You are one of the few ones that have no (ego) issue with showing the entire process of learning to sing something specific, you don't even hide some of the "embarrassing" or "imperfect" exercises, you got my respect, new subscriber.
When ‘Dirt’ came out, it’s all I listened to for a month, studying Staley. He was genius at projecting spookiness and integrity and strength. Saw them live with my band at the time, and we were floored. The POWER of Layne with the power of the band was like nothing I’ve seen before or since.
Check out our singer Christian Carson, his new album Vice/versa- in partnership track called "bid farewell" hes eerily similar to Layne, n it's awesome. That song in particular but can hear it in his voice in everything on the record, check it out🤘🏼 he actually did his new solo album VICE/VERSA w ex GNR guitarist Bumblefoot
did you guys get to open up for AIC, or just out with the guys from your band and saw them? Small club or bigger arena or similar? Saw them open up for Van Halen and they IMMEDIATELY became my favorite singer and band that night, just completely and totally blew me away -- bought dirt the next day I believe, unless it was jar of flies or.. just remember buying a CD that next day and been loving him ever since.. ** man it would have been amazing to have seen Mad Season at the Moore theater, or the crocodile club, but that Moore theater concert is just Soo freaking special, every single one of those musicians were Soo on that night, amazing crowd and can't imagine catching a show like that... They just had to know how special it was..
@@SeanEnginetechnology We just went and saw them as a group. It was a mid-size college auditorium not a huge place. I remember asking about 3/4 the way through the rest of my band "have you heard one mistake? One off note, and they all shook their heads."
So many who had the fortune of seeing Layne perform live have said his vocals boomed over the speakers and that your chest and body would VIBRATE from his skill.
@SeanEnginetechnology every show I've seen at the Moore has been amazing! The first show I got to see there was Marilyn Manson on the tour for Antichrist Superstar (the dead to the world tour in 1996, it was SO EFFING BAD ASS!!)
I’m retired, in my 60s and have been working on my vocals for a few years. When I started getting into Alice Chains with the distortion and such, my wife and kids thought I’d lost my mind. Maybe I have, but I sure am having fun! Thanks for the help!
@@joeroganofficial5433 The Guy I was responding to must have deletes his comment, but he said something like "Laynes voice isnt fun nor easy" or somethin along those lines if I remember right
Hell yeah! I've learnt singing that song in a week. Not sure if i mastered it tho but it's the only song i can sing while listening to the instrumental 😂
@@sg.k7293 When did I put Layne in my Top 5? Dimash is more than a good singer, he the greatest singer of all time, he is better than Layne, Mike Patton, Dio, Rob Halford, Bruce Dickenson, Freddie Mercury, all metal singers, all opera singers, all soul singers combined. Dimash is immortal.
It honestly looked like Layne was singing out of pure emotion, without any vocal training. I find a lot of singers like Ariana Grande might be fantastic vocalists, but they look like they're doing karaoke of their own songs with a ton of obvious vocal training. I'm sure Layne had lots of training but he was talented enough to make it seem like his singing came from his soul, like he was born to sing...
Agreed. It's about technique vs passion. Layne had tons of technique (probably natural talent) but the passion seemed more important and this is what gave his vocal lines dynamics. This varying of soft and loud due to vocal control is something more associated more classical rather than pop. What really impresses me about his style is the intensity and focus. James Maynard Keenan (Tool) and Richard Patrick (Filter) are singers that I also like.
@@Woofwoof1929 Thanks, I was high when I wrote the comment. I think Mr. English also missed the fact that I inserted two commas. True, I am foreign. However, not a dumbo like you.
Layne went to The Vocalist Studio and some other coaches in the Seattle area for many years. He had a reputation for being very particular about his voice and about singing.
My favorite vocalist of all time. I have spent many hours singing his songs. Really glad to see other folks appreciating what a huge talent he was. Back when he was alive it wasn't as common knowledge as it is today.
I don't think you can describe his voice as depression. His voice sounds that way because of his style and his throat, nasal, and diaphragm. His voice never changed. His LYRICS, however?...became depressed as his addiction progressed and he became sick. Layne was known for his ability to sustain his grit for such an extended time
You cannot but appreciate the fact that Chris does not shy away to show the process with every goofy sound you will make while practicing. That is very important to show the process not only the end result
I call it garling lol. It always sounds like they’re saying “garl” on the vowels. Tbh I look at Layne and Eddie as the first to really do it in rock then everyone started imitating and we ended up with the tragedy that is Scott Stapp’s tone.
Layne was one of a kind, he had such a beautiful voice. It’s so sad he couldn’t overcome his addictions, he would’ve released so much more golden music with AiC.
He had all the tools to rival any singer. What puts him above anyone else is the honesty and emotion in his voice that reaches out to people and helps them relate and have closure.
Laynes voice had a haunting echo that no one will ever be able to compare to him. The best voice in the grunge movement, and my favorite singer of all time. I agree with Jerry Cantrells interview where he said Layne was the best he ever heard period. RIP Layne.
I love his vocals, always have. You can also feel his emotions in his vocals, that was another essence. You gotta get in the groove of the music Like he did. His technique was never meant to be easy. They've even said if he wasn't concentrating on his vocals, he wouldn't ever be able to reach those octaves or notes. He couldn't sing when he wasn't concentrated. His vocals were very lazy, but very much skillful, and he was very mindful of his vocals and his words. They always said that they (any of his bands mates I'm meaning) that they could always hears his acoustic vocals louder than what you could hear on the monitors. It was like he was speaking to another realm, another dimension. Layne always said he felt like he was on a spiritual mission, not a rock 'n' roll mission.
