I gravitate towards vocals, and so my list of favorite vocalists is basically a mile long, or kilometer, or whatever. There were so many amazing vocal performances this year. Tom Englund stood out, as always, but I thought I’d give the list a rest from his presence. Here are my favorites from 2023.

___________________

10. Ross Jennings – Haken

Ross has been a favorite of mine for years, and his work on the latest Haken album is truly spectacular. I love how passionately he performs the ballads, and how powerfully he offers vocal rounds and layered melodies. He truly is one of the best vocalists in progressive music.

___________________

9. Jonathan Stafford

– Haunt the Woods

The debut from Haunt the Woods featured some terrific vocals. Jonathan’s voice is filled with character, and I love his musing moments where he leans into the grit in his style.  But I also love the moments where he hits his upper range, and these are the passages that are emotional and undeniably so.  There is something about his specific timbre that elicits tears and waves of electricity up my spine, and he only does it maybe 4-5 times on the record, but the build up and the payoff are superb.

___________________

8.  Faye O’Rourke – Soda Blonde

I loved the new Soda Blonde album, and much of that is because of Faye’s candid and expressive vocal style. She knows how to add a dash of zest to make a good hook into a great one, and she knows how to pull at the heartstrings, too.

___________________

7. Lisa Cuthbert – ISON

Lisa stepped into some big shoes as the new vocalist for ISON, but she did a terrific job in portraying both the emotions needed, as well as the mysterious and cosmic tones that set the music apart from so many others. Stars and Embers managed to be something truly special, and her performance is a big reason why.

___________________

6.  Michał Wojtas – solo

Michał’s voice is always such a treasure, whether on his solo works or with Amarok. I love how crystal clear his melodies are, almost innocent and untarnished in their presentation. On his latest, he mixes in layers of darkness and spinetingling expression for a balanced and haunting experience.

___________________

5. Ché Aimee Dorval – solo

Ché has a highly recognizable voice; I’m not sure if it’s in her slight British Columbian accent or just the small twists and turns she adds, but her style is supremely interesting and a step above most other musicians of her genre. I truly adored her latest solo album for the spunk and untamed manner of her vocals.

___________________

4. Helle Bohdanova – Ignea

Ignea is getting better and better. Helle’s vocals leaned more towards clean on their latest, which is something I’ve hoped because of how good her voice is. She has a filmic, golden timbre that truly sounds magical at various points, and the harsh vox she does offer are explosive and almost harmonious.

___________________

3. Lynsey Ward – Exploring Birdsong

It sort of feels like Exploring Birdsong enjoys teasing us. They’ve released two EPs thus far, and they are both spectacular. One major reason for that is Lynsey’s powerful voice that conveys rivers of emotion and range. Sometimes, she overwhelms the music entirely. It’s really something to hear. Hopefully, a full release is coming soon.

___________________

2. Lindsay Rose – Primrose Path

One of the best bands I discovered last year is Primrose Path. I took to their progressive and grungy take on metal, and Lindsay’s voice is perfect for the role with huge melodic capacity, but also a veritable buffet of raw and gritty tones, too. She can offer fierce and driving rage, but also beautiful and vulnerable moments. She’s definitely my favorite new voice that I heard last year, even if the band only released a few singles, and not a full album.

___________________

**1. Shaun Holton – Southern Empire**

Musically, Shaun had an amazing year in 2023. One of his projects was becoming the new vocalist for Southern Empire, and he absolutely nailed it. He sings his heart out with his glorious range and concrete presence, and he offers harmonies that are truly special. I loved every minute of what he gave us, and I’m hoping to hear more from him this year, too.

___________________