KillerKu

It's difficult for me to tell, as I suspect you are a bit of a lighter voice type than I am, but it sounds like you could maybe have a bit more twangier configuration on the upper notes just to make them easier. It sounds like you're relying mostly on the plaintive kind of sound. I've done this before, but it doesn't get there as easy for me if I rely on it too much ascending.
 
You're approaching the upper limits of my comfortable full voiced sounding range on this song with an A#4 and in order to get that functioning I have to 'sharpen the tone.' It's not that it sounds bad, you have a great round, smooth, relaxed tone in the tenorish range that is polished and beautiful, but even lighter voice types often have to get a bit more pharyngeal or whatever to get those notes comfortably. It doesn't have to be that noticeable like a witch cackling.
 
But that's the best advice I have is to experiment with increasing the twang and pharyngeal presence so you don't have to cry harder and harder at the notes.
 
It's really promising though. Heading in a good direction and it's cool you're exploring.

Hey guys, I need a bit of help. I'm a 20 y/o female trying to find my own style. Seems like most of you are more into critiquing technique and such, but for what doing those things usually fall by the way side. I'm in a band but I'm still a bit self conscious about my voice because I haven't heard any other girl try to sing like me. I just want to know if you guys think it's something that fits the kind of emotional overload-style that is Taking Back Sunday, and if its unique in a... good way I guess haha.
 

 
 
 

I would like to say, one of the things I absolutely love about Robert’s Modern Vocalist World site is the amazing variety of artist from all around the world. This is truly become a site that is in a class all its own.
 
I know you weren’t necessarily looking for a review of the EP but if I were in a band, I would appreciate knowing what people thought about our music, so here goes.
 
  Well Vat, were to begin.  First, I must say that you and your band are the real deal.  How fun it must be to work with such talented and accomplished musicians.  The production of your EP is outstanding and very professional.  I have listened to several bands out of India and by far, yours is the most impressive. 
 
 Refuge – Your use of time signatures is crazy, - love it.  Very complex but it comes together wonderfully. I love your note selection for the vocals and harmonies.  Everyone has great chops.
 
 Canvas of Silence – Once again, very complex time signature.  Just the right amount of harmonies.  I really like your vocal runs; I can feel the Indian influence.  Your vocals remind me of one of my favorite singers “Brad Delp”of Boston fame, may he rest in peace. Your range is similar to his especially proven at the 10:27 mark of your EP video. Wow, that is nice.
 
 Veil – This one really has a feel of India to it, I love the sound of the harmonics on the Sitar or Guitar, good stuff. It builds and builds.  A nice mixture of clean and grit in the vocals.
 
 Time Turns Around – Guitar note selection once again very nice with a feel of India. The vocals are very beautiful and clean. Very progressive feel with the guitars.
 
 Fragments – This and Canvas of Silence are my favorites on the EP.  Very complex beginning with a beautiful overlay of simplicity, nice combination.  The harmonies have a feel of the Eagles and Crosby Still and Nash. I love the way the  song has very complex signatures and very simple 4/4 times as well, then back to an up tempo beat, nicely done.
 
I know I didn’t comment on the bass and drums but there is no doubt they are amazing musicians as well.  Ron was right with the Neil Peart reference and my guess is someone was a fan of funk.
 
Thank you for sharing your music with us and keep writing material, I know this isn’t the last we will hear of Rainburn.

Chris, look at the front of the forum... under "Vocal Tools & Technology"... then click on "Get Back Tracks HERE!".

You can sing. And here is what I would like to see happen. I am not an expert and my opinion can mean nothing but start out strong. In these two clips, You start out just about whispering and then pick up some steam about halfway through. Start out in full steam.
 
Also, get a little closer to the mic. I could hear kids in the background, which means  you are singing so low so that no one will hear you, not even kids.
 
Stop that. Sing out like you meant someone else to hear it.

Hi all!
 
I sing and play guitar for a progressive rock band called Rainburn. We released our debut EP a couple of months ago and recently made it available for streaming. Would love to hear comments on my singing or any other aspect of the music Here's the video: 
 
Cheers and thanks!