I recently discovered Alice in chains unplugged and it has sent me into this aic binge. I've always liked their songs, but damn i had no idea how brilliant they were... Here i am in 2022 wanting more.
Check out our singer Christian Carson, his new album Vice/versa- on our channel, in particular his track called "bid farewell" hes eerily similar to Layne, n it's awesome. That song in particular but can hear it in his voice in everything on the record, check it out🤘🏼 he actually did his new solo album VICE/VERSA w ex GNR guitarist Bumblefoot
My dude, if you haven't already, than check out the newer albums too. AiC is a band that has never put out a bad song. Also I strongly suggest you check out Jerry Cantrell's solo work and Mad Season!
I went thru the same thing in 2020 or 2019, I've been kicking my own ass for not properly getting into them during their heyday. Especially that I moved to the Seattle area summer 1994. Though honestly I missed all the performances I might have been able to attend by that point.
Very good stuff again Chris! I like that you're interpreting what he is doing, using your own philosophy and technique to suit your voice and range. I'll leave couple of my own thoughts below that someone might find useful when trying to sing this stuff. - Layne had quite a bit of vocal training before/during early AiC - His voice and singing was described as extremely loud (Having a trebly tenor voice helps) - For the first album, they used announcer (strong mids and low mids) microphone to record his vox - He would use different types of distortion and mechanisms, some safer and some not so much. - During the recording of Dirt, he modified his singing technique and his higher notes become thinner, but more distorted. (Good example would be the held G#4 'Baaaack' from would, the sound isn't that huge, but the rasp makes it appear bigger than it is) - It could stylistic, but it's also easier than full out belting all of his high notes, like he used to do. - When his health started to deteriorate, it affected his voice and his breath support. His larynx is higher and his tone way more forward during the unplugged (Could also be stylistic change) - Man in the Box Bb4s are straight up chest voice using glottal compression. Especially noticeable when he used to sing it live. - Chris Cornell and Layne had very different techniques. Chris developed and used his mix for lot of his stuff. Using mix means you have to let go of some of the vocal fold mass and Layne's style was the opposite of that, carrying as much mass up as possible and compressing it as much as he could. There were few instances of Layne hitting upper 5th octave notes in some kind of mix, but it was pretty clear he hadn't really trained it a lot.
@@chrisliepe You're currently doing the best analysis of these singers on RUclips. Keep it up, I think this format will work really well for you and grow your channel even more.
So glad you mentioned the vocal mix. You really need to have developed ears to dissect this album. It's my favorite vocal "effect" ever concocted. They made him sound so huge yet practically unison in pitch. Lots of sections have 4+ voices, and they made such great decisions in terms of when Jerry Cantrell sings a harmony vs Layne. Down in a hole is another fave for me to sing, but the whole album is a vocal Showcase.
My issue with layne is trying to stop trying to imitate him and Jerry at the same time because there voices just work together beautifully that it almost becomes one voice. Two phenomenal voices that work way to well together.
Such an excellent point. Even one of their music engineers said their voices at time were difficult for him to tell apart. They had such an incredible symbiotic relationship that worked almost like a marriage.
You need to choose which Layne Staley voice to emulate........Facelift was arguably him at his absolute technical best. Young, energetic and full of clean vocals. Dirt was darker and more brooding with the energy of someone really being drawn down into a drug fueled madness.
For some reason I got a Cobain vibe when you talked about the “leads me to nowhere” section and opened it up. Goes back to that ‘lazy’ style that I feel both singers perfected in their own right.
It's "feed my eyes" not "free my eyes". I loved this video. Laynes voice in Nutshell is like butter. There's a lot of little notes and voice dips and scoops in every word he sings a lot of people don't catch. In the "ooooh" parts the second one bumps up where as the fourth one bumps down. I've never seen a cover of Nutshell where a vocalist gets that correct. I've analyzed that song far too deeply and for far too many years where I have every note memorized. The parts of the song where the bass plays which little filler lick, the timing of the kick drum, the specific changes in the rhythm guitar strumming pattern and at what point. Listen to the beginning of each verse the ring finger lifts opening the b string, every little muted scratch of the pick in the solo between the notes. Nutshell has almost become part of my DNA, I can't explain it without sounding like I'm exaggerating. That song swept me up like a tornado when I was young and it hasn't put me down. If there was anything I could take with me after I die it'd be that song.
Just learning to sing that one now, and I picked it precisely for that reason. It is vocally very intricate and a lot of fun to sing for that reason (also challenging, I keep fucking up 😉).
I think Nutshell is so special to so many people (without even knowing why, maybe…just intuition) is because Layne wrote the lyrics himself & it was a very personal song for him.
Very true about his vibrato, i've basically developed mine trying to mimic Staley and don't really think about it when i'm doing it, of course while applying things i've learned from vocal lessons. It's also uncanny how some of his gritty high notes (WATCH WHERE YOU SPIT, We Die Young) are easy for me while others (Chorus in Would) i just still can't pull off.
William Duvall is an excelent example. He sings with the feeling of the song and never tries to imitate Layne. Love his performances of the old songs of Alice in chains
Wow, thank you so much for this video. I've been longing to sing Alice In Chains properly and didn't think such an incredibly precise "tutorial" of sorts would be out there. Great content
I love these videos!!! It’s amazing how you’re able to notice all the details in the voices you analyze. I might be wrong, but it feels like that relaxed aggression is easier to get for tenors, since baritones have that heaviness in their voices.
Chris, honestly you keep surprising me with your work, keep it up! Really happy you put your time in trying to teach us in what you know about Layne, and so many others. You deserve every like and subscription you have!
