Singing Guide: Tame Impala
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
If you're a fan of Tame Impala, you're likely drawn to Kevin Parker's dreamy, psychedelic sound that has earned him numerous accolades. Parker's unique vocal style, often accompanied by heavy reverb and layered harmonies, has become one of the defining characteristics of his music. Here are some tips for learning to sing like Tame Impala:
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Build up your vocal range. Kevin Parker's falsetto is a key part of his sound, so focus on exercises that help you expand your range in a healthy way. Singing Carrot's vocal range test is a great starting point as it puts you through a series of exercises, categorizes you based on your vocal range, and even helps you compare your range to that of a famous singer.
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Practice breathing exercises. Proper breath support is essential for singing in general, and it becomes even more important if you want to sing in the falsetto register. Exercises such as Farinelli Breathing can help you train your breathing muscles, resulting in better breath support and control.
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Experiment with different voice registers. Parker often uses his falsetto for the higher notes of his melodies, but he sometimes drops his voice down into a lower register, creating a different, more grounded sound. Singing Carrots Vocal Registers & Vocal Break article explains the multiple vocal registers and how to develop/maintain them.
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Work on your pitch accuracy. Tame Impala's songs often feature complex harmonies and layers which demand high degrees of pitch accuracy. Singing Carrots Pitch Accuracy test will provide a good starting point to sharpen your sense of pitch.
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Explore vocal effects. Parker's music can be quite effect-heavy with things such as reverb often being applied to his vocals. Working with Singing Carrots’ Vocal Pitch Monitor, together with different vocal effects (see Contemporary Vocal Techniques: Heavy Modal, Twang, Belting article), can help shape your unique vocal style inspired by Tame Impala.
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Learn to sing dynamically. Kevin Parker is known for his ability to sing with a lot of emotion, and he often uses dynamics to emphasize certain parts of the melody. The Singing Carrots Sustain Vocal Video and Relaxed Breathing Video can help you to sing dynamically with more breath and sustain in your voice.
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Practice the Tame Impala songs. Start practicing with some of Tame Impala's best-known tracks like "Elephant," "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards," and "Let It Happen." Singing Carrots’ song search tool can help you find more of his songs that match your vocal range, preference, and difficulty level.
By practicing these techniques, you can improve your ability to sing like Tame Impala and begin to develop your own unique take on his style. Enjoy your journey of discovering and developing your abilities with Singing Carrots.