When the Spotlight Feels Too Bright: A Veteran Singer’s Debut Album Release
- Gökçe Kutsal
- Apr 11
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
* This story is shared with care. To respect the client’s privacy, some details have been changed. The essence of their experience and the outcomes remain true.
This amazing client was a seasoned singer and singing teacher in his 50s — deeply experienced, full of musical wisdom, and running a very full studio.
Between teaching and performing, he’d still managed to carve out time to create something deeply personal: His debut album.
After months of work, the release concert was on the horizon.
But instead of excitement, he was feeling uneasy.
He came to me for a single, focused coaching session — not to improve his singing, but to figure out how to present the work he had already created.
The Tension Behind the Curtain
Despite his years of experience, the thought of speaking between songs made him anxious.
He wasn’t sure if the slow, introspective nature of his original songs would hold the audience’s attention.
The entire program was composed of ballads, and though tickets were sold, he found himself second-guessing everything:
“What if it’s too slow?”
“Should I add covers to bring up the energy?”
“What do I even say between songs?”
This performance mattered deeply — it was his first and only album release.
And yet, he was facing the very human fear of standing in front of an audience with all eyes on him.
It was part of why he’d chosen to teach rather than perform more regularly in the first place.
He’d already sought advice from colleagues and fellow musicians, but he was still feeling unsure.
That’s where I came in.
Reclaiming the Stage
What struck me right away was how thoughtful, empathetic, and self-aware he was — qualities that made him a wonderful teacher and collaborator, but also led him to view himself a little too much through the audience’s eyes.
He was holding himself to impossible standards.
We focused on what was within his control:
We looked at the flow of his set list, mapping out energy levels and emotional pacing.
He ultimately decided to include a few well-chosen cover songs to lift the tempo and create moments of familiarity for the audience.
We rewrote parts of his stage banter to feel natural and grounded in his voice — warm, sincere, and engaging.
Most importantly, we worked on how he could stay connected to his values on stage, rather than his nerves.
We weren’t aiming for perfection — we were aiming for authenticity.
As a fellow singer, I knew that anxiety never fully disappears...
But our work gave him tools to navigate it, rather than be consumed by it.
The Shift
After our session, he not only restructured the set list with his band...
But also added instrumental solos to give the audience (and himself) some breathing space.
The entire evening became more dynamic and more him.
In his words:
"Something has changed in my thinking about the presentation... After our conversation, I talked with my band colleagues. We changed the set list and added solo parts... Now I look forward to the concert. And I am ready to start preparing with the talking between the songs."
He showed up to the release party with presence, joy, and trust in his work.
It wasn’t about performing without nerves — it was about performing with purpose.
Why This One Stuck With Me
We only worked together once, but he implemented everything we discussed almost immediately.
That kind of clarity and commitment is rare...
And it’s always a joy to support someone who’s ready to lean into their own voice, both literally and metaphorically.
It was a real privilege to be part of this milestone in his artistic journey.