I love this video! I love Layne, he was a voice of my childhood and I was always a big aic fan! But this video is amazing because sometimes it can be difficult to experiment with your own voice even when you’re alone because it can sound a little “silly”. But I love that you are showing here that it’s a welcomed and beneficial thing no matter how silly it could potentially feel. You can really hone your voice and the different things you can do with it by doing it! I love taking amazing male singers and songs and sing it as a female without changing it much and it is a challenge. Thank you!!
Confusing is how i would describe his singing, too. I’ve always tried to sing “We Die Young”, and I straight up just can’t. Or it’s to clean and doesn’t punch like the song deserves, or, it sounds too aggressive, “technical” and soulless. Being moderate and let yourself feel the sound and just “let it happen” is a great tip really. Good video mate!
You could always try heroin. I unironically feel like being high as fuck on dope is what created a lot of that sloppy, aggressive-but-lazy, gritty vocal style. That plus the entire scene was about, like…kind of sounding like “shit” and not giving a fuck. Layne Staley had great technique and was a truly talented vocalist, but he was kinda sloppy and rough and didn’t care to clean up because that was what they were going for. It can be really hard to intentionally imitate that “I don’t give a fuck” sound the grunge era is so famous for. Maybe find how YOU sound when you don’t give a fuck and go from there. Don’t care if you sound bad. Maybe have a few drinks or shoot some H. See what happens. Then tweak it.
wouaou, your description of his vibrato is so interesting. I'm typically looking for such content of "not natural"-ish vibrato for my singing. And you give it to us just passing by, awesome...
It takes a lot of confidence to try and break down the singing style of Layne, much easier said than done but you did much better than I could have imagined. Good job bro.
Nice, everyone in analysis talks about 'dropped palette' to get the nasal sound, but when they sing it it is always to open. Cobain was the nasal on - so nice to see you talk about I think you are right, the compression. Especially given his ridiculous breath control. Layne and Buckley's vibrato are just 😍
One of my favorite technique shifts/contrasts of his is in the verses of "Them Bones". "Bleed the Freak" is one of Layne's masterclasses, in my opinion. It has a larger vocal range than most human beings, but what he does with that range blows me away. His most impressive single word is the "way" he sings at the end of Would's second chorus. Agility, thunder, one of the sweetest C#5s I've ever heard, and the breath to support the whole line? The man wasn't human.
Chris. I'm practicing in my car (Bluetooth helps sound like you're in the car with me) and OMG bro... I am LITERALLY grinning ear to ear because of you and your videos. This video specifically made me realize just how relaxed Layne was. I've always wanted to sing like him and this made me realize just how 'easy' it is. You truly are doing God's work and I can't wait to find the time to watch your free lessons.
I was 19 in 1990 when I first heard AIC & I fell so hard in love w/them it wasn't funny, still all these yrs later, never had another vocalist make me feel what he did/still does, AIC dropped the mic on everybody before they even really blew up big & God dropped the mic on the world when he created that beautiful angel Layne Staley, God was like, "okay ppl somebody TRY & follow this!" haha 🥰❤️🤘🏼🙏🏻
Been sining since I could remember and took vocal lessons growing up, bit holy crap, a lot of things came together in this video. Still working on the vibrato, but even that's happening more than I remember in the past. So thanks man!
I am so glad you did this one! I sing in a Alice In Chains tribute, and I do what I can to sound like him,not an easy feat, lol. I also sing in a Black Sabbath tribute, and I have to say Ozzy is easier to do but I love Staley's voice more 'cuz it is such a challenge.
Wondering why you didn’t go with the second chorus for ‘Would?’. Love Layne’s vocal style choices. I guess I’d say the same for ‘down in a hole’ and ‘man in the box’. Wonderful phrasing choices. Layne is high level greatness. Unmatched.
This is this first time i understand gritty voice. I finally did it. You said “ Open your mouth wide and show your teeth”. That just worked wonders. Wtf
Layne had an element that can't be duplicated. Besides the fact that he had genuine raw talent, the sound that he emitted originated in a place of pain that only he could transform into such an extraordinarily powerful force.
I think the essence of what Laynes doing is what you described in another video about using fry in compression. You said something about doing “ eh eh eh” en pushing that fry on top of you vocal chords and creating the fry in the mouth with compression. I personally think that is why layne always does when he has a distorted voice. Because ever since I saw this video of yours and did the fry compression technique i could do all Layne’s vocals pretty easily
Music is what's saved me from losing reality. With that being said I would of loved to be able to sing with my inspirations but with me being tone deaf it isnt possible. However I still sing along and as loud as I can. I just watched a couple of your videos covering some of my inspirations, "Layne of A.I.C and Maynard of Tool". The way you're able to dissect their voices makes it easier for me understand what it takes to make it possible even though I have no clue to control my voice how you explain. I'm so envious of you to be able too. Your voice is amazing on top of that. Corey with slipknot is another inspiration of mine and Chad with Mudvayne is another. Thank you so much for taking the time to show us the process of singing.
Could you do another demonstration regarding the vocal stacking and harmonies that make the signature Alice in Chains sound? It would be cool to see some examples from Mad Season as well. There's virtually nothing I can find on an in depth analysis of their vocal tone as heard on the albums. Would make an excellent video.
1. Great video, a lot of important things to know. 2. For me it was the same. I always tried just to shout as loud as I can when it came to the chorus. After getting more into Layne and AIC, watching live performances etc. I noticed, I need to be relaxed while singing. Took up my guitar and tried Rooster (after practicing in my car for about 5 days, listening to it twice a day), and there you go: got it pretty good. Although I`m singing since I can think, I never had any lessons or talks about singing techniques in particular. I developed a kind of own singing voice, influenced by a lot of different music genres. But..now I accidently watched some of your videos and I notice that its good to know what I am doing with my voice and understand the physical process behind it. So all together: Thanks and best greets from Germany!
