4. Yma Sumac – Miracles
Yma Sumac has been known for many things. With her five-octave vocal range and an enigmatic past as an Incan princess, she is most famous for her many records of exotica music from the 50s, though Miracles is a bit of an anomaly in her catalogue. Hearing her grunt and shriek over a more contemporary style of psychedelic rock is pretty surreal. It’s a shame it was her last record, as I can only imagine what else she could have discovered and adapted into her own unique style. She has inspired me to never remain content with the limitations of one’s natural range; constantly reaching for lower and higher notes, all in the name of Yma!
