Singing Guide: Alicia Keys feat. Kendrick Lamar
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Alicia Keys has had a unique sound in the R&B and soul genres for over two decades now. Her music often elicited powerful emotions and connected deeply with listeners. Kendrick Lamar, one of the greatest rappers of this generation, features on the song "It's On Again," which further adds to the song's allure. Through this song, they inspire budding singers to improve their skills and develop an authentic style.
Keys' vocals have a broad range of notes that are sometimes smooth and melodic and other times harsh and aggressive. She uses her voice in a unique way that is unmatched in the industry. To emulate her style, start by paying attention to your voice's pitch and styling it to match her distinctive sound. To do this, practice your voice registers using this Singing Carrot resource: Voice Registers & Vocal Break.
Furthermore, Keys' vocal range is impressive, spanning three octaves, and blending seamlessly into head voice. Use Singing Carrot's Vocal Range Test to determine your vocal range and then work on expanding it through vocal exercises. Here's another Singing Carrot resource that can subtly help you expand your vocal range: Heavy Modal, Twang, and Belting Techniques.
Keys is well known for her use of vibrato, which enchants the ears of listeners. This singing technique provides the voice with its unique sound and is created by using a relaxed diaphragm. Use the Farinelli Breathing Exercise to develop good breathing habits and support your voice effectively. With a better breath support system, you could learn to replicate Alicia Keys' vibrato. Singing Carrot's Vibrato resource provides additional insights on this topic.
Keys is also known for her ability to use her chest voice seamlessly, demonstrating a unique genre-bending quality in her music. She also uses her mixed-voice in her performances, which enable her to transition smoothly between notes. Here is a Singing Carrots resource that helps you understand the difference between classical and pop vocal techniques. You will find that mixing your voice will help you develop a unique style - like Alicia Keys.
As for Kendrick Lamar's verses in this song, they emphasize the power of taking action, staying true to oneself, and striving for one's goals. In summary, if you want to sing like Alicia Keys, then you need to focus on developing skills such as breath support, vibrato, voice registers, mixed voice, and chest voice. Incorporating these skills into your singing style with authenticity and personality will help you create a unique signature style of your own.