Ariane Roth is a singer, music educator (Dipl.), voice coach, entrepreneur and mother. Two hearts beat in her chest: that of the artist and that of the coach. After more than 30 years on stage, with her own projects, albums and backing vocals for international stars, she founded her brands STIMMPOWER and Sha la la. For 15 years, she has been guiding executives and people who speak a lot for a living towards a stronger voice, presence and impact. With Sha la la, she has developed a scientifically studied method and platform where people unwind live online: a break in a busy schedule with humming, singing and breathing. Her vision: that we use our voice for ourselves as naturally as we do yoga.
Find further details on her website: www.sha-la-la.de

1. What do you love most about the work you do today?

For many years, I let loose on stage with my own projects, albums and backing vocals for stars such as Lou Bega, Paul Young and Weather Girls. I truly enjoyed that time and lived it to the fullest. Today I am an entrepreneur, and what I love most are the shared moments in voice work: in coaching sessions, workshops and my live sessions. There is this moment when you can feel it in the room: people become lighter, stronger, happier and more present. You can see it in their faces and hear it in their voices. When people feel the joy of stepping into their full potential, that is the most beautiful thing for me.



2. Was there a particular decision, turning point or experience that significantly shaped your career?

There were three. As a soloist, I realised that high performance requires a healthy way of treating yourself. Performance without self-care doesn’t work, and that is still the foundation of my work today.

Then my wonderful son was born. Suddenly I was no longer the most important person in my own life, and things took on a different, deeper meaning. I find that deeply soothing, even though being a single working mom and entrepreneur brings challenging moments again and again.

And during the pandemic, I started Sha la la. This is where I have arrived. I get to bring together everything that makes me who I am: the singer, the music educator, the voice coach and the entrepreneur. That is truly fulfilling and a great gift.



3. What does New Work mean to you personally? Has the way you think about work changed over the years?

Especially in the age of AI, New Work means keeping people at the centre: as empathetic, connected thinkers and compassionate beings. It means constantly rethinking, because what worked a few years ago often no longer applies today. This flexibility suits my artist genes well. And it means connecting with each other and using our differences as a shared strength.

In our fast-paced times, it also means not losing sight of our bodies and our wellbeing. I don’t just mean sport, but the subtle act of tuning into ourselves: breathing, humming, singing. Within a short time, we calm down and lift our mood, without elaborate courses or any special requirements. That is what I get up for every day: that we use our voice as a source of strength as naturally as we do yoga.



4. What does “Love What You Do” mean to you, especially during the more demanding or difficult phases of working life?

Love What You Do doesn’t mean you have to love everything all the time. Every job comes with things that are less fun, especially as an entrepreneur. For me, it means dedication. And it means consciously seeking joy and lightness, so that I act from a place of flow rather than pressure.

Especially in challenging times, I look for the small moments that feel light: moments that do me good, give me new strength and put a smile on my face. I try to guide myself through these phases like an inner director who always keeps my wellbeing in view and treats me with kindness. That is self-care for me, and it matters most when the love for what I do gets a little lost. Then I remind myself what truly drives me, why I do all of this, and what gives me strength, fulfilment and meaning.

As a woman, it also means: I don’t always have to be strong, and I don’t have to do everything alone. I am carried by my family, my community and my sisterhood, friends and colleagues who celebrate my successes with me and whose successes I celebrate. It makes such a difference who you surround yourself with.



5. What does a good work bag need to do for your real working life? And what do you usually carry with you?

To me, my NEW WORK JOLENE stands for female strength and beauty. I love the colour, the craftsmanship and the leather. Above all, the size is just right: my MacBook fits in, along with charging cables, lipstick, my favourite hand cream, my glasses, lozenges for my voice, a small bottle of water and my little Bose speaker. I bring it to every workshop to play the right soundtrack. My previous work bags were practical, but not really stylish. And because I travel a lot for work, I love the little strap that lets me slip the bag right onto my suitcase.