The Singers Talk: The Greatest Singers of Our Time Discuss the One Thing They’re Never Asked About: Their Voices

Gordon, drummer and front man of the band Kingsize, debuts with a fascinating, star-studded look at how singers relate to their most valuable asset: their voices. Asking vocalists how they “do their job night after night,” particularly given “how exhausting, frustrating, and fragile the human voice” is, Gordon gathers insights from Tony Bennett, Public Enemy’s Chuck D, Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, and others. For the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O, singing is “so much more than hitting the right note. It’s about connecting with the audience, connecting with something divine... to your most primitive and deepest intuition.” Lionel Richie discusses his early reluctance to perform, and his ideal mental state before going onstage (“If you’re not a little stage frightened... then you’re not really present”), while elsewhere, stars explain how they keep their voices tuned up on tour—from avoiding acidic foods (Sammy Hagar) to practicing specific warm-ups and warm-downs (Thom Yorke of Radiohead). This is a captivating look at both the nitty-gritty preparation and emotional energy that “it takes [for artists] to stand up to that mic... reach down into their guts, and give everything they’ve got for the sake of the song.” Its star power and up-close, revelatory detail will keep readers riveted from start to finish. (Sept.)