Singing Guide: Arrested Development
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Arrested Development, the award-winning hip-hop group from Atlanta, Georgia, is an excellent source of inspiration for anyone looking to learn how to sing with rhythm, cadence, and energy. The ensemble's long-standing reputation for clever wordplay, slick rhymes, and top-notch technique make them an ideal study group for budding singers of contemporary genres such as hip-hop, R&B, reggae, and funk.
To learn how to sing like Arrested Development, you must be willing to put in the work to improve your tone, range, and overall delivery. A good starting point would be to identify the vocal strengths of the group and find ways to incorporate them into your own style.
One hallmark of Arrested Development's sound is their use of breath control and timing. They craft intricate rhymes schemes and complex rhythms, often without pausing to breathe or missing a beat. To replicate this technique, start by practicing the Farinelli breathing exercise to help build up your lung capacity and teach you how to maintain consistency in your breath control. You should also study their performances and focus on how they consolidate the beats, emphasizing every word and inflection to the listener.
Another element of the group's style is the use of dynamic range. In their performances, they seamlessly switch between different vocal registers, blending their singing voice with rap verses exquisitely. To learn how to sing with the same level of control, start by mastering your individual vocal registers. Practice your scales and arpeggios, and work on your transitions between them. Vocal warm-ups and training games such as the Pitch Training - Educational Singing Game or pitch monitoring software can also assist you to refine your control.
Articulation is another crucial component of Arrested Development's style. They utilize different articulations like twangs, growling, and chest voice to convey various emotions and meanings in their lyrics. To develop similar versatility and precision in your singing, work on your focus on good pronunciation and enunciation, such as the Finger Bite exercise.
To gain inspiration and hone your ear, listen to various releases from the group, particularly their seminal tracks, "Tennessee" and "People Everyday." Finally, Singing Carrots' educational singing course will be helpful, covering singing theory and practical tips.