An Encultured identity: individuality, expressivity and the singing-self

The human voice is able to engender experiences, traditions, emotions, ethnicity and human existence. Such enculturation can be heard when music and voice combine in singing. Sung vocal sound is therefore a representation of ‘self’ and, typically, the contemporary singer in popular culture musics (PCM) is highly individualistic. In the digital age, consideration of how contemporary singers develop their individual identity is crucial to understanding how best to nurture the singing voice in the complex and evolving milieu that is PCM. This is particularly relevant when considering the methods and applications of vocal processing that are now readily accessible and implemented. This article examines the ways in which a contemporary singer’s vocal identity is developed, maintained, compromised or, at times, negated. The results of the qualitative research discussed in this article form part of a comprehensive study on contemporary vocal artistry. Through an analysis of participant reflections and experiences, the findings provide insight into the multiplicity of concepts that underpin vocal identity in PCM and recognise the ways in which the encultured voice leads to individuality in expressivity.