Meet Makaysha | Vocal Empowerment Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Makaysha and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Makaysha, how does your business help the community?
My business Makaysha Music Vocal Coaching helps the community and the world by supporting people in opening their voices and feeling free in their expression. Most people have some story about how staying small and quiet is safer than taking up space in the world and sharing your voice.

As a vocal empowerment coach, I support people in unraveling and healing the stories and parts of themselves that keep them playing small in their life. Whether your goal is to sing, to speak, to express yourself more clearly or to share your unique artful expression in the world, my passion is to support people where they are and help you achieve the life of your dreams.

So many people have dreams of singing and sharing their voice, and I love teaching all aspects of voice, including Advanced vocal technique, body-supported singing, healing anxiety and limiting beliefs around using your voice, voice as your authentic offering, and guiding you to take your art from your basement to the stage.

I love singing sacred Mantra and leading kirtan – call and response singing. Singing sacred mantras is less about performance and more about singing in community and feeling the vibration of the music and the chanting calming our nervous system.
As we sink into the sacred mantras, we are able to come into our hearts and the present moment more easily.

Everyone can sing, but not everyone has an equal opportunity to share their voice. I believe that as you experience freedom and liberation with your voice and song, that we can collectively experience a greater liberation together.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Until my mid-30’s, I had crippling stage fright. From the time I was a young girl, singing into a hairbrush in my bedroom, I knew that I had a special connection to my voice and singing. But I was terrified of singing in front of others. Singing in the school choir took every ounce of nerve I had, and my face still turned bright red!
I longed to sing onstage and share my voice but the idea of being seen was too terrifying to confront. The idea of getting up on stage paralyzed me with anxiety. The pain of holding it in and staying small and silent became too much to bear…and I started taking risks and sharing my voice.

Little by little, I shared my voice on stage while at the same time developing somatic and mindfulness practices to stay calm and centered while singing. I worked with my limiting beliefs and anxious and critical parts that would come up around singing. I developed the ability to regulate my nervous system through chanting sacred mantras and other empowering practices.

I love to create music that uplift Humanity and brings us together. The music that I create is a combination of English lyrics that move my soul, sacred Sanskrit mantras and world music instruments with a danceable beat.

Music and singing has the power to shift our states of being from fear and overwhelm to calm and centered. I’m passionate about creating healing spaces through music where we can all come together exactly as we are and transform states of being through singing together.

Singing Kirtan – devotional and sacred chanting – has completely changed the way I approach singing. Instead of singing to perform for other people – I now experience singing as an offering of what is real and true for me.

I discovered that leading others in singing Kirtan and sacred songs is one of my favorite experiences. As our voices and breath unify, and we chant together with intention, I experience the sacred within myself, fully accessible, present within.

Now I love to sing with people – onstage, offstage, in circles and in ceremonies and as a Vocal Empowerment Coach.
It’s my purpose and passion in life to support others to open their voices, especially those who feel like they can’t do it. I’m here to show you that you CAN do it! I have spent years developing vocal activation and somatic practices to support a calm and centered space while singing – and I want to share them all with you!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I love living in Louisville, Colorado as it is central to so many wonderful places. If a friend was visiting, I would definitely take them hiking in the foothills. One of my favorite Trails is The Green Mountain Trail, a strenuous hike with panoramic views of Boulder and many 14er mountains. I would take them to the Boulder Farmers Market at Central Park, and also to one of the many ecstatic dance or music events happening at Vali Soul sanctuary in Boulder. I would take them to one of my favorite restaurants, either Fresh Thymes in Boulder or Community in Lafayette. We might have a Denver day and ride electric scooters near Confluence Park along the Platte River, Visit The Denver Art Museum and go to Torchy’s Tacos For a bite to eat.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to thank my mom Claire McLean, my daughter Kora Harson and my partner Rico Rocha for always believing in me and having my back! I want to thank my kirtan community, my band mates and all of the people I play music and sing with for lifting up our community’s voices.

Website: www.makaysha.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makayshamusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Makayshamusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPrdQwVje6mMQu9RaiKIEgg

Other: Temple of the Voice with Makaysha: A FREE, 10-Day Singing Immersion to Discover the Power of Your Voice, Ignite your Life-Force Through Song and Liberate Your Expression with Makaysha Featuring 18 Presenters with Leaders in Singing, Self-Expression, Sexuality, Healing and Sacred Music. November 28 – December 9, 2022 Join the free immersion here: www.templeofthevoice.com

Image Credits
SarahKate Butterworth