Singing Guide: Naughty Boy
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Naughty Boy is one of the most popular British producers and music artists of recent years. Born Shahid Khan, he has built a wildly successful career thanks in part to his unique vocal production techniques. In this article, we will explore Naughty Boy's signature vocal style and how you can learn to sing like him.
One aspect of Naughty Boy's vocal style is his use of layered harmonies. In many of his songs, he employs a technique known as "stacking," which involves recording multiple vocal tracks and layering them on top of each other to create rich, complex harmonies. To achieve this effect, you will need to record yourself singing the same melody multiple times, either in different octaves or with slightly different phrasing. You can use Singing Carrots' Pitch Training and Vocal Pitch Monitor tools to help you practice and refine your harmonies.
Another key technique of Naughty Boy's vocal style is his use of vocal fry. Vocal fry is a vocal register that produces a deep, creaky sound. Naughty Boy often uses vocal fry to add grit and texture to his vocals, particularly in the lower parts of his range. To learn vocal fry, you can follow Singing Carrots' Warm-up/Practice-starter exercise on Sustain Vocal.
Breath control is also an important aspect of Naughty Boy's singing. In many of his more soulful tracks, he employs long, sustained notes that require careful breath control. To practice this technique, you can use Singing Carrots' Breath support and Farinelli Breathing videos.
When learning to sing like Naughty Boy, it's important to pay attention to the nuances of his performances. Each song is a unique expression of his artistry, and he employs a wide range of techniques to create his signature sound. To get started, we recommend studying some of his most popular tracks, such as "La La La," "Runnin' (Lose It All)," and "No One's Here to Sleep." Each song showcases a different facet of his vocal style, and careful study will help you gain a deeper understanding of his techniques.
Suggested Articles and Videos: Breath support, Farinelli Breathing, Pitch Training, Vocal Pitch Monitor, Sustain Vocal, La La La, Runnin' (Lose It All), No One's Here to Sleep, and Vocal fry.