Singing Guide: Yael Naim
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
If you want to learn to sing like Yael Naim, you may have heard the sound of naturalness, sincerity, and intimacy in her songs. Her style is characterized by having a light vocal weight that sounds casual and authentic.
Yael's sound is easily recognizable due to her understated, laid-back vocal style, soft falsetto, excellent diction, and melodic songwriting. If you're aiming to sing like her, you can try the following tips and exercises.
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Focus on breath and postural alignment
One of the best ways to prepare for singing is to make sure you're well aligned. Start with shoulder rolls, neck stretches, and a few deep-down breathing exercises. Improve your breath support by exhaling while automatically engaging your core muscles.
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Analyze and practice Yael's vocal techniques
Yael Naim's style is all about subtle shifts in timbre, phrasing, and melodic range. Watch some of her live performances such as "Too Long", "Paris," or "New Soul," and pay attention to the way she uses dynamics and registers. Try to imitate the subtle variations in her voice, and practice them with the vocal pitch monitor.
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Develop your vocal dexterity
Vocal agility refers to the ability to sing a series of notes in quick succession. Start with simple warm-ups and scales, then move to more challenging runs where notes are sung at different pitches in quick succession.
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Explore your falsetto
Yael Naim is known for her highs, and she's often praised for her strong falsetto. Attempt to incorporate a little falsetto into some of your singing exercises to work on that range.
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Articulation exercises
Work on your articulation, enunciation, and proper mouth formation. Exercises such as tongue twisters and mouth stretches can help you strengthen the muscles in your mouth, resulting in clearer and better-defined enunciation.
By analyzing her singing style and practicing the above exercises, you could sing in the intimate and laid-back style of Yael Naim.
To enhance your learning experience, you could also check Singing Carrots resources such as breathing basics, open mouth & throat, heating up session exercises, songbook, and pitch training. These resources are designed to help improve your singing technique, pitch accuracy, breath support, vocal health, and overall progress.
Remember, learning to sing like Yael Naim is a process that requires patience, time, and practice. Don't forget to have fun during the process and believe in your talent.