Question about Sonya -Great Comet

[Hellob]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 11:10am

The actress has an unusual way of singing and I was wondering if there's a name for the style or if it's just the way she is. I can't exactly explain it but she hits certain words harder  like she has too much spit in her mouth or something like that. Hopefully, you know what I mean. 

[boonanas]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 11:15am

The times I saw the play I always thought her voice stood out, and "Sonya Alone" is a great number.  Her voice sounds like it's coming from a different, older person, and I think it's very unique.  I don't know the singing style though.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 11:20am

That's how Brittain Ashford sings. You can hear her on the recording of Ghost Quartet, Dave Malloy's other piece, as well.

[Hellob]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 11:32am

I don't mean it's a negative, I just never heard someone sing like that. It's interesting.

[phan24]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 5:24pm

Great Comet is the first time she's acted so she definitely brings her own singing style to the role/show. I also found it a little weird and almost forced when I saw it live, but it ended up becoming my favorite song from the show days later. Her voice is just different.

Jessie Mueller's singing voice has a little bit of the same nuances.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 5:47pm

It comes from the style of indie music singing. Personally I find it very grating to listen to, even moreso when I saw "Comet" live (though it didn't bother me when I saw Ghost Quartet, for some reason - maybe because it was more of a concert-style show?). It bugged me a lot when I saw Jessie Mueller in Waitress too. Personal taste, I guess. 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 6:07pm

I absolutely love her voice.  She has a very unusual and unique style that is based on indie and folk.  It's refreshing to hear something new like that.

[Someday]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 6:10pm

I don't know the technical language for what Brittain Ashford does in those moments, but I know exactly what you're talking about. To me, it adds a slightly folk or old-time music aspect to her singing, like Joan Baez or Emmylou Harris, or someone like that.

It's idiosyncratic enough that I totally get how some folks wouldn't like it. But I liked it a lot, in the theater and in the recording. But I'm a sucker for an "interesting" vocal sound. I miss all those character-acting-style voices from the bygone era that you don't hear as frequently anymore — folks like Carol Channing, Charles Nelson Reilly, Glynnis Johns, Elaine Stritch. Those are some famous ones, but cast albums used to be full of random folks with fabulously unique voices.

We do still have a few unmistakable voices among us, with long, successful careers — Mandy Patinkin, Harvey Fierstein, Bernadette Peters. Their voices are a huge part of what makes them distinctive. (And if this idea interests you, here's an old thread that discusses the same thing: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=976305.)

Anyway, I'm glad when new talents like Brittain Ashford come along who aren't afraid to let their different sounds be heard.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 6:54pm

^As much as I dislike Ashford's voice specifically, I admit I do agree with that sentiment in general. So many Broadway actors sound almost exactly the same nowaways. They all want that big Broadway belt. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 1/6/17 at 6:57pm

I love Brittian Ashford's voice. She (and the song) was a highlight for the show way back at Ars Nova and are a definite highlight in this production as well.  In addition to having a quirky vocal tone, to my hear she also has a bit of a lateral lisp- I don't now if its natural or affected, but it also gives her an unmistakable singing voice.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/7/17 at 9:27am

QueenAlice said: "I don't now if its natural or affected,"

It's affected. No doubt about it. She doesn't do it on every "S" in the show, nor does she do it while speaking. 

 

[rjm516]

Posted: 1/7/17 at 9:33am

I honestly couldn't tell by the end of the show if I liked or hated her voice, but it's the most interesting one I've heard on bway in a while. It was like being at Lilith Fair back in the day.

[Hellob]

Posted: 1/7/17 at 10:59pm

JBroadway said: "QueenAlice said: "I don't now if its natural or affected,"

It's affected. No doubt about it. She doesn't do it on every "S" in the show, nor does she do it while speaking. 

 

 

"

It's like she has a speech impediment only when singing. That's why I found it so remarkable bc her speaking voice has no trace of it. 

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 1:14am

The first time I listened to the song (about a year ago) I thought it was a speech I thought it was a speech impediment and got excited because I have a lisp and thought it was cool to see someone else with one. But she doesn't do it for any other song in the show. Either way, she has a beautiful voice! 

[mpkie]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 1:31am

She's incredible. The only thing I think she should do is pronounce more pure s's rather than closer to the "s-h" sound she makes but I guess that's a stylistic choice for her vocal solos. Her voice and style reminds me of Jessie Mueller's but I love Brittain's while I dislike Jessie's.

[Theatricality]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 1:58am

I really enjoy her voice, I think the raw and almost raspy style sounds great. The only thing I don't like is that her voice whistles when she pronounces s's. A little distracting for me, but a small thing to critique considering she has a great voice. 

Posted: 1/9/17 at 11:23am

I saw The Comet a few days ago with her understudy and thought her performance was my favorite. I then listened to the real Sonya and can see how different they are. Brittan's voice does seem quite unique. Anyway, that show was just so original and unique. Favorite musical I've seen on Broadway this year and I'm consistently recommending it.