The Vocal Lab Collective

In this episode of The Vocal Lab Podcast, Jason and Shelby are joined by Nashville’s own Sooner Routhier, a visionary production and lighting designer whose work has defined the visual identity of modern live music. As the CEO of The Playground, Sooner has earned prestigious accolades including multiple Parnelli Awards and the Live Design Achievement Award. She is the creative force behind some of the highest-grossing tours in history, notably serving as the lighting designer for Coldplay’s record-breaking Music of the Spheres World Tour and the co-production designer for The Lumineers' 2025 Automatic World Tour. Her portfolio spans genres and generations, from the theatrical world of the Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience to stadium shows for The Weeknd, Rihanna, and Chris Stapleton. Beyond her technical mastery, Sooner is a champion for industry evolution as the co-founder of EVEN, an organization dedicated to fostering diversity and mentorship within the live events community.

Get ready for a masterclass in independent artistry! This week, Jason and Shelby are joined by the powerhouse herself, Jenny Teator.
Known for her soulful, "St. Louis-meets-Nashville" sound, Jenny dives deep into the creative journey behind her latest album release. But the conversation doesn’t stop at the studio—we’re exploring how her viral hit, "Rhinestone Rock,"became a certified elite line dance sensation, taking over dance floors across the country.

From surviving the freeze to the fallout of "Music’s Biggest Night," this week on The Vocal Lab, Jason and Shelby are diving deep into a Nashville ice storm that changed everything. While Shelby took advantage of the power outage to crush six books in a single week, Jason was busy hunkering down at a friend’s house, watching the city turn into a literal ice rink.
But the real storm? It was brewing at the 2026 Grammys. The duo breaks down:
Billie Eilish’s polarizing "F*** ICE" acceptance speech that has the internet on fire.
Trevor Noah’s final stint as host—was the comedy actually "funny" or just safe?
Nicki Minaj’s digital "unleashing" as she took to social media to drop bombshell allegations and conspiracy theories while the show aired.

From the nature of award shows in a hyper-political era to the resilience of the Nashville music scene, Jason and Shelby aren't holding anything back.

In this soul-stirring episode of The Vocal Lab, hosts Jason Catron and Shelby Rollins sit down with the legendary Rita Springer. A pioneer in Christian music, Rita opens up about her humble beginnings and the unwavering conviction to keep her craft "not for sale." She dives deep into the delicate tension between navigating a professional music career and the visceral longing to see God’s power manifest in the lives of her listeners. It’s an honest, powerful conversation for any artist seeking to balance technical excellence with a pure, uncompromised heart.

Is your vocal coach a mentor or just a fan? Choosing a vocal coach is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your career, yet most singers go in blind. This week on The Vocal Lab, Jason and Shelby pull back the curtain on the hiring process. They’re sharing the exact 5-question litmus test you should use to separate the world-class mentors from the weekend hobbyists.