Singers with Unique Voices: Shaina Taub (The Unique Voices Club #51)

Every other Friday, I write a post about singers with unique voices not commonly heard in mainstream music. My goal? To educate emerging artists, music lovers and musical theatre creators while inspiring them to embrace their own quirks. This week, I'm writing on Shaina Taub.

What we showcase on the Unique Voices Club doesn't just pertain to music exclusively. As I also analyze in my videos, it also pertains to musical theatre. Because indie music can be a source of great inspiration for new musicals as much as pop music can. And in this episode, just like Amber Gray the cursed wife of Hades who we covered last year, we're covering another musical theatre star.

Shaina Taub has been part of the Off-Broadway original casts of quite a few shows that have gone on to the main part of the Great White Way, including Hadestown and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. And yet somehow, I've only just found out about her in the last year because of her creation and starring in Suffs. Having developed a passion for social justice as a child, it doesn't surprise me that she decided to develop a musical on the suffrage movement fighting for women's right to vote. (While I'm still kicking myself because I missed out when Suffs played in my city, I found a PBS broadcast on YouTube so thankfully my heart is happy again.)

As I do with any new show I learn about after watching the Tonys, I dove headfirst into a listening research session. And discovered that Shaina Taub has 4 non-show-related albums in her discography. Besides her artistry that incorporates elements of jazz, folk and gospel, I was immediately enamored with her voice. It didn't sound like your typical talk-singing or operatic style that is often in musical theatre, but with little quirks such as a slight yodel, fast vibrato and forward palate placement in her diction. Watch the video below to listen more about what I'm talking about:

If you're involved with musical theatre (whether that's performing or creating it), go check out Shaina's other albums to get a feel and some inspiration. There is a place out there for your voice. And who knows, maybe you might create the show you want to see exist. Because that's what we do on the Unique Voices Club. We're creating a world where independent artists and musical theatre creators can also have a seat at the table with their own unique brand of musical flavor. If this sounds like you, sign up for the Firebird Flock. Because at the upper tier, you get access to the group where we share the voices we discover along the way that should be known. And you'll get a shoutout when I use your selection!

Continue to own your voice and stay educated,

Alexia