Singing Guide: Joshua Parman
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Learning to sing like Joshua Parman, the lead singer of Judah & the Lion, requires a unique combination of vocal techniques and musical styles to emulate his signature sound. Joshua is known for his high-pitched, raspy voice that brings an extra emotional quality to Judah & the Lion's folk-rock sound.
To learn to sing like Joshua Parman, start by analyzing your voice. Practice the vocal range test on Singing Carrots to determine your unique range, and use the Vocal Pitch Monitor tool to see what notes you are hitting accurately. For Joshua's particular sound, you will want to focus on strengthening your upper register and finding ways to incorporate raspy and gritty tones into your singing.
Breathing is also a crucial part of Joshua's style. Use Singing Carrots' breathing basics article to learn about active and passive breathing and the importance of breath support. This will give you more control over your voice and allow you to sustain notes longer and hit higher pitches.
To strengthen your upper register, practice your falsetto regularly. Singing Carrots' voice registers and vocal break article explains how to safely transition between chest voice and head voice, which is key to achieving the upper-register sound characteristic of Joshua Parman. You can also use the Pitch Training tool to practice pitch accuracy and range, focusing on hitting the higher notes smoothly and confidently.
To incorporate raspy tones into your singing, Singing Carrots' contemporary vocal techniques article covers heavy modal, twang, and belting. For Joshua's style, focus on the twang technique, which creates a nasal and nasalized sound with a piercing character. Singing Carrots provides a How to Twang exercise video specifically designed to help you learn this technique.
Next, practice with songs that showcase Joshua Parman's style. Judah & the Lion's hit "Take it All Back" is a great place to start. Focus on the high register, breath support, and twang in your singing. Use Singing Carrots' song search tool to find other songs that match your range, difficulty, and genre preference.
Finally, don't forget the emotional aspect of Joshua's performances. Singing Carrots' singing with intuition, skills, emotion, and thinking article discusses how to bring feeling and nuance to your singing that will make it more authentic and moving.
With practice and dedication, you can learn to sing like Joshua Parman and add his unique sound and style to your own singing. Use the resources available on Singing Carrots to hone your vocal skills, learn new techniques and songs, and turn your passion for singing into a tangible skillset.