Vocal Coach Analysis: Chappel Roan x Subway

Chapel Roan’s song “The Subway” offers a masterclass in emotive vocal delivery, blending raw feeling with subtle technical prowess.

This track, known for its poignant lyrics and intimate performance style, provides a fantastic opportunity for singers to explore the nuances of pop ballad singing, particularly focusing on a relaxed yet resonant chest voice and the skillful use of vocal dynamics.

The Soulful Core: Chapel Roan’s Vocal Approach in “The Subway”

At the heart of “The Subway” is Chapel Roan’s ability to connect deeply with the music, a hallmark of her performances. Even without explicit vocal training from a young age, her dedication to singing, practicing, and performing has honed a unique vocal quality.

This song showcases a delightful control over a light chest voice, demonstrating that profound emotional delivery doesn’t always require belting or complex melismas. The vocal production in “The Subway” is characterized by its understated power, allowing the story and the emotion to shine through.

Decoding the Vocal Techniques Used

Chapel’s rendition of “The Subway” highlights several key vocal elements that contribute to its captivating sound:

Light Chest Voice with Breath Integration: The song begins with a very approachable chest voice. While there’s a hint of breathiness, it serves to add warmth and intimacy rather than detract from vocal support. This “breathy” quality, when controlled, can make the vocal tone feel softer and more vulnerable, perfect for conveying the song’s narrative.
Vibrato and Thyroid Tilt: As the song progresses, particularly in phrases like “It almost killed me,” a gentle vibrato emerges. This vibrato is a testament to a healthy balance of vocal fold closure and breath support, facilitated by an appropriate level of thyroid tilt. It’s not an aggressive vibrato, but a subtle pulsation that adds expression and life to the sustained notes.
The “Flip” Effect: Chapel skillfully employs a vocal “flip” – a transition from a more closed vocal fold sound to a slightly stiffer one. This is a common and effective technique in pop music, adding a distinctive texture to the vocal line, especially noticeable in recurring phrases. It’s a subtle shift that adds character without straining the voice.
Vocal Coloration and Economy of Motion: A striking aspect of Chapel’s performance is her vocal coloration – how she shapes the vowels and imbues them with different emotional shades. Combined with a remarkably economical mouth movement, this suggests that her vocal production is deeply rooted in comfortable parts of her range. This means she’s not forcing the sound, allowing her voice to connect with the material organically.

Navigating the Range: From Low Chest to Mix

“The Subway” is particularly effective for singers working on specific parts of their vocal range:

Lower Chest Voice Exploration: The song comfortably sits in the lower to mid-range, around the C4 (Middle C) area. This provides an excellent opportunity to practice accessing and sustaining this part of the female chest voice in a relaxed manner, ensuring it doesn’t sound “pressed” or overly tight.
Developing Mix Voice: As the melody ascends, particularly around lines like “She’s got a way,” there’s a natural progression towards a mix voice. This is essentially an extension of the chest voice higher into the range, achieved with increased thyroid tilt and careful breath management.

Chapel’s open mouth shape as she reaches these notes facilitates the production of these higher chest voice or mix sounds. This transition demonstrates how to access higher notes without resorting to a strained belt.

The Art of Performance and Microphone Technique

Chapel Roan’s connection to “The Subway” is palpable; as the songwriter, she imbues every line with personal meaning. This authentic connection is key to powerful performance.

Under-Singing for Impact: In many instances, Chapel appears to be “under-singing,” meaning she’s delivering the song with a thoughtful restraint.

This pull-back technique creates anticipation, making the listener crave more and drawing them into the emotional narrative. It’s a powerful way to build musical tension.
Leveraging the Microphone: Modern pop singing relies heavily on the microphone. For “The Subway,” keeping the volume low and letting the microphone capture the subtle dynamics is crucial.

This technique allows for more nuanced expression and prevents the voice from sounding over-produced or forced, especially in intimate ballad settings.

“The Subway” by Chapel Roan is more than just a song; it’s a lesson in vocal artistry. It teaches us that genuine emotion, a deep connection to lyrics, and a smart approach to vocal technique can create a profoundly moving musical experience.

By exploring the relaxed chest voice, subtle vibrato, and mindful microphone use, singers can unlock new levels of expressiveness.EditDelete