Grammy-winning vocalist Lalah Hathaway isn’t just a talented singer. Hathaway, who performs at the Charleston Music Hall on Oct. 2, possesses a gift that few performers have. It’s called “polyphonic singing,” or sometimes “voice splitting.”
Using precise physical manipulation of her vocal folds, Hathaway can sound like two people singing different parts simultaneously. She can hold a low note while singing in a higher harmonic tone, creating a self-harmony effect. Simply put, it’s awesome.
Over the last 40 years, Hathaway, 57, has used her voice to become one of the most adventurous performers around. She’s won five Grammy Awards in various R&B-related categories and scored hit singles like “Heaven Knows,” “Let Me Love You” and “When Your Life Was Low.”…