Learning to Sing “Hunger of the Pine” by Alt-J
The song “Hunger of the Pine” by Alt-J is a unique blend of indie rock and electronic music, notable for its intriguing vocal techniques. Vocalist Joe Newman employs a unique vocal style, combining falsetto with a rapid, staccato-like delivery. This style can be challenging but rewarding to learn.
Identify Your Vocal Range
Before you dive in, ensure you are comfortable with the song’s range. You can identify your vocal range by taking a Vocal range test
Break Down the Lyrics: Staccato & Rapid Delivery
One key feature of “Hunger of the Pine” is its rapid, staccato-like delivery. Clear pronunciation and crisp articulation are vital.
You can practice articulation by biting your finger as seen in this Finger Bite exercise and understand how to effectively learn a new song from this article.
Master the Falsetto
Alt-J’s songs often employ falsetto singing, which can be challenging for beginners. Falsetto refers to the vocal register above the normal vocal range, and it’s marked by a flute-like sound. You can learn more about voice registers from our Voice registers & vocal break article.
Integrating Techniques to Sing “Hunger of the Pine”
Now that you understand these techniques, give them a shot! Practicing this unique style can help you adapt to other songs employing similar techniques, such as Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” or Muse’s “Micro Cuts”.
Further Practice
The best way to develop your singing skills is by practicing regularly and reviewing your progress. Singing Carrots offers a Pitch Training Game that can improve your pitch accuracy over time.