Singing Guide: Brand New Heavies
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Brand New Heavies are a British acid jazz and funk group that have been active since the mid-1980s. The band's sound is characterized by a fusion of jazz, funk, and soul music, with a strong emphasis on live instrumentation and tight vocal harmonies.
If you're interested in learning how to sing like the Brand New Heavies, there are several key elements of their vocal style that you should focus on. First and foremost, the band's vocalists have a tight, polished sound that emphasizes strong harmonies and precise phrasing. They also make use of a lot of syncopated rhythms and complex vocal arrangements, which can be challenging to master but can add a lot of depth and complexity to your singing.
Another important aspect of the Brand New Heavies' vocal style is their use of improvisation and spontaneity. Many of their songs feature extended instrumental and vocal passages where the musicians are given room to stretch out and explore different melodic ideas. As a vocalist, it's important to be able to follow the band's lead and adapt your vocal lines to fit the song's changing dynamics and shifting rhythms.
To develop your skills as a Brand New Heavies-style vocalist, there are several resources on Singing Carrots that can help you. The site's vocal range test is a great place to start, as it can help you identify the range of notes and vocal techniques that you need to focus on in order to replicate the band's sound.
The site's pitch accuracy test and vocal pitch monitor can also be useful tools for training your ear and improving your intonation, which is essential for singing complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms.
Other resources that can be helpful include the site's pitch training exercises, which can help you develop your vocal agility and range, as well as its song search function, which can help you find songs that match your vocal range, genre preferences, and other criteria.
Additionally, Singing Carrots offers a 21-lesson singing course that covers everything from basic singing theory to practical tips for improving your breath control and vocal tone. The site also has a wide range of articles and videos on topics ranging from breathing and posture to advanced vocal techniques like vibrato and vocal distortion.
By taking advantage of these resources and focusing on the key elements of the Brand New Heavies' vocal style, you can develop your skills as a singer and learn to tackle some of the most challenging and rewarding music in funk and soul.