ENERGY not effort is one of the most confusing concepts in singing. Energy in the tone is what we want and Effort is something we want to desperately to avoid.
Energy is created naturally when our vocal instrument is in balance, and our body is involved in the singing process. It feels good. It feels easy. Sometimes it occurs naturally and other times we may have to make adjustments. Effort usually occurs when singers use their throat muscles/membranes and vocal cords improperly to create volume. We should actually feel and see very little happening in our throat area.
There are many reasons the balance of your singing process can be thrown off, but one of the most common has to do with breathing and the use of your airflow. If you want to improve these skills, we recommend you check out:
Singing Is Easy, Basic Foundation Series
Breathing for Singing: What Every Singer Should Know | Focus on Inhalation | Focus on Exhalation