EP #14: Craig Lees: How To Make Pop And Rock Choirs Sound Real

Pop and rock choir can sound electrifying or it can sound like a classical choir wearing a pop costume. We sit down with Craig Lees, Principal Lecturer in Popular Voice at Leeds Conservatoire and a leading figure in contemporary pop choral work, to get specific about what actually makes popular music feel authentic when sung by a choir.We dig into the nuts and bolts that choir directors and vocal leaders wrestle with every week: how to avoid the “pretty by default” trap, how to teach rhythm so syncopation stays alive, and how to shape articulation and vowels so the sound sits closer to speech and style. Craig shares practical rehearsal approaches for mix and belt in a group setting, including the use of primal sounds like calls, sighs and yells, plus how to keep singers healthy while still getting that raw, emotional edge pop music demands.We also explore groove as a whole-body skill, why movement can instantly change ensemble feel, and how consonant placement can create punch and projection without pushing volume at the vocal folds. On the arranging and section-leading side, Craig talks about gospel-influenced voicings, mixed tenor sections (including female tenors), and what “twang” really means as a controllable change in the vocal tract that can boost clarity and carry. If you want a more modern choir sound, stronger performances, and rehearsals that translate directly to the stage, this one is packed with usable ideas.Subscribe so you never miss an episode, leave a rating and review, and share it with a fellow choir director who wants their pop set to finally land.***More about Craig Lees:Website: www.livingvocally.comInstagram: @craigantonylees Facebook: @livingvocallyContact the StudioSupport the show***Resources:The Choir Director Podcast — helping you build stronger choirs, run better rehearsals, and create outstanding musical experiences.Website: thechoirdirectorpodcast.comMailing List: Join our NewsletterFollow Russell Scott:Website: russellscott.orgInstagram: @russellscottofficialFacebook: facebook.com/russellscottofficialX: @russellscottuk(c) Russell Scott 2026.  All rights reserved.