Layne was a great singer, do you believe I discovered/started listening to him only few time ago?? In 90's I was a child kkk. Now he is one of my favourite singers, very sad to discover that he died and the way it happened 💔
Its easy, when ya realize hes singing literally about himself, you can tell her not forcing anything. It's just how he sounds. So get into his mindset and singing that way comes easier...
You can hear in the song "Don't Follow" the faster ending portion of the song he is not that distorted but he has a vocal thing going on that sounds like he is using his nasal voice with his chest voice. Its like a top end whine with a lower heavier chest sound. Very advanced sounding to my ear and I still can't get his scream down on the words "Scared to death". It is a really full scream and I can hit it I just can't do it with the fullness he does it. Mine sounds thinner, when I go lower it doesn't have the top end nasal whine he has. Very unusual singer with some fantastic vocals, he is one that take a lot of practice to get even close. I am starting to get that one section right, aside from the scream I can get the rest of it, it only took about 102 takes. Thats how hard it is to sing in the style of Layne. I actually came here for tips on his scream lol. When I finish I'll post here to get some feedback from folks. The tips I have for him is lower the inside of your jaw sort of like mimicking having an under bite to get the marble type effect in his singing, higher notes he sings resonate a bit in the nasal area. His grit takes a lot going on, I did notice I usually have to lower the register when I try his screams.
I like Staley's vocals because of how simplistic it sounds, almost like you don't really need to think too much into it. Range is also a factor here as well, because his range is a bit more unique than what a lot of people can seem to get to. I don't try to imitate Staley, but it's great being able to create that eerie echo that travels in his voice.
I became enamoured with two vocalists when I was starting to make my own music in high school. Mike Patton and Layne Staley. And both of their vocal techniques and nuances totally betray each other (pretty much abandoned my actual theater vocal training). But I found this sweet spot where trying to mimic what Patton did with his 6-octave range actually made it easier to hit Layne's register. It was like straight diaphragm. It felt like my throat and chest were just dirty and relaxed enough that I could waver in and out of Layne's dopesick softer melodies into Dirt howls with NO ISSUE. The only thing that was important afterward was Layne's cadence and vibrato. At least for me, given that Jar of Flies/Tripod Layne was what I wanted. I toured for like 4 years after and all the actual exhale screaming/ gutterals I did and the fry vox weren't even necessary anymore. I'm just loud.
@@chrisliepe Thank you so much, man! I should be thanking you, though. Because this is the most extensive, thoughtful dissertation and break down I've ever heard based around his style and this is the video that made me subscribe. But the way you conducted this made me nerd out a bit. So I'd love to talk shop about how you go about vocals yourself.
Feed not free 😉
Great video!
Ugg thanks. I knew that one too! Haha
Chris Liepe No worries!
Hey, stranger! Good call. Haha.
Tyler Brittan sup stranger 😉
I'm halfway into the video as I'm reading this and now I know Man In The Box is going to be in the second half, hahaha :P
You are one of the few ones that have no (ego) issue with showing the entire process of learning to sing something specific, you don't even hide some of the "embarrassing" or "imperfect" exercises, you got my respect, new subscriber.
Thank you!
Great comment I subbed after only watching one video as well!
When ‘Dirt’ came out, it’s all I listened to for a month, studying Staley. He was genius at projecting spookiness and integrity and strength. Saw them live with my band at the time, and we were floored. The POWER of Layne with the power of the band was like nothing I’ve seen before or since.
Check out our singer Christian Carson, his new album Vice/versa- in partnership track called "bid farewell" hes eerily similar to Layne, n it's awesome. That song in particular but can hear it in his voice in everything on the record, check it out🤘🏼 he actually did his new solo album VICE/VERSA w ex GNR guitarist Bumblefoot
did you guys get to open up for AIC, or just out with the guys from your band and saw them?
Small club or bigger arena or similar?
Saw them open up for Van Halen and they IMMEDIATELY became my favorite singer and band that night, just completely and totally blew me away -- bought dirt the next day I believe, unless it was jar of flies or.. just remember buying a CD that next day and been loving him ever since..
** man it would have been amazing to have seen Mad Season at the Moore theater, or the crocodile club, but that Moore theater concert is just Soo freaking special, every single one of those musicians were Soo on that night, amazing crowd and can't imagine catching a show like that... They just had to know how special it was..
@@SeanEnginetechnology We just went and saw them as a group. It was a mid-size college auditorium not a huge place. I remember asking about 3/4 the way through the rest of my band "have you heard one mistake? One off note, and they all shook their heads."
So many who had the fortune of seeing Layne perform live have said his vocals boomed over the speakers and that your chest and body would VIBRATE from his skill.
@SeanEnginetechnology every show I've seen at the Moore has been amazing! The first show I got to see there was Marilyn Manson on the tour for Antichrist Superstar (the dead to the world tour in 1996, it was SO EFFING BAD ASS!!)
How to sing, "Yeah" like Layne Staley.
Just say yeawweww
No better yeahhhhs on the planet! I’ll take that to the grave with me!
I’m retired, in my 60s and have been working on my vocals for a few years. When I started getting into Alice Chains with the distortion and such, my wife and kids thought I’d lost my mind. Maybe I have, but I sure am having fun! Thanks for the help!
Have fun!
@@ancap1065 he said that _he_ is having fun attempting Laynes style. Leave him be man.
David Brunell
What?
