Learning to Sing like Housefires: Mastering Soulful Worship Vocals

Housefires is a Nashville-based musical ensemble that has gained notoriety in recent years for their soulful and contemporary approach to worship music. Though the group has seen a number of different members in its time, there are certain vocal techniques and stylistic qualities that unite all Housefires singers, making them unique among worship leaders. If you're interested in learning to sing like Housefires, this guide will help you master the key techniques that define their sound.

1. Embrace your authentic voice: One of the most distinctive things about Housefires is the raw, emotional quality of their vocal performances. Rather than sounding overly polished, Housefires singers embrace and showcase the unique character of their voices. Instead of obsessing over hitting every note perfectly, focus on finding the natural tendencies of your own voice and honing in on them. Start by recording yourself singing, and listen back to the recording to get a sense of how you naturally sound.
2. Learn to sing with a neutral or "open" mouth: Housefires singers oftentimes sing with an open mouth. This technique not only helps to add volume but also projects a raw emotion that is hallmark to Housefires' sound. Sing the lyrics with your mouth open and try to place emphasis on words that feel more important in the lyrics.
3. Incorporate melismas: Housefires embraces an abundance of melismas in their songs which means singing multiple notes within a single syllable of the song. Practicing different runs, arpeggios, and vocal acrobatics will help you sound like Housefires. Using the Pitch Training tool from Singing Carrots can help you master your pitching and agility.
4. Experiment with registers: Another key element of Housefires' sound is the way they blend chest voice and head voice registers in their singing. Experiment with transitioning between these different registers can lead to a rich, emotional sound. Learn the difference between chest and head voice and try combining them in different ways as demonstrated through the Aretha Franklin song Respect in this video.
5. Practice vocal control: One of the most impressive things about Housefires singers is their ability to control their voice on a dime, adding vibrato, runs, and other nuances to their performances. Work on developing your vocal control by practicing breath support, which includes belly expansion as taught in the Farinelli breathing exercise. Vocal monitoring tools like the Singing Carrots' Pitch Monitor can be used to detect how accurately you nail specific pitches and also check if you're flat or sharp.

For inspiration and insight, you can also watch some of Housefires performances in this video. You can also use Singing Carrots' song search feature to find a number of Housefires songs you can practice too.

By focusing on these key techniques, you can master the art of soulful, dynamic worship singing like the pros in Housefires!