Singing Guide: Aquilo
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Aquilo is an English electronic-pop duo founded in 2013 by Tom Higham and Ben Fletcher. Their songs are well-liked for their emotive lyrics, dream-like soundscapes, sparse arrangements, and Tom Higham's distinct falsetto vocals. If you want to learn how to sing like Aquilo, you need to focus on distinct elements of their music such as emotional delivery, falsetto technique, and a dreamy sound environment sample.
One example of a song that captures these unique characteristics is the track "Silhouette". This song features beautiful harmonies and a delicate vocal delivery that is characteristic of Aquilo's work. When attempting to learn this style, it is important to identify the emotional undertones of the track and concentrate on emphasizing the lyrics.
As a starting point, you can take the Vocal Range Test available on Singing Carrots; this will help you to determine the best parts of your vocal range to hone in on to get the most out of an Aquilo-style delivery.
To emulate the falsetto-style of Aquilo's Tom Higham, try out the Breath/Warm-up/Practice-starter Twang Exercise provided in the resources. This warm-up exercise can help you build up the strength necessary for singing falsetto. In addition, the Vibrato Exercise can help to enhance emotional delivery and vibrato progression. For improving breathing control, you can use the Farinelli Breathing Exercise.
The Vocal Registers and Voice Break article will give you more insight into how to integrate your falsetto voice into a complete singing technique. Also, don't forget to experiment with open mouth and throat, as explained in the relevant article, to better achieve the depth of sound and emotiveness that Aquilo is famous for.
To get an idea of other musical offerings at comparison, check out the Singers’ vocal ranges section of Singing Carrots. Also, take a look at the Pitch Training section, here you can find educational games and tools to help you improve your pitch accuracy.
In conclusion, to learn how to sing like Aquilo you need to focus on the elements of the sound environment sample, emotional delivery, falsetto technique, and harmonies. Singing Carrots’ resources such as the Twang Exercise, Farinelli Breathing Exercise, and Vibrato Exercise can help you perfect these techniques. By using these tools alongside consistent practice and analysis, you will be able to develop your skills and unlock your full potential as a singer.