Meet the Vocal Coach Who’s Making Singing Fun Again (and Why She Built the Singing / Straw™ App)

We caught up with Whitney Nichole, the vocal coach and creative force behind the Singing / Straw™ to talk all things voice, vulnerability, and why the brand new Singing / Straw App is already shaking up the way singers train. 

Since Singing / Straw’s inception, Whitney has helped thousands of singers (from some of the world’s top recording artists to please-don’t-make-me-sing-alone types) rediscover the joy in their own sound. 

In this behind-the-scenes Q&A, she opens up about what inspired the app, how it differs from her other offerings, and why she believes singing (yes, yours) has the power to make the world a better place.

Q: What inspired you to develop the Singing / Straw Studio App, and why did you feel that now was the right time to launch it? 

After years of coaching and creating tools like the Singing Straw, was there a specific moment or need that sparked the idea to bring your vocal training methods into an app format?

W: Teaching has been a journey! I started with 1:1 coaching, moved into groups, then onto the wild world of online content.

Which, let me tell you, is its own kind of art form. 

Creating videos that work for all voice types, ranges, and experience levels has pushed me in the best way. 

Through YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and this beautiful Singing / Straw community, I’ve seen such an incredible hunger for tools that are accessible, effective, and fun.

I’ve loved running my Love Your Voice Course, but since it’s only offered a few times a year, I wanted something that could support singers in real-time, all the time. 

That’s how the app idea was born… and after dreaming about it for years, I finally made it happen.

Q: The app is promoted as an “all in one vocal training space” with daily guided warmups, monthly livestreams, a growing community, and new content added every week. 

Can you walk us through these features and explain how they benefit a singer’s daily practice? What can users expect when they open the app each day to train their voice?

W: I’m honestly so proud of this app! It’s the best vocal training content I’ve ever created. 

No fluff, no ads, just straight-up effective warm-ups and workouts.

Yes, we use straw phonation, but it’s not just about the straw! 

I’ve built in vowel and consonant exercises that take singers from semi-occluded exercises all the way to song-ready voice.

The monthly livestreams started with our beta testers and were so much fun I couldn’t not make them a regular thing. 

And the community? 

It’s magic. 

Singers supporting singers, asking questions, joining challenges: it’s the kind of space I wish I had when I was learning.

Q: You’ve often said that “everyone is a singer” and that the world would be a much better place if everyone just sang. 

How does this philosophy influence the app’s design and content? In what ways do you hope the app empowers people who might not consider themselves singers, or who lack confidence in their voice?

W: It’s truly my mission to make singing feel accessible (and joyful) for everyone.

I don’t care if you’re hitting whistle tones or humming along in the shower. 

Singing is for self-expression, connection, and confidence. 

This app is built to support real, imperfect, wonderful voices. 

It’s not about becoming Beyoncé: it’s about becoming fully you and loving the voice you’ve got.

Q: You created the original Singing / Straw as a tool to help singers develop healthier, stronger, and more balanced voices, with many singers even coining their straw experience as “straw magic.” 

How is that “magic” woven into the app’s workouts and exercises? Does the app incorporate straw phonation techniques, and if so, how can users with a Singing Straw take advantage of it through the app?

W: That “straw magic” is baked right in! 

The app follows the Singing / Straw Method, using straw phonation and SOVT work as a foundation. From there, we build into vowels, consonants, and finally full songwork.

It’s a layered approach that works for every kind of voice.

Q: You offer a Love Your Voice online course and share many vocal tips on your YouTube channel. 

How does the Singing / Straw App differ from or complement these other learning avenues? For someone who’s taken your course or watched your videos, what new experience or value does the app provide that they haven’t seen from you before?

W: The app is the hub that ties everything together.

If you’ve been through my Love Your Voice Course, every single training lives right inside the app! 

It’s all in one place now. 

That course is linear and immersive, with a mix of education, mindset work, and vocal training over eight weeks.

YouTube is more like my free sampler: great tips, but not always deep or ad-free.

The app, though? 

It’s a daily practice companion. 

Whether you want a quick warm-up, a vocal rehab day, or a full-blown belting session, it’s all there… with new content every week and livestreams to keep you inspired.

Q: The app isn’t just about solo practice. It includes live monthly sessions and a “growing community” of singers. 

Why was it important for you to include community features and livestream events in the app? How do you envision singers interacting within the app, and what kind of support or feedback can they get from you and from each other through this platform?

W: Because everything’s better when you don’t have to go it alone. 

Seriously, singing can feel vulnerable, so creating a safe, supportive space was a must. 

The Singing / Straw Community is full of encouragement, kindness, and singers of all levels and backgrounds. 

The monthly livestreams keep us all connected, motivated, and reminded that we’re in this together.

Q: Out of all the features in the app, which one are you personally most excited about or proud of, and why? 

Is there a particular exercise, warmup, or interactive element in the app that you find especially fun or effective for singers?

W: The “favorite” feature! It lets you bookmark the warm-ups and workouts you love most so you can come back to them when you need a quick hit of vocal goodness. 

It makes personalizing your training routine so easy.

Q: What was the process of creating the app like for you? Did you encounter any surprising challenges while translating your teaching into a digital format? 

We’d love to hear about any behind-the-scenes moments during the app’s development, whether it was an “aha!” moment where everything clicked or a hurdle you had to overcome to get the app ready for singers.

W: Ohhh yes. 

As a small business owner without massive funding, I knew I’d have to get scrappy. 

I chose a platform I could customize (even if it wasn’t perfect), because the content mattered most.

Honestly, perfectionism delayed this launch for a while. 

But I finally said, “Let’s go live. Let’s serve singers now.” 

The response has been incredible… and I’m so excited for what’s next.

Q: You’ve worn many hats: artist, vocal coach, studio owner, course creator, and now app creator. 

How have your past experiences informed the design and content of the Singing / Straw App? For example, did your years of running Songbird Studios or working one-on-one with students influence specific aspects of the app’s approach to training?

W: Oof, all of it. Every chapter of my career has poured into this. I’ve coached thousands of voices, run a studio, built courses, and all that experience shows up in how the app teaches, guides, and supports.

Q: Finally, what do you hope users will gain from the Singing / Straw App on a personal level? 

If everyone who uses the app could walk away with one key feeling or improvement in their life, what would you want that to be? In other words, how do you hope this app will impact the singing community: and perhaps even fulfill that vision of a world where everyone feels like a singer?

W: That their voice is worth it.

I want every singer to feel more confident, more in control, and more connected to their voice. My hope is that this becomes a daily ritual: something that helps you stay healthy, inspired, and excited to share your voice with the world.

Ready to see what your voice can really do?

>>> Download the Singing / Straw App and try it FREE for 7 days.

Your voice deserves this. Let’s make singing fun again.