1st of all thanks for your reply. Your tip about not using consonants seems so obvious.. still i never thought of it. Thanks for that! As for pitch... i'm not really aiming for pitch perfection. 

A bit oftopic but talking of barbershop quartets.. i love this : 

There's this kind of booty shaking quality to this. I don't normally like this genre all that much either, but there is a rhythmic swagger that I find kind of amusing or upbeat.
 
The vocals are technically indistinguishable to my ear from other some in this genre so I think if it doesn't hurt you're succeeding, which is cool. I don't mean your voice isn't you, just that it would 'fit into this genre' without any red flags.
 
You are using Recabinet for a cabinet sim? I have version 3, and use it all the time, but I've never gotten this much of an authentic metal guitar sound from an amp sim. I'm going to look into your amp model, cause this has been irritating me. I don't play metal often, but my amp sims suck for palm muting and this sounds very chuggy.
 
Anyway, in spite of the 'not live instruments' and 'not original singer' when I compare this to the original version, I still kind of liked yours better. It's like almost disco or dance ish metal. It's a fun track, man. Thanks for posting.

Great, thanks for warning me too, it's a crucial piece of advice. One thing that helps me out in understanding what you say about those feelings you get is the fact that for the last few years I've been using my voice in various ways, that was always my passion. Singing, rapping, being a radio host. I've even been a telemarketer for a year. I used to do some voice-over work. I worked in dubbing. That job requires you to change your voice very significantly. So that no one would recognize you only by listening to you. It made me aware of my vocal cords.
 
This might make it more safe for me to try the things you're talking about. I'm very grateful for your tips. You and MDEW really help me out on these Forums.

This is a little higher register than I normally sing  ...a little bit from the Elvis Sound..https://soundcloud.com/artist-anthony-flake/come-unto-me...still looking for a good mic..
 

Thanks for your response Killer... I'm glad you got to hear the better mix of this.
 
Yes, hearing my voice in a different context is part of the point of doing this... I get a lot of communications from people that mean well about "rock" and "metal", which is fine... but I want to show that I can do more then heavy metal screams...
 
Is it extremely unique?  I am not inclined to argue with the beholder/listener... I guess it is. I don't hear it as "extremely unique"... to me it sounds more conventional and straight ahead, "low singing"...That can be a good thing... I don't feel its twangier then any other tune "per se".. and it is breathy at the beginning and the hook... but thats just me jive talking. 
 
Yes the lyric "make" is modified to "Mehk"... That is on purpose. I don't want to sing the "ee" diphthong on "make" (Meh-eek)... to me it sounds like karaoke amateur night when it sounds too much like speech. There is a benefit or quality that comes with subtle modifications of closed vowels to open vowels that transcends beyond the technical benefits related to singing high notes. In my program, "The Four Pillars of Singing", I point out that we modify vowels for resistance training purposes (getting stronger/training), for resonant purposes (getting a good bridge or placement/training)... and when singing, we modify vowels for the same two reasons, +... for style.
 
Even if it is a low note, a subtle modification of a closed vowel can give a lyric more color, more warmth... and has a pinch of "theater" or formality to it that makes it sound more sonorous. Even on songs with low notes, if every lyric sounds speech, with all the diphthongs in it, it sounds amateurish... that is a good tip for anyone reading this. One way to not sound amateurish, is to modify vowels and reduce the amount of diphthongs in your singing from time to time. Not all the time, but sometimes.  Thus, by choosing "mehk" instead of "meh-eek"... I can avoid the ugliness of the "eek" sound and keep the lyrical moment warm. It has nothing to do with dialect, its creative choice.
 
 
This is an insightful statement. My student schedule, and added work load I pile on top of everything else from product development of "Pillars", video production, web site development, and life cuts into my available time to ONLY do art. Some people don't get that... for me to keep my operations going, my clients happy, my product always updated and the best it can be, my teachers mentored and taken care of and even this forum, (which has taken me about 30-40 hours to complete the migration)... I have to work basically 6.5 days a week... I have chose to put the majority of my time into creating the BEST vocal training program in the world. I have been obsessed by this I suppose. When others are producing "how to sing like..." videos all day long, I'm writing a book and producing technique videos in the pursuit of always updating and improving "The Four Pillars of Singing"... it hasn't left much time for much else.
 
