Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elle Reynolds. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elle , appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I knew for a long time that I was interested in pursuing a career in music, it’s something I’d dreamed about since the first time I performed on stage and that dream only grew stronger over time. However, the first time I truly knew music was something I not only wanted to do, but could also do successfully, was after I taught my first guitar lesson at 17. I realized that just in an hour I was able to help my friend establish a passion that he could take with him for the rest of his life, and that felt so magical. I got such a rush of excitement from being able to share this with someone else, and this was the confidence boost that it took for me to realize that my love for music wasn’t just a pipe dream.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Verity Voice is a private business I started in order to transfer my musical/vocal knowledge to others.  I teach and coach singers, of all levels, to get the most from the instrument they were born with, with and without lessons in other instruments.  The most rewarding aspect of this business, as a trans person, is leveraging my vocal skills with my lived experience to provide gender affirming voice lessons to others in the trans and queer community.

I’ve always been enamored with singing since before I could speak, and I started participating in advanced choir programs from a young age. This desire continued to grow as I learned guitar and began to perform on my own/bands in addition to my work in choirs. In high school, voice training became my main focus and I auditioned into Denver school of the Arts.

This was an extremely formative time for me as an educator, because although I learned so much from DSA, I was the first out trans student to go through the vocal program, and I experienced daily transphobic abuse from my choir directors to the point that they were fired because of my treatment. If not for the bands I played in and the DIY punk community, I would’ve most likely quit music, and this was something I never wanted to put another person through.

Since high school, I have worked for several music schools, providing standard music lessons on a variety of instruments and vocals. Several years ago, I began providing gender affirming voice and music lessons in my private practice, Verity Voice.  Virtually mostly, I guide trans students on voice feminization/masculinization/neutralization. This is applied to talking and/or singing, and I place a big emphasis the normalization of all body and voice types, as well as the forming of healthy, fun, and sustainable practice routines.  It is the most rewarding work I get to do.  I love being able to combine my knowledge of music and the voice with my lived experience as a trans person to help people feel more at home in their own bodies.

I’ve come to learn that voice is much less tangible than other instruments, yet it’s an instrument that people have been using, typically in an untrained manner, for their entire lives.  Because of this, much of the work we do in lessons is focused around helping people understand how to listen to their own body.  In time, and with practice, they become able to treat their voice like an instrument they can control.  Instead of aimlessly guessing in a trial and error (e.g. straining their voice) manner, my students gain a toolset to create the voice they want to have.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m pivoting right now.  I’ve been diagnosed with a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, which severely impacts my arms and hands to the point of limiting my capacity to play and teach instruments like guitar and piano.  In my bands we are looking for guitarists, so I can focus as a vocalist with a lighter instrument load.  It’s even limiting my job options, now having to avoid jobs involving consistent use of my hands.  Only recently have I begun to expand Verity Voice Lessons from a part-time side gig to a full-time career path.  I’m always looking forward to writing and performing more, but also really enthusiastic about helping singers of all levels as well as contributing to my community through voice work, for a long time to come.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think one thing that lot of people don’t realize is that we all create, just about every day. I do believe humans have an incredibly innate desire to create art, but I also believe that any time you bring something new to into this world you’re creating. When you make a new playlist for a road trip, you’re creating. Preparing an outline for a big meeting? You’re creating.

I believe the less we lump the act of creation into this isolated bubble that only applies to artists, the more we can demystify it, and appreciate how it’s an innate and necessary part of the human experience that all of us can and do engage in.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadow_expert_?igsh=MTY4endzdDg2YjltZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@faintingdreams?_t=8kEfL79tkFS&_r=1 People interested can also reach out to me by email! [email protected]

Image Credits
Kennedy Cottrell (1st photo) Jordan Altergott (photos 2 & 3) Leah Armstrong (4th photo) Aimes Liz (5th photo)