An Acoustic Sample

[MEvans]

Hello everybody,

I'm kind of new to this forum but I'm looking forward to becoming part of the community. I'm also looking for some feedback on my vocals. Soundcloud link below:

https://soundcloud.com/a-simple-sloth/acoustic-compilation-sample

I'm looking for an honest critique more than anything else--haven't had much experience with vocal instructors/singing in crowds. What I put together is a two minute acoustic mix of parts of My Body by Young the Giant, Sweet Nothing by Florence Welch (Calvin Harris), and We'll Be Coming Back by Calvin Harris (ft. Example); just want to give a clear sample of my vocals so I can get more accurate feedback. No effects were used

Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-Matt

[ronws]

Says "Sorry, can't find the sound." Check your link.

[MEvans]

@ronws

My apologies, just realized that I uploaded the track under "private" rather than public.

https://soundcloud.com/a-simple-sloth/acoustic-compilation-sample

Try it now if you'd like, should work. Thanks for your time!

[ronws]

Nothing to fix. You have the right voice and style for this type of music.

Go out, record and album, make a few million dollars. Seriously.

And if you take the last bit of advice, hire a lawyer. They are as necessary as new strings on the guitar.

[jonathangraham]

Welcome to the forum and congrats of your clip. I enjoyed it (vibrato,phrasing etc) however i think if there was one thing you could potential work on it is maybe tonal placement or possibly bringing some mask into the sound, as the general tone of your voice is a little dull and flat, however this could be just to do with way it was recorded

This is just my opinion of course and there are a few successful recording artists with similar voices to you, so if you are happy with the results then run with man.

[MEvans]

Thanks for the replies guys, it's much appreciated. I'm very glad to see positive responses

I also felt like that might be one of my more pressing vocal issues--I'm fairly certain it's not just the recording as luckily my own ears have caught that dullness on a couple of occasions. I've been attempting to create a more expansive timbre to alleviate the problem, with moderate success; but I've had no experience with vocal training via teachers etc, so I've never been quite sure what to do (conflicting internet information = extreme mind explosion) besides practicing my ass off. Would you guys recommend any singing programs out there for someone like me? Also, @jonathangraham, you said I sound similar to a few successful recording artists, do you know of any specifically that come to mind? I'm just looking for a reference point.

Thanks guys.

-Matt

[jonathangraham]

Thanks for the replies guys, it's much appreciated. I'm very glad to see positive responses

I also felt like that might be one of my more pressing vocal issues--I'm fairly certain it's not just the recording as luckily my own ears have caught that dullness on a couple of occasions. I've been attempting to create a more expansive timbre to alleviate the problem, with moderate success; but I've had no experience with vocal training via teachers etc, so I've never been quite sure what to do (conflicting internet information = extreme mind explosion) besides practicing my ass off. Would you guys recommend any singing programs out there for someone like me? Also, @jonathangraham, you said I sound similar to a few successful recording artists, do you know of any specifically that come to mind? I'm just looking for a reference point.

Thanks guys.

-Matt

Regarding conflicting internet information I completely understand. It's ridiculous out there, but to be honest nobody's giving the wrong answers, you unfortunately just have to try them to see if they work to allow you understand your voice a bit more. However just going on the style of music in your clips I would say Mastering Mix might be a great programme for you to start with.

I think your voice is not hugely dissimilar to the lead singer in Don Broco or even Charlie Simpson.

[MEvans]

Thanks. I think I'll have to give Mastering Mix a try: I've always been slightly wary of Brett Manning's programs as they kind of come across as an entrepreneur setting on the fence directly between marketing profits and the true art of singing, but I've never been sure. I've read about success in cases like Hayley Williams from Paramore, Keith Urban, etc, but still had doubts. Do you personally think that the Mastering Mix program could be too advanced for someone whose had zero formal singing lessons? It's pretty easy for me to catch-on learning wise, so I might just go ahead and do it anyways (nothing to lose), but I don't want to be left in the dark. I feel as if I might have some serious potential singing wise..but have had a fair share of doubts, so am never sure.

Also, I checked out both artists you mentioned and enjoyed their music, especially Charlie Simpson's. Think he's gained a fan. Thanks for you time man

-Matt

[jonathangraham]

Thanks. I think I'll have to give Mastering Mix a try: I've always been slightly wary of Brett Manning's programs as they kind of come across as an entrepreneur setting on the fence directly between marketing profits and the true art of singing, but I've never been sure. I've read about success in cases like Hayley Williams from Paramore, Keith Urban, etc, but still had doubts. Do you personally think that the Mastering Mix program could be too advanced for someone whose had zero formal singing lessons? It's pretty easy for me to catch-on learning wise, so I might just go ahead and do it anyways (nothing to lose), but I don't want to be left in the dark. I feel as if I might have some serious potential singing wise..but have had a fair share of doubts, so am never sure.

