd
Claire Reynolds
[email protected]
buckcherry.com

Josh Todd is the lead vocalist and songwriter for Grammy-nominated rockers Buckcherry. Since the late ‘90s Todd has led that band with hits like “Crazy Bitch” and “Lit Up.” He has also acted in films such as The New Guy and The Salton Sea. Currently Todd is on the road promoting Buckcherry’s eighth album Warpaint on Century Media.

First Time on Stage
I started singing when I was 15 in Orange County, California. At that time I was so young I couldn’t get into the clubs. So, what I would do is we would find somebody’s older brother or sister and get our money together and buy a keg of beer and we’d put shows up in someone’s house. We’d charge three bucks a head and whatever money was left over we’d pocket the cash. So, I guess that was a paid gig. All my first shows were house parties. It wasn’t until I was 17 or 18 that I played an actual club.

Musical Influences
There are so many. There was always music in my household. My mom would put on music and clean the house. It was stuff like Willie Nelson, Rod Stewart, Kenny Rogers and The Eagles. When I became a teenager there was a real punk rock movement in my ‘hood. All my music was independent bands like Minor Threat, Black Flag, GBH and The Circle Jerks. I always gravitated to good songs, it didn’t matter what genre.

New Rock vs. Hip-Hop
I’m not really into a lot of new rock. All the songs I like right now are hip-hop. There are a lot of amazing things going on right now. There’s a lot of hooks, and the way they’re writing songs, and cool characters. I just don’t think there are any rock stars out there right now and there hasn’t been for some time. I think all the rock stars are in hip-hop. These guys are tattooing their faces and Cardi B is edgy and cool and really goes for it. I just love that. That’s why I got into this in the first place. I wanted the honesty. I don’t like my art to be tamed down.

Taking Care of Your Voice
I work with a great vocal teacher named Mark Baxter. Basically his whole take is when you’re doing scales you’re vocalizing, not singing. I love that I basically work on my vocal technique every day. So, when I’m not singing I’m doing scales. I’m always working that muscle and keeping that focus, you know?

I’ve done thousands of shows and have had to get re-acclimated to my voice every decade. And it changes with age, so you have to do more the older you get to keep it strong. The biggest thing I learned is that you need to use very little air to hit a note. If you load up on air and blast that air into your vocal folds you’re gonna create a lot of damage. Vocal technique teaches you how to get used to using very little wind to achieve your highest, lowest and mid-range notes.

Performance Routine
On a show day I’ll do my first set of scales in the morning. I do scales before sound check and I also warm down after I sing, because my singing voice and speaking voice are two completely different things. I learned that the hard way after my first record. I drink room temperature water and never drink water on stage when we’re performing. I hydrate all day and then, once I warm up, that’s it. It’s what works for me and you’ve gotta find what works for you. •

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