@@joeroganofficial5433 The Guy I was responding to must have deletes his comment, but he said something like "Laynes voice isnt fun nor easy" or somethin along those lines if I remember right
David Brunell
Oh aight. I had no idea what you were talking about for a moment
Man in the box is arguably his biggest show of power in his voice tbh. The way he screams Jesus Christ is otherworldly
Love Hate Love as Well.
He always left everything he had out there. Never holding back.
"infection is not a phase" from Wake Up is SOOOO amazing as well!
No, Love Hate Love, Dont Follow, Wake Up
Hell yeah! I've learnt singing that song in a week. Not sure if i mastered it tho but it's the only song i can sing while listening to the instrumental 😂
Layne will always be my favorite singer forever!
Same! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
ok
lol, Layne Staley can't sing. He should take vocal lessons from Dimash the Legend.
@@muhammad608 Then why'd you put Layne in your top 5 singers list? Lol. Dimash is a good singer tho.
@@sg.k7293 When did I put Layne in my Top 5? Dimash is more than a good singer, he the greatest singer of all time, he is better than Layne, Mike Patton, Dio, Rob Halford, Bruce Dickenson, Freddie Mercury, all metal singers, all opera singers, all soul singers combined. Dimash is immortal.
It honestly looked like Layne was singing out of pure emotion, without any vocal training. I find a lot of singers like Ariana Grande might be fantastic vocalists, but they look like they're doing karaoke of their own songs with a ton of obvious vocal training. I'm sure Layne had lots of training but he was talented enough to make it seem like his singing came from his soul, like he was born to sing...
Agreed. It's about technique vs passion. Layne had tons of technique (probably natural talent) but the passion seemed more important and this is what gave his vocal lines dynamics. This varying of soft and loud due to vocal control is something more associated more classical rather than pop. What really impresses me about his style is the intensity and focus. James Maynard Keenan (Tool) and Richard Patrick (Filter) are singers that I also like.
Also,, he did not want to do half-arse performances in the latter part of his life because, as you mentioned, he lost his passion for it.
@@prabathwijesinghe7379 later works better in this context. I assume you're foreign, but I'll teach you tho 😏
@@Woofwoof1929 Thanks, I was high when I wrote the comment. I think Mr. English also missed the fact that I inserted two commas. True, I am foreign. However, not a dumbo like you.
Layne went to The Vocalist Studio and some other coaches in the Seattle area for many years. He had a reputation for being very particular about his voice and about singing.
My favorite vocalist of all time. I have spent many hours singing his songs. Really glad to see other folks appreciating what a huge talent he was. Back when he was alive it wasn't as common knowledge as it is today.
Yes! That’s great to hear.
100% I still can't believe it took me until my 40s to truly see the majestic genius of Layne & AIC.
Man, he's the best. Just like you as a teacher! Thanks again.
The GOAT imo. RIP Layne.
Thee most beautiful male voice ever
@@sparechaingeyes there are guys with more range, Cornell being the natural example, but Layne’s sound was perfect!
It's not called relaxed aggression it's called depression.
I believe that it is called this because you relax while his depression comes upon you unexpectedly
I don't think you can describe his voice as depression. His voice sounds that way because of his style and his throat, nasal, and diaphragm. His voice never changed. His LYRICS, however?...became depressed
as his addiction progressed and he became sick. Layne was known for his ability to sustain his grit for such an extended time
And not to forget a bit of heroin. (probably a lot more than a bit)
Depression is anger turned inwards..
@@anthonyryder7100depression is your brain being unresponsive to serotonin
You cannot but appreciate the fact that Chris does not shy away to show the process with every goofy sound you will make while practicing. That is very important to show the process not only the end result
Layne Staley is my number one favorite singer! So glad you did this video. Thanks Chris!
lol, Layne Staley can't sing. He should take vocal lessons from Dimash the Legend.
@@muhammad608are you serious? I'm sorry for your lack of exposure to his work.
@@Sindollx666x shawn mendes sings better than Layne
layne: the best singer of the 90's generation
Wouldn't that be Chris Cornell?
Depends On How You Say It. No
@@JackMRaganIII Then who? Please tell me your opinion so I can criticize it.
Depends On How You Say It. Exactly what the original poster said.
Damn between him and Chris Cornell it’s hard to say.
Thanks! I love how you are breaking this lesson down verses other coaches technique. Rocknroll brotha!
"if we go too far in the imitation realm, we're gonna sound...Like Scott Stapp" (creed)
@Dirtypussy Tornadokick there's a reason why is the most ridiculed singer from the 90's. It'scalled affectation. WAY too much of it.
I call it garling lol. It always sounds like they’re saying “garl” on the vowels. Tbh I look at Layne and Eddie as the first to really do it in rock then everyone started imitating and we ended up with the tragedy that is Scott Stapp’s tone.
Layne was one of a kind, he had such a beautiful voice. It’s so sad he couldn’t overcome his addictions, he would’ve released so much more golden music with AiC.
He had all the tools to rival any singer. What puts him above anyone else is the honesty and emotion in his voice that reaches out to people and helps them relate and have closure.
Laynes voice had a haunting echo that no one will ever be able to compare to him. The best voice in the grunge movement, and my favorite singer of all time. I agree with Jerry Cantrells interview where he said Layne was the best he ever heard period. RIP Layne.
I love his vocals, always have. You can also feel his emotions in his vocals, that was another essence. You gotta get in the groove of the music Like he did. His technique was never meant to be easy. They've even said if he wasn't concentrating on his vocals, he wouldn't ever be able to reach those octaves or notes. He couldn't sing when he wasn't concentrated. His vocals were very lazy, but very much skillful, and he was very mindful of his vocals and his words. They always said that they (any of his bands mates I'm meaning) that they could always hears his acoustic vocals louder than what you could hear on the monitors. It was like he was speaking to another realm, another dimension. Layne always said he felt like he was on a spiritual mission, not a rock 'n' roll mission.
