Singing Guide: Stormzy feat. Yebba
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Stormzy is a British grime and hip-hop artist with a unique voice that mixes various vocal styles, creating a powerful and dynamic sound. Collaborating with the soulful American singer Yebba in his hit "Don't Forget to Breathe," Stormzy has become as known for his singing ability as for his rapping. His signature sound combines a clear, understated delivery with a resonant tone that gives his voice depth and impact.
To learn how to sing like Stormzy, you need to develop proper breathing techniques combined with strong control over the various registers of your voice. Stormzy's singing, like his rapping, is characterized by a conversational quality in his delivery, but with a powerful, almost gospel-like intonation that is unmistakably his.
To begin, try the Vocal Range Test offered by Singing Carrots to determine your vocal range, followed by the Pitch Accuracy Test to assess your pitch accuracy skills. Once you're confident in your basic vocal abilities, move onto the Pitch Training feature to refine your pitch as well as your timbre and resonance. If you feel you need a more structured approach, consider taking the Educational Singing Course, which covers singing theory and practical tips.
Breathing is fundamental to proper singing, and the website provides plenty of advice on breathing basics, breath support and respiration that are essential to healthy, powerful singing. To further develop your breathing, try the Farinelli Breathing exercise, which focuses on increasing your vocal power by tapping into your diaphragm and controlling your breath.
Another essential aspect of singing like Stormzy is understanding voice registers and vocal breaks, as well as the technique of mixed voice. Singing Carrots provides guidance on these facets of vocal control, as well as warm-up exercises like the "Singing Comfort Zone," which help you transition between registers.
Stormzy's songs are a playground for a creative singer to showcase their abilities, and "Don't Forget to Breathe" is the perfect example: it requires strong breath control, intricate phrasing, and an ability to smoothly transition between registers. To fully capture the essence of Stormzy's style, be sure to check out the resources on articulation, resonance and vibrato.
Finally, don't underestimate the importance of vocal health, proper posture, and emotional control. Follow the links provided to explore how good posture affects singing and ways to prevent vocal damage. To improve your emotional control, check out the Relaxing Breath exercise. And remember, performance is an art form in itself, so take a look at the tips for overcoming stage fright and for performing on stage.