You Need To Use Your Voice

Insight on writing and rerecording "Tar-Baby" for the EP

and now Miguel in the booth. Getting ready to rerecord the hook for “Tar-Baby.”

The sound of your voice—whether you like it or not—is uniquely yours.

I’ve been in front of a microphone since I was 14, and still, I return to this truth:
To make something your own, you have to use your own voice.

And I don’t mean “voice” in the writerly, metaphorical sense. I mean your actual voice—literal, physical, resonant.

This past weekend, while rewriting the chorus for a track I’ve been mixing for the past two or three weeks, I had to confront that truth all over again.

The song is called “Tar-Baby,” and it explores healing the wounds that come from weak boundaries. It touches on the unproductive coping mechanisms we use to manage those wounds—like substance use—and challenges us to use creative practice to move through past violations.

A different take on the source that inspired the original chorus used for this song.

In that version, I used the same hook KRS-One used in his 1993 track “I Can’t Wake Up” from Return of the Boom Bap. I saw it as an homage—a reinterpretation placed in the context of unhealthy relationships with society and loved ones. I wove it in intentionally. But copyright law doesn’t care about artistic intent.

I loved that version. Still do. But I never secured publishing clearance, and after avoiding the issue for nearly two years, I finally had to face the deeper problem:

The copyright concern was just the surface.
The real issue lived in my throat.

I had to remember that the words—the lyrics—were just the clothes. The message, the felt sense, is what mattered. That’s what needed to be expressed.

KRS-One’s original hook goes:
“I’m a blunt getting smoked and I can’t wake up.”
I used those exact words.

But to find my version, I had to slow down. I had to ask:
What do those words mean in the context of this song? How do I say that in my own voice?

From a technical angle, I tried to match the syllable count. But that wasn’t the focus. The feeling was.

I got out of my chair. I walked around the house. Washed dishes. Spoke. Recited. Performed.
I spoke the new chorus into existence—not from the page, but from my body.
I let my voice feel the message.

That’s the key—hearing the sound of your voice, using words.

***

I can’t wait to share “Tar-Baby” with y’all. I’m proud of how the new hook came out.

***

Sound lets us imbue words with meaning based on how we deliver them. That’s the magic of being a performing artist—expression becomes multidimensional.

But the real takeaway is this:
Listen to your voice. Speak your art into existence.

***

Anthony Marigold recently wrote a dope piece about AI and authentic writing. He explores the challenge of proving whether art—especially literature—comes from a human or a machine. I won’t summarize it here; go check it out and show him some love.

What resonated with me most was his emphasis on voice. It affirmed my conviction that your unique, embodied system—your emotions, your breath, your gestures—can guide the words you need to write.

Anthony says:

“…as of now, one option is to write like you talk. If the delta between a novelist’s narration and his extemporaneous speech is close to zero, then you can trust that he is the author of his words.”

The emphasis on “extemporaneous speech” is important.
If you want to find your voice, use your voice.
Get out of your head by speaking. Push. Sound. Out.

Writing, for me, is a practice of actively listening to myself—and honoring the unique sound of my voice.

At the most basic level, that means:
Learn to appreciate the sounds that come out of your mouth.

As for what sounds good and what doesn’t?
Thats a whole other thing, but, maybe I’ll explore that in the future.

I hope this inspires you to value your body which is what your mind realize on, never forget it.

Deep bow. With loving kindness,

and now Miguel

Ps. I am offering free vocal editing and clean up. Shoot me a message. I’m offering at the moment as a public service.

Check Out My Recent Post

Ace [OF] Trumpets (Audio Poem Lyric Rap Bars)

Phish Food (Audio Lyric Poem Rap Bars)

The Bluest (Audio Lyric Rap Poem)

---

Dear Reader,

Thank you for engaging with my work. It takes capital and time to complete this EP independently. Please consider supporting my work by visiting my store, or treating me to a cup of tea. I have 12 Zines left so grab them while they are still around. Thank you again to all of you who have supported this project.

With warm and loving gratitude,

and now Miguel