Singing Guide: Kinky Boots
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Kinky Boots is a musical production inspired by a true story and a British indie movie. It tells the tale of a failing shoe factory in Northampton, England, and a young man named Charlie Price who tries to save it from bankruptcy. By chance, he encounters a drag queen named Lola, who's struggling with her own identity, and they come up with an unconventional idea to produce high-heeled boots for men, calling their brand Kinky Boots.
If you want to learn how to sing like Kinky Boots, you need to know what makes this musical unique. The show features a broad range of musical styles, such as pop, rock, funk, and gospel, and it has won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The songs are catchy, uplifting, and full of energy, and they reflect the message of the musical, which is acceptance, diversity, and empowerment.
To master Kinky Boots' vocal technique, you should focus on three key elements: control, range, and expression. Most of the songs in the show require a strong vocal control to deliver the melodies and harmonies with precision and accuracy. Also, the performers need to have a wide range of vocal registers, from low to high, to match the different moods and styles of each song. Finally, expression is essential to convey the emotions and feelings embedded in the lyrics of the songs.
To get started, you can use the Singing Carrots' vocal range test to determine your vocal range and compare it with the singers in the show. You can also use the pitch accuracy test to improve your accuracy in pitch. The vocal pitch monitor can help you visualize the notes you're singing on a virtual piano, which is excellent for practicing your control.
To master Kinky Boots' vocal technique, you need to practice the following exercises and techniques:
- Breathing: use the active and passive breathing techniques to control your breath and support your voice.
- Warm-up: use the Farinelli breathing and the three-minute warm-up exercises to prepare your voice for singing.
- Range: use the chest voice, mixed voice, and voice break exercises to expand your vocal range and improve your pitch accuracy.
- Twang: use the how to twang exercise to master the twang vocal technique, which is prevalent in Kinky Boots' songs.
- Vibrato: use the Diaphragm bounce exercise to master vibrato, which is also used in some of the Kinky Boots' songs.
- Emotion and expression: use the relaxing breath exercise to improve your performance on stage and bring out the emotions in the songs.
Kinky Boots' songs showcase the unique vocal techniques used in the show. Some of the most popular songs include "The Sex Is In The Heel," "Not My Father's Son," "Everybody Say Yeah," and "Raise You Up/Just Be."
To learn more about singing, read Singing Carrots' articles about analyzing your voice, breath support, vocal registers, singing with emotion, and much more. Also, check out Singing Carrots' song search tool to find songs that match your vocal range and style, and the vocal range of famous singers.
With practice and dedication, you can master Kinky Boots' unique vocal style and become a better singer. Good luck and remember to always embrace your own uniqueness and authenticity!