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New Delhi: Jaime Vendera can break wine glasses with his raw voice, but the
US-based vocal coach doesn't consider himself special and gives
credit to years of hard work for achieving the unique skill.
"I don't feel special. I have been taught to do this. One of my
friends, Jim Gillette of rock band Nitro, used to break wine
glasses with the help of the amplifier and he was the one who
taught me to do this," Vendera, 42, told IANS on phone from Ohio.
He has been playing professionally since the age of 16.
Vendera is today a world-famous glass-shattering and
voice-strengthening expert, who has an unusual approach to vocal
training.
His training allows a singer to unlock his or her voice by
creating a variety of primal sounds and unleash the power of vocal
resonance and projection.
"About 8-10 years ago, he (Gillette) called me and asked: 'Do you
want to be on TV?' I asked him: 'What do you want me to do'? He
said: 'I want you to break wine glasses'," recalled Vendera.
"I was scared out of my mind because I wasn't special. But he
taught me and I did the show. It was 'Mythbusters' (2005) for the
Discovery Channel. I performed there with other professionals and
when the showmakers measured my voice, it was much louder than
other competitors.
"They said they wanted to see me try and break the wine glass
without the amplifier. So I practiced and I did it. I set the
world record. I have been practicing through a lot of vocal
exercises," said Vendera, a former construction worker.
He said he used to take glasses to his job site and practice there
by screaming at them.
Jaime has now become a professional vocal coach and has been
training rockers Kevin Rudolf, Dream Theater band's James LaBrie,
Matt Devine of band Kill Hannah, Clayton Stroope of band Thriving
Ivory among others.
"I'm also a vocal coach. But glass breaking is fun. I love doing
it. I have done dozens of TV shows. It helps me travel all over
the world," he said.
Vendera will now appear on Discovery Channel's new show -
"Superhuman Showdown" that tracks down individuals with unique
abilities. It goes on air from Monday.
Asked if raising his voice to higher levels ever had any effect,
Vendara said: "When I raise my voice to higher level to break wine
glasses, my vocal chords do swell a little bit, but it isn't
damaging my throat. The voice is perfect.
"I periodically get my vocal chords checked to make sure I haven't
damaged my throat. It is working amazing well."
Any plans to visit India?
"I haven't visited India but I have been dying to visit the
place," he said.
(Priyanka Sharma can be contacted at priyanka.s@ians.in)
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