Do you recognize the lyrical vocal flights of Céline Dion or Mariah Carey with your eyes closed? It's only natural. Both divas have vocal signatures all their own.

Whatever the register of your voice, identifying your timbre through a recognizable vocal identity is a technique in its own right. Beyond knowing how to sing in tune, owning and asserting one's own voice is one of the goals of every professional singer.

How do you find your vocal color, and what tips do you need to make it your own? Exploring different repertoires, mastering vocal techniques, training: Newzik gives you all the advice you need to identify your own vocal style.

Singing: 5 tips for finding your vocal signature

What is a voice signature?

As soon as you open your mouth to begin the lyrics of a song, we recognize your timbre and grain of voice. A vocal signature is what makes you vocally unique. More singular than a tessitura, a vocal signature is the "touch" that identifies you. It's a particular intonation, variation or timbre that defines your voice.

Having one's own vocal identity is a Holy Grail for singers who want to stand out from the crowd. In singing, owning a vocal identity is a way of creating your own vocal style. And that means, above all, finding out what makes your voice special.

What makes a voice special?

Soft voice , powerful voice, voice with nuance, degree of vibrato: what is the accent and agility of your singing? Whether it's gospel, soul, jazz or lyric**, a voice's uniqueness is linked to a number of criteria.

Timbre and tessitura: every voice has its own distinctive vocal timbre. Some singers have a hoarse, raspy tonality (like Louis Armstrong), others a clear, resonant voice (like Céline Dion).
Vibrato and vocal nuances: some artists, like Edith Piaf, are immediately recognizable by their tight, expressive vibrato. Others, like Billie Eilish, rely on gentle breathing and nuances.
Articulation and phrased : the way in which you articulate the lyrics of a song also helps to forge the identity of your voice. For example, the artist Stromae plays on precise rhythmic placements that make his voice immediately identifiable.

🎙 Knowing your vocal register and tessitura is an essential method for locating the tonality your voice. Discover our tips for identifying your voice type.

Our 5 tips to help you find your voice signature

1. Identify your repertoire and musical influences

The identity of your voice is largely shaped by your musical influences and the musical genres you listen to. Pop, jazz, soul, opera: exploring the different repertoires will help you enrich your musical culture and determine the artistic aesthetic that particularly appeals to you.

Beyond your inspirations, think about the musical registers and songs in which you feel most comfortable vocally. Listen carefully and identify what appeals to you in the way a singer sings: is it the phrased, the intensity or the rhythmic placement?

💡 Import and organize all the songs that inspire you in your your score library on the Newzik application !

2. Know your voice type

Before you set out to test your vocal abilities, take the time to get to know your voice type and tessitura. Do you have a soprano, alto, tenor or baritone voice? Is your timbre clear, warm or husky? Identify where your voice naturally belongs, but also in which vocal registers you're more comfortable.

Our tip: record yourself singing several songs, at different pitches, and analyze how you feel. Listen back to your excerpts and ask yourself which rythm or pitch feels most comfortable. In which keys do you think you deliver the most emotion?

If that sounds easier, you can accompany yourself on an instrument, or ask a singing teacher for advice.

Laure, singer, composer and musician, tells us how she gradually "found" her vocal signature: "After taking music lessons, I started singing covers to the accompaniment of the piano, and that's when I found my 'signature'. I'd say it was above all through my musical influences. When I started composing and recording, I realized that I was a bit tense with my voice, afraid of making too much noise, I think. So one day I decided to scream (literally) and that unlocked something in my vocal cords, I felt freer and my timbre also evolved with this new way of singing. Suddenly, I could go much further in the bass, but also in the treble. By letting myself go, I became much more versatile in terms of my range. My natural timbre obviously makes up the rest of my vocal identity."

