One Song Sylvester's "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" with Stevie Mackey
Sep 18, 2025
Join renowned vocal coach Stevie Mackey, a key player on NBC's The Voice, as he dives into the magic of Sylvester’s iconic track, ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).’ Discover how gospel influences shaped vocal runs and falsetto techniques. Mackey breaks down Sylvester's distinct vocal style, tackling myths around gendered falsetto and highlighting legends like Marvin Gaye. Dive deep into studio magic with isolated stems and talk about Patrick Cowley’s synthesizer innovations that came to define an era. Stevie also shares exciting glimpses into his future projects!
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Gospel Shaped American Vocal Style
- Gospel singing gave artists melodic runs and emotional delivery that shaped American genres like R&B and soul.
- Stevie Mackey links gospel's call-and-response and runs directly to modern vocal ornamentation.
Choose And Train Your Upper Register
- Use controlled head voice or falsetto deliberately as a stylistic choice to access lighter timbres.
- Practice 'mix' to blend chest and head for fuller, louder high notes.
Falsetto As Identity, Not Just Technique
- Falsetto can be identity and performance persona, not just a technique.
- Sylvester used falsetto to create a stage character that expressed his full self.