The Imperfections That Make Us Sing

Lauren Elkin’s memoir, Vocal Break, is a deeply personal exploration of the female voice – its complexities, nuances, and the ways societal expectations can silence it. On the surface, it’s a celebration of women who have sung their way through history, from Édith Piaf to Charli XCX. But beneath this lies a subversive message: that our imperfections are not flaws, but what make us unique.

Growing up, Elkin struggled with traditional notions of vocal perfection on Long Island. Her voice teacher sought to smooth out her rough edges – literally – by suppressing the “vocal break,” where the chest voice gives way to the head voice. This process was not just about technique; it was also social conditioning. The teacher wanted Elkin to fit in, blend in with the crowd, rather than stand out as an individual.

What if we turned this expectation on its head? What if we saw our imperfections as strengths – unique markers that set us apart from others? This is precisely Elkin’s argument: by embracing our flaws, we can tap into a deeper sense of power and authenticity. Her own voice, with all its “different colours and resonances,” scratches and cracks, becomes a source of pride rather than shame.

The implications are far-reaching. Women have been conditioned to hide their imperfections – the quiver in their voices, the tremble in their hands, or the lines on their faces. We’ve been told that perfection is the ultimate goal; anything less is somehow less than. This says a lot about our values as a society: do we really prize uniqueness and individuality, or just pay lip service to them?

Elkin’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the damage done when we try to erase our imperfections. When we silence our own voices – literally or figuratively – we also stifle creativity and self-expression that make us human. Men are not immune; they’ve been conditioned to conform to certain standards of masculinity, suppressing their emotions and vulnerabilities.

This narrative is beginning to shift. A new generation of artists, writers, and thinkers are embracing their imperfections as a source of strength rather than weakness. They’re pushing back against the pressure to conform, creating art that’s raw, honest, and unapologetic – not just about aesthetics, but also politics.

The suppression of our imperfections is often linked to larger power dynamics – those of class, race, and privilege. When we try to erase our flaws, we’re also trying to erase the historical traumas that have shaped us. We’re erasing the scars on our skin, the cracks in our voices, the lines on our faces as if they never existed. This only serves to further entrench existing power structures.

Elkin’s memoir reminds us to listen to our own inner voice – not just with our ears, but with our hearts and minds. It encourages us to see our imperfections as a source of pride rather than shame. Maybe it inspires us to create art that celebrates the unique markers that set us apart from others. The imperfections that make us sing are not just about our voices; they’re also about our stories – the ways in which we’ve been silenced, suppressed, or erased throughout history. It’s time to reclaim those stories – tell them with pride and passion, rather than shame and apology. Only then can we truly hear ourselves sing.