The Drummer in Mad Season said you could feel it standing a long way behind him.
That's just another level of his genius.
Damn, dude. You are just opening up my mind with vocal concepts I hadn't even considered before. Best vocal coach on youtube, hands down.
I recently discovered Alice in chains unplugged and it has sent me into this aic binge. I've always liked their songs, but damn i had no idea how brilliant they were... Here i am in 2022 wanting more.
So grateful people are still discovering the magic that is AIC, Layne
Check out our singer Christian Carson, his new album Vice/versa- on our channel, in particular his track called "bid farewell" hes eerily similar to Layne, n it's awesome. That song in particular but can hear it in his voice in everything on the record, check it out🤘🏼 he actually did his new solo album VICE/VERSA w ex GNR guitarist Bumblefoot
My dude, if you haven't already, than check out the newer albums too. AiC is a band that has never put out a bad song. Also I strongly suggest you check out Jerry Cantrell's solo work and Mad Season!
I went thru the same thing in 2020 or 2019, I've been kicking my own ass for not properly getting into them during their heyday. Especially that I moved to the Seattle area summer 1994. Though honestly I missed all the performances I might have been able to attend by that point.
@@Sindollx666x Oh nooooo! But there's no way you could know that their band would fall apart so quickly.
Very good stuff again Chris! I like that you're interpreting what he is doing, using your own philosophy and technique to suit your voice and range.
I'll leave couple of my own thoughts below that someone might find useful when trying to sing this stuff.
- Layne had quite a bit of vocal training before/during early AiC
- His voice and singing was described as extremely loud (Having a trebly tenor voice helps)
- For the first album, they used announcer (strong mids and low mids) microphone to record his vox
- He would use different types of distortion and mechanisms, some safer and some not so much.
- During the recording of Dirt, he modified his singing technique and his higher notes become thinner, but more distorted. (Good example would be the held G#4 'Baaaack' from would, the sound isn't that huge, but the rasp makes it appear bigger than it is)
- It could stylistic, but it's also easier than full out belting all of his high notes, like he used to do.
- When his health started to deteriorate, it affected his voice and his breath support. His larynx is higher and his tone way more forward during the unplugged (Could also be stylistic change)
- Man in the Box Bb4s are straight up chest voice using glottal compression. Especially noticeable when he used to sing it live.
- Chris Cornell and Layne had very different techniques. Chris developed and used his mix for lot of his stuff. Using mix means you have to let go of some of the vocal fold mass and Layne's style was the opposite of that, carrying as much mass up as possible and compressing it as much as he could. There were few instances of Layne hitting upper 5th octave notes in some kind of mix, but it was pretty clear he hadn't really trained it a lot.
This is a great eval and fun to read! Thanks for sharing! I like the compare/contrast between Layne and Chris!
@@chrisliepe You're currently doing the best analysis of these singers on RUclips. Keep it up, I think this format will work really well for you and grow your channel even more.
So glad you mentioned the vocal mix. You really need to have developed ears to dissect this album. It's my favorite vocal "effect" ever concocted. They made him sound so huge yet practically unison in pitch. Lots of sections have 4+ voices, and they made such great decisions in terms of when Jerry Cantrell sings a harmony vs Layne. Down in a hole is another fave for me to sing, but the whole album is a vocal Showcase.
My issue with layne is trying to stop trying to imitate him and Jerry at the same time because there voices just work together beautifully that it almost becomes one voice. Two phenomenal voices that work way to well together.
Such an excellent point. Even one of their music engineers said their voices at time were difficult for him to tell apart. They had such an incredible symbiotic relationship that worked almost like a marriage.
You need to choose which Layne Staley voice to emulate........Facelift was arguably him at his absolute technical best. Young, energetic and full of clean vocals. Dirt was darker and more brooding with the energy of someone really being drawn down into a drug fueled madness.
For some reason I got a Cobain vibe when you talked about the “leads me to nowhere” section and opened it up. Goes back to that ‘lazy’ style that I feel both singers perfected in their own right.
The greatest rock singer of all time.
pfffft. he was good but Patton is leaps and bounbds beyonf him, and mjk is better aswwell
Illumignostic nope. Not really
Illumignostic mike patton is trash
@@Illumignostic I am a huge Patton fan, and while Patton is a god vocalist, he doesn't have Layne's soulfulness.
Roooosterrrrr (Sperm) Yeahhhhhhhhhh!
It's "feed my eyes" not "free my eyes". I loved this video. Laynes voice in Nutshell is like butter. There's a lot of little notes and voice dips and scoops in every word he sings a lot of people don't catch. In the "ooooh" parts the second one bumps up where as the fourth one bumps down. I've never seen a cover of Nutshell where a vocalist gets that correct. I've analyzed that song far too deeply and for far too many years where I have every note memorized. The parts of the song where the bass plays which little filler lick, the timing of the kick drum, the specific changes in the rhythm guitar strumming pattern and at what point. Listen to the beginning of each verse the ring finger lifts opening the b string, every little muted scratch of the pick in the solo between the notes. Nutshell has almost become part of my DNA, I can't explain it without sounding like I'm exaggerating. That song swept me up like a tornado when I was young and it hasn't put me down. If there was anything I could take with me after I die it'd be that song.
Which version is your favorite? JOF or unplugged?
Just learning to sing that one now, and I picked it precisely for that reason. It is vocally very intricate and a lot of fun to sing for that reason (also challenging, I keep fucking up 😉).
@@baloothepibble8421 For me, hands down Unplugged, purely from an emotional stand point.
