So let me just preface this, I’ve been singing for over half a decade and smoking pot for just a little over that, about 6 years and nicotine for about 3 months. I am very well aware of the effects of smoke on the lungs, endocrine system and overall health. I’m not defending addiction nor am I trying to make light of my struggles with substance, in fact smoking in excess fucks my voice and I usually take weekends off cause sing mondays with varying levels of success.

However, I have gotten “clean” 3 times in my life, quitting for over 6 months at the longest, and every single time I notice my voice is clearer, suddenly a lot easier to hit pitch, but it lacks all flow, tone and general “soul” as well as my voice just sounds plain bad, how is this? It seems like my voice is perfect when I smoke in moderation, but abstinence and indulgence both lead me to an awful sound. I’m not gonna sing my own praises but I’m a good singer, I’ve worked multiple venues and tons of scenes throughout my early 20’s “my voice” or rather the voice of me when loaded is amazing, but without it, dry, boring and lacking feeling.

I feel like I’m at a crossroads where I don’t like only being able to perform loaded, but I can’t argue my voice is objectively better when I balance the smoke.

I’ve had lots of theories that maybe it’s just helping me get more comfortable and focus less on external stuff, or maybe the excess mucus from smoking helps me hit hard and harsh projections without hurting my larynx. But please, if anyone has serious input let me know, I don’t like being reliant on these chemicals, but its too enticing when my passion is so closely tied to it.