Also, I checked out both artists you mentioned and enjoyed their music, especially Charlie Simpson's. Think he's gained a fan. Thanks for you time man

-Matt

It's true that guy alone could put you off. He seems more like a salesman than an artist but the truth is the separate cd's work pretty well, and better than the previous Singing Success programme imo. Much more concise and good explanations for each cd, so you will eventually be able to tailor your practice depending on what you feel you need more of.

I myself have done that with 3-4 different programmes to end up creating one set of exercises from warm up all the way to cool down that's tailored for me and what i need. It's unlikely that any programme off the shelf is gonna give you exactly what you need like experience or a good tutor would, but you just have to jump in at one point and I think MM is a good one to start with. When you feel you understand the lessons and what they are doing specifically for your voice you might want to seek out other ideas and just build on it.

But hey, you might not even need any more than this to iron out your challenges. :D

[MEvans]

I see what you means. As I'm finding out, mastering singing is more of an individual process rather than some type of magic show with awesome results at the simple tip of a hat. Once you've learned to hear your flaws objectively it's a little easier to map out a strategy to diminish said flaws. I think this is one of the best parts about singing lessons: a trained ear on hand to cue you in the right direction. Anyways, I will definitely give Mastering Mix a shot and see what happens; I'm always up for improvement as I want to become the best singer I can become (hoping to become a signed musician in the 'hopefully' near future and/or gather an online following via YouTube..had to get advice before I attempt anything serious with my music in efforts that I wouldn't embarrass myself...).

Again, thanks for your input, it's much appreciated!

Matt

[ronws]

I see what you means. As I'm finding out, mastering singing is more of an individual process rather than some type of magic show with awesome results at the simple tip of a hat. Once you've learned to hear your flaws objectively it's a little easier to map out a strategy to diminish said flaws. I think this is one of the best parts about singing lessons: a trained ear on hand to cue you in the right direction. Anyways, I will definitely give Mastering Mix a shot and see what happens; I'm always up for improvement as I want to become the best singer I can become (hoping to become a signed musician in the 'hopefully' near future and/or gather an online following via YouTube..had to get advice before I attempt anything serious with my music in efforts that I wouldn't embarrass myself...).

Again, thanks for your input, it's much appreciated!

Matt

Excellent post. And, considering the style of music and singing that you do, you want something like mastering mix that is good at removing impediments and making a clean voice seem effortless. As opposed to styles that teach distortion or rasp. You are basically singing adult contemporary and folk. And you have the right voice for it. A good match of voice and style. And you could learn the harder rock styles but I think it is better to concentrate on what you want to do. So, trying to sound like David Coverdale, for example, is not going to help you as much as having a cleaner sound.

[MEvans]

I'm glad to see you second the notion about Mastering Mix, ronws; this further solidifies my decision to get it. Believe it or not I never used to listen to anything other than alternative metal bands like Breaking Benjamin (still would love to sing like Benjamin Burnley...), Chevelle, Deftones, Tool/A Perfect Circle, 10 Years, etc, and that's all I used to practice. But then I began transitioning into the acoustic styles of John Mayer, Bastille (more indie electronic/alt. but whatever), and moved into more electronic music and pop music. I want that effortless clean vocal sound for acoustic music, but also want the ability to merge genres and use more vocal tension to create a one single unique sound. I'm not a huge folk fan, but am a huge acoustic guy, who also has a extreme interest in electronic music. Luckily, vocally speaking, I have an idea of what I'd like to sound like in the future, so I try to specifically practice and strategize my vocal abilities towards said goal...which makes the whole process a little bit easier. Ideal vocals would be to develop a voice where I could, on cue, become raspy without sounding like garbage (for high notes and/or music with a touch of angst), yet have a clean voice with a lot of controlled vibrate. This description might not make 100% sense in terms of what is and what isn't possible, but it's a conceptualized image of what I've been working on. Said cleanness in terms of artists like Hobbie Stuart (youtube artist from the UK), OneRepublic, Maroon 5, Coldplay, yet having the edge of artists like Benjamin Burnley, Dan Smith of Bastille, that sort of natural raspiness, when needed in the music. Dan Smith's vocals are something I really look up to. It's just a work in progress; it's a never ending process. If I could develop my vocal abilities to the point, however, into something that people would be happy with/provoked by, I'd roll with that 'signature' sound, if you will, but I don't quite feel like I've achieved that level of say a "wow, that guy sings really well" remark from any passing ears and that's what I really want. Just to have a voice that catches the audience and sounds damn good.

Long post here, my apologies, but I want to be as detailed as possible for concision sake. And I would take physical singing lessons if I could, but being a college student with tons and tons and tons of cash just flying around ...enough said. Heh. Responses here are greatly appreciated though, guys, seriously. Hopefully by the time I turn 19 or 20 I can build up my vocals into something great. Thanks both for your time and great advice!

-Matt