Singing Guide: Robinson
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Oliver Robinson, known professionally as Ollie Robinson, is an English singer and songwriter. His soulful voice and pensive lyrics have captured audiences worldwide. In this article, we will explore the essence of Robinson's music through his unique vocal technique, his songs, and the practical advice to learn to sing like him.
Robinson's Vocal Technique
Robinson's voice possesses a warm and soothing characteristic, which he accomplishes with a mix of head voice, chest voice, and falsetto. His singing incorporates various vocal techniques to produce his unique sound, but the most distinct of these is his falsetto. Robinson's falsetto is so light in tone that it seems to evaporate before your ears. You can see this vocal technique on display in "Fly Away," a slow and sultry ballad, which showcases Robinson's ability to use his falsetto as a hypnotic tool.
Robinson also uses vibrato to add even more texture and depth to his voice. In "Don't Let The Music Die," Robinson demonstrates a vibrato that is delicate and well-controlled.
Learn to Sing like Robinson
To sing like Robinson, the first step is to identify your vocal range. The Vocal Range Test on Singing Carrots can help you determine if you have a similar range to Robinson's. Once you know your range, you can select some of Robinson's songs that suit your voice.
Robinson has produced many ballads, so selecting one that suits your vocal range should not be too difficult. "You Will Never Know," is a Robinson song that starts quietly and then builds slowly, allowing you to use all your vocal strengths.
Once you have identified a Robinson song that suits your voice, get familiar with the melody and lyrics. The Song Book on Singing Carrots is a great resource to find lyrics and chords for Robinson's music.
Working on your breathing technique is also essential to produce a sound similar to Robinson's. We suggest the Farinelli Breathing exercise, which can be found in the Skill-Related Videos.
Robinson relies on a mix of head voice, chest voice, and falsetto to produce his unique sound. Singing Carrots can help you develop your head voice by trying out the Singing Comfort Zone exercise.
To develop your chest voice and falsetto, the exercise Voice Break will help you understand the change between the two voice registers.
Conclusion
Robinson shows us how a well-trained voice can create a unique, soulful sound. By incorporating his vocal techniques with practical advice and resources from Singing Carrots, you can learn to sing like Ollie Robinson. You can check the Singing Carrots Educational Course for a complete program to develop your singing skills.