@@artanor me too
I think Nutshell is so special to so many people (without even knowing why, maybe…just intuition) is because Layne wrote the lyrics himself & it was a very personal song for him.
Very true about his vibrato, i've basically developed mine trying to mimic Staley and don't really think about it when i'm doing it, of course while applying things i've learned from vocal lessons.
It's also uncanny how some of his gritty high notes (WATCH WHERE YOU SPIT, We Die Young) are easy for me while others (Chorus in Would) i just still can't pull off.
Rusty_Cage i can mimic layne better than you
I can never understand the man in the box vocal line
Out of curiosity, is it difficult for you to nail the notes in certain ranges, or is it something else (certain songs/lines independent of range)?
Always knew layne was unique. I tried so much to sound like him but i couldn't. One of the greatest singer ever. What a voice man!
Layne was genius...I love him. He can sing into your soul
lol, Layne Staley can't sing. He should take vocal lessons from Dimash the Legend.
I love how you stated that. It's so true.
William Duvall is an excelent example. He sings with the feeling of the song and never tries to imitate Layne. Love his performances of the old songs of Alice in chains
Agree, Duvall is great!
Glad somebody likes it.. Sounds like a bar band front man to me
@@mackhomie6 you have shit ears.
just so naturally gifted. cant be replicated
but we can learn from him :) The point is NEVER to replicate or imitate!
shit non-singers say all the time without knowing what they're talking about:
Was literally praying you'd cover Layne!
Wow, thank you so much for this video. I've been longing to sing Alice In Chains properly and didn't think such an incredibly precise "tutorial" of sorts would be out there. Great content
Layne Staley is the greatest singer!
Chris, thanks for thoughts of his voice.
Layne is the best in the world. I love him.
lol, Layne Staley can't sing. He should take vocal lessons from Dimash the Legend.
Layne was SO talented that this came so easy to him compared to other singers covering his songs...
Although this guy is pretty dam good ❤
I love these videos!!! It’s amazing how you’re able to notice all the details in the voices you analyze.
I might be wrong, but it feels like that relaxed aggression is easier to get for tenors, since baritones have that heaviness in their voices.
Chris, honestly you keep surprising me with your work, keep it up! Really happy you put your time in trying to teach us in what you know about Layne, and so many others. You deserve every like and subscription you have!
9:17 "how do we do that without being super high"
Me: puts bong away.
I love this video! I love Layne, he was a voice of my childhood and I was always a big aic fan! But this video is amazing because sometimes it can be difficult to experiment with your own voice even when you’re alone because it can sound a little “silly”. But I love that you are showing here that it’s a welcomed and beneficial thing no matter how silly it could potentially feel. You can really hone your voice and the different things you can do with it by doing it!
I love taking amazing male singers and songs and sing it as a female without changing it much and it is a challenge. Thank you!!
I instantly clicked on the video as soon as I saw it was Layne. Thanks a lot Chris this made my day perfect!!!
Confusing is how i would describe his singing, too. I’ve always tried to sing “We Die Young”, and I straight up just can’t. Or it’s to clean and doesn’t punch like the song deserves, or, it sounds too aggressive, “technical” and soulless. Being moderate and let yourself feel the sound and just “let it happen” is a great tip really. Good video mate!
You could always try heroin. I unironically feel like being high as fuck on dope is what created a lot of that sloppy, aggressive-but-lazy, gritty vocal style. That plus the entire scene was about, like…kind of sounding like “shit” and not giving a fuck.
Layne Staley had great technique and was a truly talented vocalist, but he was kinda sloppy and rough and didn’t care to clean up because that was what they were going for. It can be really hard to intentionally imitate that “I don’t give a fuck” sound the grunge era is so famous for.
Maybe find how YOU sound when you don’t give a fuck and go from there. Don’t care if you sound bad. Maybe have a few drinks or shoot some H. See what happens. Then tweak it.
Dude....all the people whom I’ve tried getting the essence out of, you’ve shown me how to do. Gratz, I really do appreciate it.
wouaou, your description of his vibrato is so interesting. I'm typically looking for such content of "not natural"-ish vibrato for my singing. And you give it to us just passing by, awesome...
It takes a lot of confidence to try and break down the singing style of Layne, much easier said than done but you did much better than I could have imagined. Good job bro.
This is my new favorite channel, thank you!!!!
Glad you enjoy it! Welcome to the channel!!
I guess you could call it a "choked" sounding vocal with a southern draw. Love Alice n chains. Great work bro
makes sense
A lot of vocalists from the Pacific Northwest sing with that accent. It's bizarre.
Layne seriously had such a unique vocal style, seriously one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
He was truthfully a blues singer that's where he got the soul of his voice
It reminds me my own random attempts to go for that Bb during the day.
Nice, everyone in analysis talks about 'dropped palette' to get the nasal sound, but when they sing it it is always to open. Cobain was the nasal on - so nice to see you talk about I think you are right, the compression. Especially given his ridiculous breath control.
Layne and Buckley's vibrato are just 😍
My dog started howling when you started singing rooster 🙉🙉🙉🙉
One of my favorite technique shifts/contrasts of his is in the verses of "Them Bones". "Bleed the Freak" is one of Layne's masterclasses, in my opinion. It has a larger vocal range than most human beings, but what he does with that range blows me away.
His most impressive single word is the "way" he sings at the end of Would's second chorus. Agility, thunder, one of the sweetest C#5s I've ever heard, and the breath to support the whole line?
The man wasn't human.
Chris. I'm practicing in my car (Bluetooth helps sound like you're in the car with me) and OMG bro... I am LITERALLY grinning ear to ear because of you and your videos. This video specifically made me realize just how relaxed Layne was. I've always wanted to sing like him and this made me realize just how 'easy' it is.