I want to leave a legacy, something that will impact the world in a more meaningful way, today and beyond... you just can't get that from ONLY doing YouTube videos. 100 years from now, few, if any will remember all the "how to sing like ... " videos on YouTube, but I hope people will still be using my program to learn how to sing better. That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with "how to sing like..." videos. I think they are great, and have some relevance... thus, I'll be doing some as well, ... but videos are vapor. They are like paper cups, they are disposable... Books, and a good program, methodology can last forever...   
 
However,....
 
I'm working hard to "dig out" of that... Im simplifying my operations, (this web site migration was part of that... this new platform means I have to only manage one CMS, instead of four), ... and really putting some final touches on "The Four Pillars of Singing", is beginning to open up time for recording, writing and singing. Probably even a band this year... Its been about 4 years since I was gigging. So this audio and several more original productions that will be published in the coming weeks are evident that Im now channeling more time to singing... A lot more singing content will be produced this year. I guess you'll all be hearing more "unique"... 
 
BTW... here is a sneak preview of something else I did... this is another "out of context" project.  ENJOY!
 
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
https://thevocaliststudio.box.com/s/074n8g7zmz9bwm8l0nse
 

I missed the original go. It's awesome hearing your voice in a new context. Thanks for being brave enough to show us.
 
It's extremely unique. I don't think I've ever heard a ballad with this much twang and without many breathier passages. Your vowel choices are all your own too. You say 'make' la bit like ike 'mehke' and more than oe of your mes skews towards 'meeehr.' 
 
You're in Seattle now, but where did you grow up? Was some of your vowel choice part of training or upbringing? Regardless, your singing journey has ended up with a strong identity, Rob. Keep singing songs, I know you've got to train others, work on your program and teach which takes up most of your time, but no one sings like you.

I can't sing half as good as you and I'm twice your age, still, I am totally into it. Therefore, I see no reason why you would not go for it, other than the traditional commercial music route is kind of off the wall as far as a business goes.
 
On the upside, for me, I play a mad lead electric guitar from the classic hymnal, you know, Rock of Ages,
and just started working with an eight track Tascam DP-03-SD.  Your recording technique is equal to your singing, excellent.  
 
Your visual, video, component on this item could stand added value, but plainly that is not your concern. I only say that because I am obliged to say something.
 
I would wonder where you would go with this, or what a professional producer would recommend. Being new here, I don't know what you have done in the past or what your plans are. Seems to me if you found two or three more voices you could hold down a great singing group.

So I was going to cover Last Love Song...and Someone Like You kept playing through my head as I was covering it. So I tried a mashup of the two....I don't know if I'm entirely satisfied with how it turned out...what to you guys think? do they go together? do they clash? how do i sound?  
 

Enjoy... a beautiful song from Bonnie Raitt... Tracked it tonight while the Seahawks won their game to prepare for their 2nd Super Bowl win.  
https://thevocaliststudio.box.com/s/1ohay98iha0sdtjsyjkiwgd9h0mat2f8

 

Hi all,
 
I know there's isn't any clean singing involved here
but I managed to use a type of voice that would normally kill my voice a few years back.
 
 

 
 
Hope you like it,
Than

Awesome! 

Freakin awesome.. Felipe when you find time can you please share some tips on how you mix?  I am hearing the song in shitty speakers and they still sound incredible!  

Nailed it.

Hey there, first recording I send on the new forums.
 
Hope you guys enjoy it
 
https://app.box.com/s/c5ttf3yee0rtsat2383cf8eijsdybcl1
 
 
Let me know how its sounding please!

Totally freakin awesome.
 
When I saw the title and your name and knowing the songs you have done in the past, I have to be honest, I thought you would murder it because I did not think you could bring the tone for this song.
 
I am glad to be proven wrong.
 
