Above the Golden State: How to Sing Like Michael Watson

Above the Golden State is an American contemporary Christian pop rock band. The band's lead vocalist and songwriter, Michael Watson, has a distinctive vocal style. His voice has a wide pitch range, allowing him to sing high-pitched rock choruses and low-pitched pop verses. His voice also exhibits a blend of clarity and raspiness, resulting in a sound that is both powerful and emotive. In this article, we will explore the unique vocal techniques used by Michael Watson and provide practical advice on how you can learn to sing like him.

Analyzing Michael Watson's voice

Before you start practicing, it's essential to understand Michael Watson's voice and style. Here are some characteristics of his singing style that we will try to emulate:

• Wide pitch range - Michael Watson's voice has an impressive range, allowing him to sing high and low notes with ease. His vocal range is about 3 octaves, and he effectively uses this range to convey emotion in his singing.
• Vocal power - When Michael sings, he sings with power and intensity. His voice is confident and commanding, allowing him to draw attention to his singing.
• Clarity blended with raspiness - Michael's singing style combines clarity with raspiness. This unique blend creates a sound that is both nuanced and emotive.

Songs to learn

To sing like Michael Watson, you need to study his music. Here are some songs that showcase his unique vocal technique and style.

"Sound of Your Name"

"Sound of Your Name" is a song that highlights Michael's vocal power. In this song, he sings high-pitched rock choruses and low-pitched pop verses. To sing this song, try using a mix of head and chest voice. Start by singing the low-pitched verses with a chest voice, then switch to a head voice when you reach the high-pitched choruses. Be sure to keep good breath control as you switch between voices.

"I Am Loved"

"I Am Loved" is a song that showcases Michael's clarity blended with raspiness. To sing this song, emphasize the clarity of the words while adding raspiness in the chorus. Use your diaphragm to control your breath and add power to your singing.

Practical advice

To learn to sing like Michael Watson, here are some practical tips you can follow:

• Analyze your voice - Take the vocal range test to determine your vocal range. This will help you identify the vocal techniques you need to work on.
• Control your breath - Breath control is crucial in singing. Use the breathing basics article to practice breath control exercises and support your singing.
• Practice range exercises - To increase your vocal range, use the pitch training exercises. Practice scales and singing exercises that alternate between high and low notes.
• Sing with emotion - Michael Watson's singing style is emotive, so try to convey emotion in your singing. Start by singing with the words' meaning in mind, and let the emotion come naturally.
• Sing with intuition and thinking - Singing is a combination of intuition and thinking. Practice singing with your intuition by listening to the music and getting lost in it. At the same time, practice singing with thinking by analyzing the song, understanding the structure, and breaking down the parts.
• Use Singing Carrots resources - Take advantage of the Singing Carrots resources provided in this article. Use the vocal pitch monitor to see your sung notes on a virtual piano, the pitch accuracy test to assess your pitch accuracy, and the search songs tool to find songs matching your vocal range.

Conclusion

Michael Watson's unique vocal techniques and style are worth emulating. You can learn to sing like him by practicing breath control, incorporating range exercises, singing with emotion and intuition, and analyzing his music. Use Singing Carrots resources to help you on your singing journey. With time and practice, you can develop the vocal power and clarity blended with raspiness that Michael Watson is known for.