Singing Guide: The Darkness
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
The Darkness and Justin Hawkins: How to Sing like Him
The Darkness is a British rock band known for their theatrical performances, distinctive falsetto singing style, and classic rock-inspired sound. If you want to learn to sing like Justin Hawkins, the lead vocalist of The Darkness, you need to focus on developing your range, power, and control. In this article, we will explore Hawkins' unique vocal technique and provide practical advice and Singing Carrots resources to help you achieve his signature sound.
Vocal Range and Falsetto
One of the most distinctive elements of Hawkins' singing style is his impressive vocal range, which spans four octaves. To learn to sing like him, you'll need to first determine your vocal range and identify areas where you need to improve. You can use Singing Carrot's vocal range test to determine your range and benchmark yourself against famous singers.
Hawkins is also known for his falsetto singing, which allows him to hit high notes with ease and add a unique tone to his performances. To develop your falsetto range, try Singing Carrot's pitch training exercises, which include warm-ups and exercises to strengthen your head voice.
Breath Control and Stance
Another key to Hawkins' powerful vocal performances is his breath control. Good breath control is essential for singing high notes and sustaining vocal phrases. You can improve your breath control with Singing Carrot's breathing basics guide, which includes tips on active and passive breathing and exercises to strengthen your respiratory muscles.
Hawkins also uses a commanding stance when he performs, which helps him project his voice and engage his audience. The way you stand when you sing can affect your vocal quality and projection. Singing Carrot's article on how posture affects your singing provides tips on standing correctly for optimal vocal performance.
Articulation and Style
Hawkins' singing style is heavily influenced by classic rock bands like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin, which is reflected in his powerful vocal delivery and distinctive vocal runs. To sing like Hawkins, you should practice articulating your words clearly while maintaining a rock-inspired vocal style. Singing Carrot's articulation exercises can help you improve your diction and delivery.
Finally, to really capture the essence of Hawkins' style, you'll need to work on perfecting his signature vocal runs and ad-libs. Singing Carrot's song search tool can help you find songs that match your vocal range and genre preference, including songs by The Darkness. Their songbook tool can help you practice songs with lyrics, sheet music, and audio accompaniment, so you can perfect your performance.
By incorporating these practical tips and Singing Carrots resources into your singing practice, you can develop a powerful vocal technique similar to that of Justin Hawkins and take your singing to the next level.