Singing Guide: Kelsea Ballerini & LANY
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Kelsea Ballerini is an American country pop singer and songwriter. Through her music and emotive power, Kelsea has won numerous accolades, including accolades such as being the recipient of the ASCAP Vanguard Award and being recognized as the 'Fifth Most-Played Female Artist on Country Radio' in 2019. Kelsea's vocal range is immense, moving through keys with ease and precision, while her vibrato is subtle and authentic. If you are looking to learn to sing like Kelsea, this article will provide you with a comprehensive guide.
Vocal Technique
Ballerini's unique vocal technique stems from her emotive tone and her powerful breath control. When singing Kelsea's material, the lyrics should always be at the forefront of your interpretation. This approach will not only enhance your vocal technique but make the lyrics more relatable to the listener's ears.
Breath Control
Breath control not only provides endurance for performing long notes, but it also helps you draw out certain phrases and carry the melody to new heights. Our Breathing Basics resource will help you understand your breathing, both passively and actively. Farinelli Breathing video is a great starter exercise to help you better understand the connection between breath and sound.
Pitch Accuracy
Pitch accuracy will be key when trying to replicate Kelsea Ballerini's vocal style. Using Singing Carrots' Pitch Accuracy Test will help you gauge how well you are matching the notes in a melody.
Practice Warm-Ups
With any complex vocal piece, warming up both your voice and facial muscles are crucial. We recommend practicing Finger Bite and Humming exercises, which are a great starting place for people new to vocal warm-ups.
Tips for Practicing Ballerini's unique Vocal Styles
- When practicing the masterful emotive sound that Kelsea Ballerini’s singing brings, attempting to replicate Kelsea's tone in a studio setting can be tricky. It is best to learn by listening to her live performances, as this is where she showcases her full range and emotive power.
- Once you have listened to her live performances, you can move onto the more complex elements of Ballerini's vocal style such as voice registers, articulation, and resonance in singing. If you are struggling with voice registers and vocal breaks, refer to our Voice Registers & Vocal Break blog.
- It is also important to pay attention to the type of music in Kelsea's discography to fully understand and replicate her style. Kelsea's repertoire consists of a variety of upbeat and slow-tempo country songs written from a personal perspective. Understanding the art of storytelling is equally important to Kelsea's vocal style.
- Kelsea Ballerini uses twang and heavy modal technique. Refer to our Twang & Belting Techniques blog for more information.
Songs showcasing Kelsea Ballerini's unique vocal style
- Love Me Like You Mean It
- Yeah Boy
- Peter Pan
- Legends
- Homecoming Queen
Conclusion
Kelsea Ballerini's vocal style is rich with self-expression and is a great example to follow for aspiring country and pop singers. It is vital to have a comprehensive understanding of breath control, pitch accuracy, and voice registers to learn and replicate her singing style. Use relevant Singing Carrots' resources to support your learning and practice with Kelsea's songs for added context. With this knowledge, you will be well on the path towards embodying Kelsea's authentic vocal style.