Not only did you sing this well and as good as the original, but the mix is star quality. You had mentioned before about producing and recording others and I thought, okay, anyone could say that. But this is an excellent production. I can hear your voice in the backing and harmony vocals. Not only are they done well, but mixed well. Most amateurs mix backing and harmony too prevalent and it competes with and distracts from the lead line.
 
This should be an example to others of how to sing rock, record it, and mix it.
 
Bravo, Maestro.

I'm a huge fan of Nina.  She was just so...Nina.  She didn't care what anyone thought.  She was was classical and blues, feminine and strong, soft and hard, innocent and mischievious.  She fascinates me.  I try to be more like her, by being more like me.  Sometimes i doubt myself though.  I'm sure we all have our moments, but i'm happy to say those moments of doubt are fewer and further between.
 
And now that we've found ourselves an Upright Bass Player, i'm going to try to do a recording of "My Baby Just Cares For Me", as my nod to Nina
 
 
 
 
Thanks Mr. Flake!

I love hearing artists at various stages. Rob, something I thought was cool was the phrasing had a unique mannerism different from Tate's in the verses. The melodies were changed a bit in the chorus. 
 
It adds a different dimension to the track, like if the song was a play, the character actor would be unique. When you redo it with it modern version, I'd like if you keep some original character in it. I think this is the first time I could picture how your voice differs from mine, on the lower notes there. Larynx was obviously lowered (they were super low) but you had a lot of weight in there, more than me for sure.
 
I like MrLoud's live version. You had cool rocker look. It's live so it isn't studio perfection, but is was a good performance, man. 
 
Ronws is totally unique. Never heard him you dip that low before. I actually like your low range quite a bit, but this one is dipping a bit too far into the fry. Couple notes up would probably capture the richness a bit more. I agree with rob that if we could get you some reverb and a little mixing it would really help you blend into that mix. Have you looked into that reverb plug in I was linking to for audacity? I keep meaning to get around to it.
 
Maybe I'll cover this song one day. Starting to feel left out of the forum standard.

Since I've posted a couple comments on other peoples threads I suppose I better come clean and allow others to do the same to me
 
These are a couple songs recorded in 2010, enjoy!
 
Revenge - 
 
Down the Line - 
 
 
edit - Soundcloud is screwing up direct links for Down the Line, I think this one is working
edit 2 - Nope, removed.
edit 3 - Now it's working again...

There is this warbling metallic sound that occurs when a note is subtly tuned. The voice will normally bend in a more 'organic' way which includes a slight vibrato but no real alteration of timbre. The phonation and airflow will have a logical sound to it. When a note gets tuned, it will often bend inorganically in a more digital warble that doesn't reflect the phonation, alters the timbre, and then 'tries to lock onto' the next pitch with varying strengths.
 
People have various sensitivities in being able to detect it. When it is done correctly only those sensitive to the warble will hear it. Whatever was done to this track was very subtle. This song was posted in another thread and the original poster admits to not being able to hear the auto tune:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUozJJTgXbM
 
Where to me it is painfully, in my face obvious, her timbre even mashes into a robotic sheen. It's for this reason that auto tune will likely exist indefinitely from this point on in every recording setup moving forward in the pop industry. People hate the idea of auto tune, but the average listener can't hear it unless it's really obvious, so they have 'nothing to rebel against.' It was easy to rebel against prog rockers. It was easy to rebel against hair metal, but if they can't hear it, they can't rebel.
 
That article I linked had a great example of how guys might hate the idea of 'fake tits' but in practice, they just like tits, fake or not.
 
It's pretty common for people to shake their fists at the T Pains of the world and go back to listening to their auto tuned records thinking, 'thank god these people aren't fakes like T Pain.' He's one of the most honest artists on the radio. I listen almost exclusively to recordings before 2000 and am an organic singing affectionado so I'm abnormally sensitive. When I turn on the radio, it's just a bunch of robots tugging ptiches to me. All songs pretty much use it.
 
It's almost less about authenticity to me and more so I just genuinely don't like the sound of tuned vocals. I like the organic pitching sound better. I like the way voices naturally phonate without a computer tugging on their pitches and timbres even if they are less in tune.