Singing Guide: Spiral Starecase
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Spiral Starecase: Singing Advice for "More Today Than Yesterday"
Spiral Starecase is an American pop band from the 1960s known for its signature song, "More Today Than Yesterday". The song has a unique vocal quality that is difficult to replicate, but with the proper techniques and practice, it's possible to learn to sing like the lead vocalist, Pat Upton.
One of the key features of the song is Upton's use of falsetto, which is also known as "head voice". Falsetto is a technique that allows the singer to sing in a higher range, and Upton's use of it in "More Today Than Yesterday" is what gives the song its iconic sound. To learn to sing like Upton, it's important to work on developing your falsetto.
Another important aspect of Upton's singing style is his use of vibrato. Vibrato is the slight variation of pitch that occurs naturally when a singer sustains a note. Upton's voice has a distinct vibrato that adds to the emotional impact of the song. To develop your own vibrato, it's important to practice sustaining notes and focusing on the natural fluctuations in pitch that occur.
In addition to falsetto and vibrato, Upton also uses a lot of breath control in his singing. In "More Today Than Yesterday", he frequently switches between falsetto and a lower register, requiring careful management of his breath. To improve your own breath control, practice deep breathing exercises and work on gradually extending the amount of time you can sustain a note.
To practice singing like Upton and work on developing these techniques, Singing Carrots offers a range of helpful resources. The Pitch Training program includes exercises for range and agility, as well as a pitch visualizer that can help you monitor the fluctuations in pitch that are so integral to Upton's vocal style. Additionally, the Vocal Health section of Singing Carrots' blog offers practical advice on maintaining healthy habits for your voice.
With time, patience, and dedication, it's possible to learn to sing like Pat Upton of Spiral Starecase. By focusing on developing your falsetto, vibrato, and breath control, and utilizing the helpful tools and resources available on Singing Carrots, you can take your singing skills to the next level and achieve your goals as a vocalist.