3. Develop your vocal technique

Technique is the b-a-ba of a singer's work. Yes, when it comes to singing, having your own identity requires a certain amount of training! Whether it's vibrato, rythm, nuances, vocal agility or breath control, every element contributes to the uniqueness of your voice. Here are a few effective techniques:

Work on your vibrato by testing different intensities and speeds: to do this, vary the intensity or pitch of a note held while you sing. Go from a high note to a low note, then back to a high note. A light, fast vibrato will not have the same effect as a fuller, slower one.
Experiment with the nuances of your voice: sing the same passage with several variations of intensity (softly, in crescendo, with a light breath or a frank attack).
Find your vocal phrased : test different rhythmic placements on the same piece and note down what feels most natural to you. Alternate between slow and more dynamic phrased .

🎼 Just starting out in opera singing? Find out our tips for developing your technique.

4. Take singing lessons and practice

Singing can't be improvised. Learning music theory at school also helps you find the right balance for your voice. Regular practice under the guidance of a vocal coach or teacher can help you better understand your voice and develop your abilities. Understanding and reading scores are also essential skills for honing your musical ear, a considerable asset in music.

Singer Laure also stresses the importance of learning music: "As a little girl, I took music theory, piano and singing lessons at music school, which taught me the "basics". These lessons enabled me to progress in singing and to differentiate between all the intervals (second, third, fifth etc.). This has helped me to be as accurate as possible when I sing, because accuracy comes first and foremost from listening and knowing the pitches of the notes".

Work on and explore your voice more simply by training with the Simply Sing app. Simply Sing ! Solo or in a group, rehearse your repertoire of songs with scrolling lyrics and adjust the high and low parts to suit your voice.

5. Staying true to yourself

Finding your voice also means finding your own musical style, without trying to imitate another artist. It's tempting to adopt the vocal style of a singer who inspires you, but a true identity is built with authenticity and naturalness. There are several tips to help you focus on your personal tonality :

Don't force your voice: if you're not comfortable with a repertoire, there's no need to strain your vocal cords. Your signature is where your voice resonates best.
Experiment with improvisations: try out melodic variations on songs you know well, and listen to what feels most personal to you.
Let go: sing without restricting your voice! Your vocal identity is also born of free artistic experimentation.

Laure invites artists to express their voices freely: "If there's one piece of advice I'd give to anyone starting out as a singer, it would be not to be afraid to free their voice. I've often noticed that people sing much more beautifully when I tell them to let go."

🎶 Tip: record your voice and compare your interpretations! Use Newzik's Newzik's recording feature to refine your analysis and develop the uniqueness of your voice.

4 artists with distinctive vocal personalities

Whatever their musical genre or vocal tonality , some talents have particularly distinctive vocal timbres.

1. The famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti

Considered one of the greatest tenors of all time, Luciano Pavarotti was renowned for the clarity and power of his high notes, particularly in the bel canto register. His exceptional voice enabled him to reach high notes with remarkable ease and precision, while retaining a unique emotional intensity. Among his most famous performances was his interpretation of Puccini's Nessun dorma, in which he demonstrated his mastery of the counter-cut and his ability to project a vibrant voice across the entire tenor tessitura.

2. Ariana Grande, queen of the (very) high notes

With her impressive range, Ariana Grande is capable of whistle notes, a technique popularized by Mariah Carey and mastered by few artists. Her vocal range spans more than four octaves, and she stands out for her ability to navigate between a soft, high-pitched aerial voice, with remarkable technical precision.

3. Philippe Jaroussky, the countertenor with three octaves

Anyone who regularly practises vocalises can attest to this: the timbre of the voice changes over time, depending on how it is practised. Renowned countertenor Philippe Jaroussky is a master of vocal variation. His ability to sing high notes with disconcerting ease makes him a key interpreter of the Vivaldi and Handel repertoires.

4. Céline Dion or when singing reaches new heights

An internationally renowned diva, Céline Dion is a singer whose range extends over three octaves. Gifted with uncommon power, the artist is able to reach high notes while maintaining perfect breath control. Among her most impressive performances is her rendition of All By Myself, a perfect example of her ability to navigate between resonance and vocal finesse.

🎙 Use Newzik during your singing exercises! Work on your vibrato by testing different intensities and speeds, and use the annotations feature to mark passages you want to fine-tune.

Sing, share and correct your scores easily from anywhere. To your microphones!