Singing Guide: Pickwick

Singing Guide: Pickwick

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

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Pickwick is a Seattle-based indie rock band that emerged in the late 2000s. Frontman Galen Disston's amazing voice inspires Pickwick's unique sound, a blend of soul, blues, and rock. In this article, you'll learn how to sing like Galen Disston, his unique technique, and songs showcasing it.

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Galen Disston's Vocal Technique

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Galen Disston's singing technique is soulful, dynamic, and powerful. Disston has an extensive range, often switching between his chest and falsetto voice on the same phrase.

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One of Disston's unique singing techniques is his ability to move his larynx while maintaining a smooth and undistorted sound, which creates a unique vocal tone that's recognizable in Pickwick's music.

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To sing like Galen Disston, here are some practical tips:

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  • Breathing: Deep breaths taken from the diaphragm are key to Disston's dynamic delivery. Lung capacity is critical for the long, soulful notes and vibrato he employs in his singing.
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  • Warm-Ups: Disston's range requires a proper warm-up of both the chest and head voice. One of his favorite warm-ups is humming, which lets the singer focus attention on breath control and the placement of their voice.
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  • Emotion: Disston often uses his body to help channel the emotion of the lyrics. He advises aspiring singers not to hold back when performing, as holding back can impact the emotional impact of the music.
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Songs Showcasing Galen Disston's Vocal Technique

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Pickwick's music features rich vocal harmonies and dynamic arrangements that showcase Galen Disston's technique. Here are some songs you need to listen to if you want to learn how to sing like Disston:

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  • Talk Like That: one of their popular songs. Here, Disston's unique technique is evident from the first lyric, where Disston starts the song in his head voice with an effortless glide into his chest voice for the chorus.
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  • Hacienda Motel: This is a good example of Disston's emotional impact. With lyrics reminiscent of a noir film, the band builds suspense through slow, methodical phrasing that emphasizes the melancholy that Disston brings to his singing.
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  • Turncoat: Here, Disston's creates a brilliant vocal harmony with the use of his voice and those of his bandmates. The song draws on both major and minor keys and creates a unique sound signature that showcases Disston's soulful range.
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Singing Carrots Resources

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Singing Carrots offers a variety of resources to help you learn how to sing like Galen Disston:

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  • Breathing Basics, an article that explains the importance of controlling breath in singing.
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  • Voice Registers & Vocal Breaks, an article that explains singing registers and vocal breaks.
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  • Warm-up Exercises (linked to YouTube videos): Farinelli Breathing, Humming, and Singing Comfort Zone.
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  • Vocal Range Test, a tool that assesses your vocal range.
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  • Pitch Accuracy Test, a tool that assesses your pitch accuracy.
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  • Pitch Training, an educational singing game that helps with pitch training.
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  • Singing Course, a comprehensive 21-lesson program covering both theoretical and practical tips.
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In conclusion, singing like Galen Disston requires a combination of skill, technique, and emotion. By using Pickwick's music and Singing Carrots' resources, you can develop your singing talents and produce an authentic performance.

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Learn more about this artist vocal range, voice type and repertoire.