Bow Bells is a famous and beloved traditional ballad from England. It is the story of two lovers, Will and Mary, who are separated by the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow church in London. Will is outside of Bow Bells and Mary is inside; they can no longer hear each other's voices through the bells. While there are many beautiful versions of this song, I'd like to focus on the rendition by folk singer Martin Carthy, who has a very unique vocal style.

Martin Carthy is known for his close-to-the-bone, honest, and emotional style of singing. He has a distinctive way of delivering the ballad, with his rich, deep voice and his use of pauses and nuanced vocal inflections. His vocal style is very natural and authentic; it feels like he's telling a story rather than just singing.

Here are some tips to help you learn to sing like Martin Carthy:

• Learn the melody: Start by learning the melody of Bow Bells. Sing it slowly and focus on the way Martin Carthy sings each note. Pay attention to his phrasing, dynamics, and timing.
• Practice using pauses: Martin Carthy makes use of pauses to punctuate the story of Bow Bells. Practice adding pauses to the melody where it makes sense to you. Experimentation is key here.
• Pay attention to inflections: Martin Carthy sings with emotion, and part of that comes from his use of subtle vocal inflections. Pay attention to the moments where he raises or lowers his voice, and try to incorporate those into your own singing.
• Incorporate storytelling: As you sing Bow Bells, try to tell the story of Will and Mary through your singing. Make the lyrics come alive by emphasising on certain words.

To help you further, here are some Singing Carrots resources that are relevant to learning Martin Carthy's style:

• How to analyze your voice can help if you want to understand the nuances in your own singing better.
• Voice types can help you identify your own vocal type and how to improve it.
• Breathing basics and Breath support can be used to improve your breathing technique which is important in the way Carthy delivers.
• Why do we sing out of pitch? can be a great resource for addressing any pitch issues you may be having.
• Posture tips can help with building stability and retention.
• Vocal health and How to overcome stage fright offer practical advice to help you care for your voice.

For specific exercises here are some examples:

• Breath/Warm-up/Practice-starter: Begin with Farinelli Breathing for a warm-up routine similar to Carthy's.
• Vocal Registers & Vocal Breaks: Learn how to deal with vocal breaks by watching Voice Registers & Vocal Break
• Performing: Get tips for reducing stage fright with How to overcome stage fright

Remember, the most important thing is to practice regularly and emulate your teacher. By immersing yourself in the music of Martin Carthy, focusing on your technique, and utilizing the resources available to you on Singing Carrots, you too can learn to sing like him.