Picture of Meghan McCall

Meghan McCall

Voice & Nutrition Coach

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

My Goal: Sing and Speak like a Swede

Let’s talk about the practice of Lagom. Lagom is a Swedish word that translates to “not too much, not too little, just right.” It is a concept that promotes balance, moderation, and simplicity. When it comes to singing or speaking, applying Lagom means finding the right balance in your voice, expression, and performance.

One way to apply Lagom to singing is to focus on your breath control. Singing requires proper breathing technique to support your voice and create a consistent tone. However, overdoing it can lead to strain and tension in your vocal cords. By finding the right balance in your breath control, you can achieve a smooth and effortless singing style.

Another way to apply Lagom to singing is to avoid overdoing your vocal expression. While it’s important to convey emotion and feeling in your singing, excessive vocal runs, vibrato, and other embellishments can distract from the overall performance. By finding the right balance in your expression, you can create a powerful and emotional performance without overwhelming the listener.

Finally, applying Lagom to singing means keeping things simple and straightforward. Don’t try to do too much with your voice or performance. Instead, focus on the essentials and let your natural talent shine through. By doing so, you can create a memorable and impactful performance that resonates with your audience.

My favorite resource on Lagom is a short and delightful read entitled “Lagom: Not too little, not too much: The Swedish art of living a balanced, happy life” by Niki Brantmark. 

Related articles

Singer in a rust-colored sweater with curly brown hair, eyes closed, singing into a black microphone while her hand rests on her chest and a music stand is blurred behind her.

Why Vocal Cracks Happen (and How to Work Past Them)

Mastering vocal cracks starts with understanding what causes them—sudden register shifts in your passaggio due to muscle imbalance, breath support issues, or resonance changes. This guide breaks down why your voice breaks and offers smart solutions like SOVT exercises, mix-voice techniques, and vowel tuning to smooth transitions. Learn practical drills and mindset tips to train through your break and build confident, connected singing.

Read More »
Singer smiling at a table of anti-inflammatory foods—berries, salmon, spinach, turmeric, walnuts—with a glass of lemon water, humidifier, and music stand softly blurred in the background.

Sing Smarter, Heal Faster – Eat These 6 Foods to Reduce Vocal Inflammation

Fuel your voice and speed recovery with anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, ginger, berries, leafy greens, and omega-3–rich salmon or walnuts. These nutrient-packed choices reduce swelling, support tissue repair, and help you regain clarity faster—while avoiding excess sugar, caffeine, alcohol, processed snacks, and dairy when sensitive. Eating for your voice means eating for your whole self.

Read More »

Sign up to get articles
to your inbox.