Singing Guide: Babes in Toyland
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Babes in Toyland is a punk rock band formed in Minneapolis in 1987. The band's vocalist and guitarist, Kat Bjelland, has a unique singing style that combines elements of raw punk and unbridled aggression. If you're looking to learn how to sing like Kat Bjelland, you're in for quite a ride!
To start, let's talk about some practical techniques you can practice to emulate Bjelland's unique vocal style. One of them is to use a lot of distortion in your voice. This is achieved by pushing a lot of air through your vocal cords, with an openness in the back of your throat. You can train this in Singing Carrots' Vocal distortion & growling article and How to Growl Exercise video.
Another technique is to use a lot of vibrato in your singing. Vibrato is a pulsating effect that can add a lot of emotion and depth to your voice. You can train this with the Singing with Vibrato article, and the Diaphragm Bounce video.
When it comes to songs to showcase Bjelland's vocal style, there are a few you can study. For example, "Bruise Violet" features a lot of changes in pitch and tone, as well as her trademark aggressive style. "He's My Thing" emphasizes her grittier, punk-influenced tone, and "Handsome & Gretel" is a great example of her use of vocal distortion in place of traditional melody.
Finally, make sure to work on your vocal range, pitch accuracy, breathing, and breath support, as they are fundamental in building a strong voice. You can practice this with Pitch Training - Educational Singing Game, Breathing basics, and Breath support articles, and Farinelli Breathing and Sustain Vocal videos.
With some practice and dedication, you can start to sing like Kat Bjelland in no time. Happy singing!