Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus: How to Sing Like Them

Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus collaborated on the hugely popular country rap song, "Old Town Road". Lil Nas X, who was a college dropout sleeping on his sister's floor before the song blew up, had been promoting it on social media with the hashtag #YeehawChallenge. The song proved to be a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying there for nineteen weeks.

Twang and Rap Delivery

One of the most significant characteristics of Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus's performances is the authentic twang in their country-western styles. Twang refers to a bright, nasal sound quality that adds "bite" to the voice. To enhance your twang technique, try the How to Twang Exercise video from Singing Carrots.

Another vital characteristic in their performances is their rap delivery. Rap delivery involves speaking or singing words quickly and rhythmically with emphasis on the rhyming patterns. Lil Nas X's delivery is more straightforward, and Billy Ray Cyrus's delivery is more melodic.

Songs to Practice

If you're a fan of "Old Town Road," you'll want to practice singing it. The Vocal Pitch Monitor tool will help you get started. Load the song on YouTube or another streaming service, then open the Vocal Pitch Monitor and start singing along. The tool will show you how well you're hitting each note.

You may also want to practice other songs that showcase Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus vocal styles. For example, Billy Ray Cyrus's "Achy Breaky Heart" is a classic country track that has a fun, upbeat melody and simple lyrics, making it an excellent choice for beginners. On the other hand, "Panini" by Lil Nas X is a more recent song, with a catchy melody and rap-style delivery to test your skills.

Supporting Techniques

Other factors contribute to their vocal skills. To sing like Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, you need to develop strong breath support, consistently open your mouth and throat while singing, understand your voice type, and find your vocal range.

Fortunately, Singing Carrots offers several resources that can help you develop these skills. The Breath Support blog post explains how to develop proper breath support, while the Open Mouth and Throat blog post provides tips on how to maintain an open mouth while singing. Discover your voice type with the Voice Types blog post and assess your vocal range with the Vocal range test.

Conclusion

Learning to sing like Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus means developing both their twang and rap delivery techniques. Practice singing their songs, but remember to take care of your voice by maintaining good breath support and opening your mouth and throat while singing. Use Singing Carrots resources, such as the pitch monitor, to monitor your progress and find your authentic singing voice.

With time and practice, you can learn to sing like Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus and create a unique style all your own.