Vocalists: Find an instrumental collaborator who can read your mind.
A good instrumental collaborator who can read your body language and listen to your breathing is worth his/her weight in gold. Even better if the collaborator has an awesome grasp of music theory and harmony. Even better if the collaborator is versed in different styles. Even better if the collaborator can lead a band. The two of you can be a powerhouse duo.
Do you know what word I didn’t use? “Accompanist.” Why? Because it completely mischaracterizes what they bring to the table. You may be the “feature”, but without your collaborators, you are either singing completely alone or along to a karaoke track.
Don’t treat your instrumentalists like peons there to serve you. You want them serving the MUSIC.
