In today’s episode, Abram Poliakoff and Camille Van Niekerk break down one of the most underrated parts of becoming a better singer: stylizing your song. If you’ve ever wondered how pro singers add riffs, runs, phrasing twists, vowel tweaks, and emotional depth to a melody, this conversation is gold.

They dig into:

- How to riff without overdoing it

- Why folk songs like this Irish/Scottish classic are perfect stylization practice

- Using vibrato, vocal fry, breathiness & onsets intentionally

- When to add riffs so they enhance the melody, not drown it

- Backphrasing, rubato, and timing choices that make your voice sound expressive—not chaotic

- How different artists (Hozier, Ed Sheeran, Waylon Jennings, etc.) all cover the same song uniquely

- Why stylization is part practice, part instinct… and totally learnable

If you’ve ever thought “riffs just don’t come naturally to me,” this is your sign: they’re skills, not magic tricks. And you can learn them with the right breakdowns.