Singing Guide: Sia
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
How to Learn Singing Like Sia
Sia is a unique and gifted vocalist who has captivated audiences around the world with her powerful yet emotive singing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced singer, you can learn a lot from her distinctive style. In this article, we will explore Sia's vocal technique and highlight some of her most iconic songs. We will also provide you with practical tips and resources from Singing Carrots, so you can start developing your own singing skills like Sia.
Sia's Vocal Technique
One of the most noticeable aspects of Sia's singing is her ability to convey emotional depth while maintaining impeccable pitch and control. She has a strong voice, which is characterized by a unique balance of chest and head resonance, called the mixed voice. This technique allows her to produce a rich, warm tone with a lot of power, without losing tonal clarity. Sia is also known for her use of vibrato, a rapid, slight variation of pitch characterizing a strong or emotional utterance.
Sia's singing technique relies on breath support and good posture. Her open and relaxed throat allows a free flow of air and supports her vocal health. Good breathing habits, a natural but often under-developed skill, are the foundation of singing. Sia's technique is heavily dependent on proper execution of diaphragmatic breathing. In this technique, you should take a deep breath, and then focus on slowly exhaling while contracting your abdominal muscles. When you have mastered this technique, you can control your exhale and apply more air pressure on specific notes. To further understand diaphragmatic breathing and how to avoid unwanted tension, you can explore the exercises in Singing Carrots' breathing basics.
Like all great singers, Sia uses a variety of vocal registers to create different vocal textures. In some songs, Sia sings with a full, chesty voice, while in others, she uses the head voice or mix voice, selecting an appropriate technique for the mood. A technique that is significant to Sia's voice style is glottal onset. A glottal onset is a vocal attack used in singing that involves a sharp initiation of sound by abruptly releasing air pressure in the larynx. Sia uses this technique to create more assertive notes, particularly during her belted notes, which allows her to move between chest voice and mixed voice registers while maintaining tonal clarity.
Sia's Iconic Songs
Sia has an extensive discography that ranges from acoustic ballads to high-energy pop anthems. Here are some of her most iconic songs that showcase her unique vocal technique:
- "Chandelier" is probably Sia's most famous song and marked a turning point in her career. The song is known for its powerful chorus, which Sia belts, soaring through her vocal range.
- "Elastic Heart" shows off Sia's emotional depth and features a staccato glottal onset in the opening phrase.
- "Titanium" is another hit song that features Sia's belting and a powerful mix voice; she smoothly transitions from full chest voice to the mix voice throughout the song.
Practical Tips and Singing Carrots Resources
Here are some practical tips and Singing Carrots resources to help you develop your singing skills like Sia:
- Practice breath support exercises, such as the Farinelli Breathing, to develop good breathing habits and diaphragmatic breathing.
- Learn how to use your vocal registers appropriately for different situations. The Singing Comfort Zone provides exercises to practice in chest, head, and mix registers.
- Work on different onsets-offets techniques, such as the glottal onset, to add more emotion to your singing.
- Explore Singing Carrots Pitch Training to improve your pitch accuracy, and get instant feedback on your sung notes. Use the Vocal Pitch Monitor to track your progress.
- Use the Song search feature of Singing Carrots to find songs in your vocal range. And, master singing a chosen song by applying the techniques you learned here.
- Learn More about vocal health, resonance, and other vocal techniques by exploring Singing Carrots' articles.
By following these tips and Singing Carrots’ resources, you will be on your way to developing Sia's unique vocal technique and singing style. Dedicate yourself and get started today!