Singing Guide: Jennie Lee Riddle
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
If you're a worship music fan, you probably already know who Jennie Lee Riddle is. The celebrated songwriter and worship leader is responsible for numerous international hits, including the Dove-award-winning "Revelation Song." Written in 2004, her magnum opus has been performed and recorded by many well-known artists, including Phillips, Craig, and Dean; Kari Jobe; and Gateway Worship. The song is a testament to Jennie Lee Riddle's unique artistry and distinctive vocal technique, heavily influenced by her southern gospel heritage.
If you want to learn to sing like Jennie Lee Riddle, the key is to recognize the power of storytelling. Each of her songs is like a snapshot in time, capturing a moment of awe and wonder in the human experience. Her words and melodies are deeply emotional and can be quite challenging to convey effectively without feeling overwhelmed. Here are a few tips to guide you on your journey:
- Breathing Basics: Good singing starts with proper breathing. The way you take in air and release it helps support natural, healthy sound production. Check out Breathing basics for more on the topic.
- Voice Registers & Vocal Break: To fully emulate Jennie Lee Riddle's style, it's necessary to master vocal registers and manage your vocal break. With a solid grasp of these concepts, you'll focus on conveying your emotions through your lyrics. Check out more information here.
- Song Search & Practice: One of Singing Carrots' most helpful features is the ability to search for songs according to key and skill level. You'll want to focus on those with a lot of emotional depth. Then, use the provided lyrics and sheet music to practice them thoroughly. The more comfortable you become with her lyrical sprawl, the easier it will be to convey the emotion of her music effectively. You can find a song search tool here and sheet music/chords/karaoke of Jennie Lee Riddle's songs here.
- Vocal Training: Jennie Lee Riddle's vocals tend to emphasize a "southern growl," especially at higher ranges. You might want to try the How to Growl Exercise found on Singing Carrots to improve your growling technique. You might also find the How to Twang Exercise or the Chest Voice Explained helpful in copying her vocal register.
- Performance & Style: Don't forget that Jennie Lee Riddle is a performer as well as a songwriter. She's renowned for her emotive physical presence, and that stage presence is in part what makes her music so successful. You might want to check out Singing Carrots' collection of stage presence tips to learn some strategies for improving your performance presence, no matter which genre you specialise in.
Whether it's the pure power of her voice or the depth of her lyrics, Jennie Lee Riddle stands out as an exceptional artist. By studying her work and incorporating techniques such as breathing, vocal registers, practice, and performance preparation, you'll be well on your way to emulating her iconic style. Even if you don't master her style completely, though, there's something important to note: when you sing from the heart, you're pouring out a little bit of yourself with every note. And like Jennie Lee Riddle knows, that's when some of the most beautiful music comes out. Give her music a chance, and you just might find yourself inspired to make your own contribution to the world of art and soul!