Singing Guide: The Soul Children
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
The Soul Children were a group of soul singers who played a prominent role in the Memphis soul scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Singers J. Blackfoot and Norman West had distinct voices that blended harmoniously with singer Anita Louis and, later, Shelbra Bennett. The group worked with famed Memphis producer David Porter and released numerous singles and several albums, often weaving gospel themes with the secular.
If you want to learn to sing like The Soul Children, you'll need to use authentic soul and gospel techniques. Here are some tips for developing your vocal style:
- Experiment with vibrato. Try some of the vibrato exercises in this video to get started. Vibrato is a common feature of soul and gospel music, and it can add a lot of richness and emotion to your singing.
- Work on your breath control. Breathing properly is essential for soul and gospel singing. Practice using your diaphragm and controlling your breath with exercises like Farinelli Breathing to strengthen your capacity.
- Experiment with belting and dynamics. Soul and gospel music often involve a powerful, dynamic way of singing. Learn to control your volume and experiment with different levels of intensity as you practice.
- Explore your chest voice. A strong chest voice is essential for soul singing. Learn more about the chest voice and how to use it in this video.
- Find your personal style. While it's important to study the styles and techniques of other singers, you should also experiment to find your own unique sound. Don't be afraid to add your own personality and flair to your singing.
And of course, Singing Carrots has plenty of resources to help you learn and grow as a soul singer! Try taking the vocal range test and the pitch accuracy test to assess your skills, and use the search songs function to find pieces that suit your vocal range. The Singing Beginners course is also a great resource to explore for more structured lessons.