The voice is an instrument

Available for over a year

The most versatile instrument of all may be the one we carry within us, an endlessly adaptable musical tool, capable of conveying everything from technical brilliance to profound human expression. In this essay, tenor Nicky Spence explores the many ways singers shape and use the human voice across musical genres, from opera houses and concert halls to jazz clubs and recording studios. Nicky hears from singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier, whose boundary-crossing approach has redefined what the voice can do. Together, they explore harmony, improvisation, vocal textures and the unique relationship between voice and creativity, while voice specialist Declan Costello explains the physiology behind these sounds. What makes the same instrument capable of such extraordinary variety? Produced by Calantha Bonnissent