Unsteady - X Ambassadors Vocal Demo and Acoustic Guitar

michaelmusic

What's up everyone!
This week is Unsteady by X Ambassadors. I am trying to focus on vocal tone and blending. Getting to those high notes in this song is TOUGH. I have a tendency to have a thin pitch and I think it's because I'm not using enough air and having proper breath support.

ALL Feedback welcome. Thank you!
@DannyOc3an
@bentk
@Wigs
@LindseyBean
@guychan
@Terence
@vocality


https://youtu.be/rrbPfq3Go_8

Terence

Tone and blending, you say...

Blending: the "Hold" first word in the chorus' seem designed for a slight yodel into the high note. That might give a nice contrast. Your blending elsewhere is flawless.

Tone: You finish with a nice thick tone. For the higher notes, perhaps it's time for some hyper-glottal compression?

This is a good song for you, imo.

Maarten

this is bold yes @michaelmusic
I would suggest to transpose the song i another key so the higher notes are a lttle less high.
You have a good voice for this kind of songs but you'll have more power and control if it's a little but lower.

kworam

@michaelmusic you have a good voice and you are a good performer. I think the key is a bit too high, and I think the song would sound just as compelling if you transpose it just a little lower. You might find that after you sing it in a slightly lower key for a while, higher keys become possible!

michaelmusic

Hello @Terence appreciate your comment. Can you clarify what you would like to see when you say to use hyper-glottal compression? I understand glottal compression and although I've gone through V4 I don't know what change to make here.

Terence

michaelmusic said:

Hello @Terence appreciate your comment. Can you clarify what you would like to see when you say to use hyper-glottal compression? I understand glottal compression and although I've gone through V4 I don't know what change to make here.

38. Vocal Distortion - Hyper Glottal Compression
https://join.kentamplinvocalacademy.com/products/how-to-sing-better-than-anyone-else-version-3-0-volume-3/categories/2148316056/posts/2150106835

39. Compression - Distortion - Grit
https://join.kentamplinvocalacademy.com/products/how-to-sing-better-than-anyone-else-version-3-0-volume-3/categories/2148316063/posts/2150106836

02F. Glottal Compression Headvoice 6
https://join.kentamplinvocalacademy.com/products/how-to-sing-better-than-anyone-else-version-3-0-volume-3/categories/2148274374/posts/2150106799

After collecting these links I notice you're on 2.0 @michaelmusic On version 3 Ken has 9 videos on the topic although they are repetitive and overlap. He describes drastically cutting back the air and then "leaning in" to cause a healthy type of distortion. On the head-voice video he says it's possible but harder to distort headvoice safely.

I mention it to you as a way to thicken up this part of your range as McCartney often did in the same range.

Personally, I'm only able to mildly distort and would prefer to be more developed before going further. You're further along so might give it a try.

GuyChan

Hey there. In this song, for example talking about tone, you did your first phrase, and then the second time you did it (starting around 0:20) you have more thicknesses and power. I think this is what you're looking for eventually. So listening to that I can hear that from last songs you did, you got better at having a stronger sound. So don't worry, the fullness will come overtime. Actually it IS coming. Keep on bro !

Also, I would advise you to bring the sound a bit more in the head, like you're making the air of the exhale circulate in your skull. This sensation is achieved by placing the sound a bit higher and in the back, lifting the soft palate. I think this would release some tightness I can hear, that makes your sound smaller. And it will also help with blending the registers.