Singing Guide: Wearing Someone Else's Clothes
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Wearing Someone Else's Clothes is a song by Connie Converse, a pioneering American singer-songwriter from the 1950s. While Connie was never able to achieve commercial success as a musician, her work has gained critical acclaim decades after she disappeared from the public eye. Her music and voice are praised for their haunting, dream-like qualities, and her persona as a highly individualistic and fiercely artistic woman continues to resonate with listeners that love the blending of emotional message and musical exploration.
If you want to learn to sing in the style of Connie Converse, there are a few factors to keep in mind. Her voice is characteristically unforced, natural, and emotional, often conveying a sense of longing, melancholy, and individuality. She uses her voice to convey deeper emotional messages, rather than simply showcase her vocal prowess. Listening to examples of her work, such as this song, highlights her use of unique melodies, the vocal inflections, and the way she incorporated musical devices in her music, including unusual and shifting tempos within songs.
To train your voice and work towards singing like Connie Converse, an excellent place to start is Singing Carrots' vocal range, and pitch tests. Use these tests to get a clear sense of your vocal range and pitch accuracy. Once you do, you can start working to improve your voice.
As you practice and progress, spend time on improving the quality of your voice. Articles on breathing basics, open mouth and throat, breath support, and articulation can help strengthen your voice. Learning to sing in your chest voice is also essential for achieving the unforced, natural style Connie Converse pursued.
Songs that showcase similar vocal styles and emotions to Connie's music can also provide valuable guidance, particularly if you pay attention to the melody, tempos, and phrasing of these songs. "Search songs by vocal range," a feature on Singing Carrots can help you find songs that match your vocal range and preference. "Vocal pitch monitor" and "Pitch training" can help you see your sung notes on a virtual piano, monitor singing improvement, and learn vocal warm-up exercises for better range and agility.
Finally, remember that no two voices are the same, and developing your style is critical as a singer. Drawing on the unique qualities of your voice and tapping into emotions to express yourself in the right ways can be a powerful way to enhance your singing style. "Singing with intuition, skills, emotion, and thinking" is one of the most valuable articles to start with when trying to express your unique voice.
Happy singing!