any singers that vape?

[Rios]

Just the thread I've been looking for (thanks again DC2)

I might be jumping the gun a little prematurely here but so far it's been 2 days vaping (alot) and when I sing my voice cracks out on me. I smoked about a half a pack a day (sometimes less sometimes more) for 11 years and actually my vocal range and breath control is not bad compared to others who smoke considerably more.

Hopefully though, from what I've read here, I can up my range and control. Would love to be able to project a bit more, as I am a very soft spoken person and that kind of shows in my singing.

Just happy that you all have reported good results, hopefully as more time passes the results of not smoking will show itself in my singing.

 

[JoeD4]

Rios,
I have sung professionally, although not right now, and I have noticed after vaping a few months that my range has improved (I got back about half an octave that I had lost), my control is coming back and my breathing has improved as well. Is it all 100%.....not yet. I don't know how much damage has been done and what is realistic. I DO know that it feels GREAT to be able to sing more or less the way I want to again! I still have a ways to go. It's not just the cig thing but also the "out of practice" thing. I am not a 5 star lead vocalist. I am a baritone that can hit an "A" above middle "C". That means that I can do "OK" as an acoustic solo performer or sing solid BGV's as a guitarist. I'm getting ready to get back out there and vaping is what opened the door for me again. Best of luck to you. Glad to hear you are getting "it" back too! Keep on truckin'!

 

[Rios]

Ha, awesome Joe. I'm excited to see what it does for me voicewise. I don't have bad range or bad breathe control compared to people who smoke a pack or more a day.(I more or less smoked a half a pack a day) It would be awesome if it helped with my projection. I practice of course, but I am a very soft spoken person and it shows in my singing.

Good luck to you, hope you get back out there again.

 

[Chris Brown]

I'm a full time musician... most of the singers I know smoke and some of them are amazing vocalists... would they be even better if they vaped?

After about a month of vaping I noticed more stamina and control when singing... thought that was awesome but it gets even better...

A couple of months ago I started working out (never before because smoking made exercise hurt, to me)... anyway, my lungs feel sooo much better since I started working out... range increased... more control etc etc etc... vaping + exercise = my lungs literally feel like they did before I smoked tobacco.

If there is a downside it's the drying effect of pg... you've got to stay hydrated or your throat can get scratchy. I've only noticed it a couple of times... I drink a lot of water at the gig and I also vape vg or pg/vg mix... rarely pure pg base.

Best, CB

 

[Rios]

ok, it's been two weeks tomorrow since I've had a tobacco cigarette. I know it's not that long, I tried to sing again, and ended up losing my voice for two days (never actually lost my voice before). My throat was really sore. I've since stopped singing and started to drink tea, and munch on Ricolas which seem to help tremendously. I know there's gonna be some long tedious healing process, which has made me think more than once if I should just go back to smoking (though i won't, it's crossed my mind, lol) It's just a little strange that I feel I had a way better range and tone when i was smoking, than when I vape. Guess i'll give it another week and see how it goes. I'm just itching to start singing again. For any long time smokers, did it take a while before you could start flexing those vocal chords again?

 

[Ourei]

I didn't start singing until after I quit chain-smoking many years ago. I picked up e-cigs to get away from alcohol and junk food. It's working! Also, e-cigs have no effect on my voice, I still sound awful

Something you can use that might speed up your lung/throat rejuvenation is to use something like the Power Lung which works wonders, I have the hardcore blue Sport version but there's models for singers/musicians which are easier on the lungs. Great stuff!

Also there's throat sprays, usually herb-based, like these on Amazon. I don't have the name of the spray I use with me at the moment, but it's some herbal non-alcohol type I bought from my local organic market. If you've never used throat sprays, it really helps when you feel dry, scratchy and irritated. A sip of olive oil will coat your throat and ease any irritations, a not-so-tasty home remedy

 

[Rios]

That's some good advice. Thanks Ourei, I'll try the non alcoholic spray and maybe the olive oil. Don't know about that other device, little pricey for me, lol, but it looks interesting. Never seen one before.

 

[Ourei]

Yeah, the Power Lung is a real smash on the wallet. After I bought it, I learned from my co-workers that many scuba dive shops sell a similar kind of device for around 20-30 dollars. I don't think it's as good from what I've read online, but it's also not a must-have item. I think the spray does wonders by itself. Especially just before you have to sing, it helps open the throat up. I've seen other singers also wrap towels around their neck, I think soaked in hot water, not sure though.

Cheers!

 

[Franziskus]

I'm not a singer, but an voice actor, and I did not observe any problems. It's just better than smoking analogs, because you're more able to control your breath.

 

[Rios]

Yeah, I became curious after you mentioned the powerlung. I did some research on it and it sounds like a very interesting device. I've looked at other products to compare and it does seem like the powerlung is the best on the market right now. I've looked everywhere but no one seems to budge from that hundred dollar price tag. If I ever happen upon some extra spending money I wouldn't mind trying out that T343A model. Thanks again Ourei.

 

[Israfil]

As long as you don't sing with the vapor exiting your lungs, you should notice an improvement in vocal tone, range, and lung capacity.

If you do sing while exhaling it will probably make you an instant Bass... ^_^ The vapor is heavier than air, and just like speaking with helium (lighter than air, voice goes up) your voice will be different until the lungs are clear. (doesn't take much for the vapor to disappear, 1-5 seconds) That's part of why you hear reviewers voices change so much, they're speaking while they exhale vapor.

Also yes Ourei, it is most likely a towel with water, heated to a comfortable warmth to loosen the muscles in the throat and soothe the voice box. Some people swear by it, makes your warmup time faster in any case. Another tip is to make sure if you drink something when singing, it isn't ice cold.

 

[Mac]

Before e-cigs YouTube - Morbid Angel - "God of Emptiness" Earache Records
After e-cigs YouTube - Pink Floyd The Wall - Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb

 

[Ourei]

Mac: B-wahahaha! That was a good laugh, thanks for the before/after... I almost choked on my soda!

Rios: Yeah, the Powerlung is insanely priced, I bought mine from Amazon, which is usually the cheapest place, and it was around $90-$100. I take it apart to clean once in awhile, and it's just a couple pieces of plastic and two big springs. You'd think it costs maybe $20 to manufacture, but I think the price is covering the effort it took to design the device, and maybe they produce the stuff in small batches (I doubt they sell too many of these things). I actually dread looking at my Power Lung because it's such a hard workout on the lungs that I get tired as soon as I see it!

Israfil: Thanks for confirming the hot towel around the neck, now I don't have to wonder about it

 

[prawdaeh]

lol @ mac...morbid angel to comfortably numb...funny thing - i started singing along with pink floyd and i thought "wow...i sound good...and i'm not coughing a lung up trying" and then busted out into joyful laughter... before spotting this thread I actually received an email from a local band that wants me to audition for vocals...i haven't sang in front of people since the 4th grade! I'm going to go try it out. Knowing that my vocals will only improve over time.

 

[Vic l]

Used to be in bands, Now do a lot of Karaoke (helps that my housemates run a biz). even in the only two days with no analogs have noticed a big improvement in my vocals