From Press Release –
Renowned soprano vocalist, composer, and vocal expert Elizabeth Zharoff is launching an unprecedented Kickstarter campaign to advance vocal research, with the potential to revolutionize how we understand and utilize the human voice. 100% of funds donated to the Kickstarter will go to The Charismatic Voice Research Fund, a non-profit dedicated to vocal research. Through her popular YouTube channel, The Charismatic Voice, which boasts over 1.7 million subscribers and 40 million watch hours, Zharoff has inspired a global community of music enthusiasts and ignited a new era in vocal science.
Elizabeth Zharoff’s journey into the world of vocal science began with her curiosity and a desire to debunk myths surrounding harsh vocal sounds.
Zharoff explains.
“I used to think that screams and growls were harmful to the vocal cords,”
“Even with eight years of university opera training and a decade of performing, I believed these sounds were damaging. But I was wrong. We were wrong.”
Her research, which began with the extensive vocal testing of deathcore singer Will Ramos of Lorna Shore, has already challenged long-standing assumptions about vocal health. The findings suggest that metal vocalists can produce extreme sounds without causing damage, and these vocal distortions may have broader applications in medical therapies, from improving heart disease to treating mental illnesses.
The first documentary with Will Ramos of Lorna Shore
Zharoff’s dream extends far beyond expanding vocal techniques.
“In ten years, I want to see programs on vocal distortion at Juilliard. I want classical singers to cross-train in these techniques because there’s evidence that training in vocal distortion could actually improve your high notes,”
But her ambitions go even further. Zharoff envisions a future where vocal distortions are used to treat mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. The vagus nerve, which connects the vocal folds to various critical organs, plays a role in emotional processing. Zharoff believes that engaging the full range of vocal structures, as metal singers do, could lead to breakthroughs in mental health therapies.
The Research Team:
To turn this vision into reality, Elizabeth Zharoff has established a non-profit organization dedicated to vocal research and is launching the Kickstarter campaign, dedicating all proceeds to The Charismatic Voice Research Fund, to support the next phase of this groundbreaking work. The campaign will support research on seven professional metal singers, following the success of the pilot study with Will Ramos. The study participants include some of the most iconic voices in metal:
- Travis Ryan of Cattle Decapitation
- Phil Bozeman of Whitechapel
- Mark Garrett of Kardashev and Kardavox Academy (YouTube)
- Melissa Bonny of Ad Infinitum
- Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy
- Spencer Sotelo of Periphery
- Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer
- Devin Townsend
The project will be led by top vocal researchers at the University of Utah, with additional experts from around the world. Zharoff has funded much of the initial research herself, but to expand the study, she needs community support.
Zharoff says.
“We’ve had people ask why we’re using Kickstarter instead of grants. The truth is, harsh vocals have been so stigmatized that securing grants has been challenging. But we believe in the power of community to lead this revolution,“
The Kickstarter campaign will allocate all funds to The Charismatic Voice Research Fund and offer eleven tiers of rewards, from early access to research papers and reaction-analysis videos to private voice lessons and even a chance to witness Zharoff undergo the same vocal research procedures she’s studying. One of the most exciting rewards is the opportunity for backers to have their names featured in The Charismatic Voice logo, which will appear in all related documentaries if they pledge within the first 24 hours of the campaign.
The second documentary with Will Ramos of Lorna Shore.
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In addition to financial support, Zharoff is encouraging the global community to help spread the word through a series of social goals. These goals include sharing personal screams on social media, engaging with campaign updates, and spreading awareness of the research’s potential impact.
“Together, we can change the future of vocal science and improve the lives of millions,”
. “This is a big deal, and we can have fun doing it too.”