You truly are doing God's work and I can't wait to find the time to watch your free lessons.
So glad you're having such an awesome time with my content! Ya, you'll love the courses!!
Should cover Angry Chair - Layne stacks 16 different vocals for the harmonies!
I was 19 in 1990 when I first heard AIC & I fell so hard in love w/them it wasn't funny, still all these yrs later, never had another vocalist make me feel what he did/still does, AIC dropped the mic on everybody before they even really blew up big & God dropped the mic on the world when he created that beautiful angel Layne Staley, God was like, "okay ppl somebody TRY & follow this!" haha 🥰❤️🤘🏼🙏🏻
Well said!❤
"Without being so annoyingly aggressive towards these bitches" 12:35
How have I missed this?!?! Thank you Chris!!!
Layne Staley is king of the 90's rock era ..
You won't change my mind .
It'd be impossible to change your mind. You couldn't be more right!
I was told years ago that Ann and Nacy Wilson sand the intro and outro Harmonies...Now they are the only ones I can hear singing those parts.
Thanks for this. I literally just hit the high note on 'once MY WAAAAY' for the first time with ease and controlled. A cool moment 🤘
How have I not found your channel sooner?
Your videos are amazing, keep up the good work.
Been sining since I could remember and took vocal lessons growing up, bit holy crap, a lot of things came together in this video. Still working on the vibrato, but even that's happening more than I remember in the past. So thanks man!
I am so glad you did this one! I sing in a Alice In Chains tribute, and I do what I can to sound like him,not an easy feat, lol. I also sing in a Black Sabbath tribute, and I have to say Ozzy is easier to do but I love Staley's voice more 'cuz it is such a challenge.
Wow, great GREAT insights on Layne's voice, totally changed my mind on how to get some of his techniques! Ty
“Would” gives me chills every time
So true, more delicate than you’d think.
Wondering why you didn’t go with the second chorus for ‘Would?’. Love Layne’s vocal style choices. I guess I’d say the same for ‘down in a hole’ and ‘man in the box’. Wonderful phrasing choices. Layne is high level greatness. Unmatched.
Thanks for this. Layne is my vocal inspiration and im happy this was in my suggested videos
I've learned so much from you Chris. Thank you for all you do 🙏🙏
Layne was a powerhouse and vocal deity.
This is this first time i understand gritty voice. I finally did it. You said “ Open your mouth wide and show your teeth”. That just worked wonders. Wtf
Being born on the cusp of Virgo and Leo set in to the earth and then fire . That was Layne , amazing soul.
Thanks, Mr. Liepe, for the lesson on the part from "Would?" I'm covering this song tomorrow for a show!
You've explained everything that comes natural. Thanks. I love "science of things". Crazy how people have to pick apart things so much.
Gracias Chris por tu tiempo y dedicación. Love your sessions
Layne had an element that can't be duplicated. Besides the fact that he had genuine raw talent, the sound that he emitted originated in a place of pain that only he could transform into such an extraordinarily powerful force.
This is such a helpful, detailed video on one of my all time favorite singers. Thank you!
I think the essence of what Laynes doing is what you described in another video about using fry in compression. You said something about doing “ eh eh eh” en pushing that fry on top of you vocal chords and creating the fry in the mouth with compression. I personally think that is why layne always does when he has a distorted voice. Because ever since I saw this video of yours and did the fry compression technique i could do all Layne’s vocals pretty easily
Music is what's saved me from losing reality. With that being said I would of loved to be able to sing with my inspirations but with me being tone deaf it isnt possible. However I still sing along and as loud as I can. I just watched a couple of your videos covering some of my inspirations, "Layne of A.I.C and Maynard of Tool". The way you're able to dissect their voices makes it easier for me understand what it takes to make it possible even though I have no clue to control my voice how you explain. I'm so envious of you to be able too. Your voice is amazing on top of that. Corey with slipknot is another inspiration of mine and Chad with Mudvayne is another. Thank you so much for taking the time to show us the process of singing.
Glad to hear my voice isn't the only one that cracks when working with different pitches and grits. lol
RIGHT!! It's the only way you "get there" It doesn't just come out awesome right away and certainly not all the time!
Could you do another demonstration regarding the vocal stacking and harmonies that make the signature Alice in Chains sound? It would be cool to see some examples from Mad Season as well.
There's virtually nothing I can find on an in depth analysis of their vocal tone as heard on the albums. Would make an excellent video.
I agree! Great idea!
1. Great video, a lot of important things to know. 2. For me it was the same. I always tried just to shout as loud as I can when it came to the chorus. After getting more into Layne and AIC, watching live performances etc. I noticed, I need to be relaxed while singing. Took up my guitar and tried Rooster (after practicing in my car for about 5 days, listening to it twice a day), and there you go: got it pretty good. Although I`m singing since I can think, I never had any lessons or talks about singing techniques in particular. I developed a kind of own singing voice, influenced by a lot of different music genres. But..now I accidently watched some of your videos and I notice that its good to know what I am doing with my voice and understand the physical process behind it. So all together: Thanks and best greets from Germany!
Layne was a great singer, do you believe I discovered/started listening to him only few time ago?? In 90's I was a child kkk. Now he is one of my favourite singers, very sad to discover that he died and the way it happened 💔
thank you for doing this video! I love Alice in Chains
Its easy, when ya realize hes singing literally about himself, you can tell her not forcing anything. It's just how he sounds. So get into his mindset and singing that way comes easier...
U and your channel are amazing, keep up!
You can hear in the song "Don't Follow" the faster ending portion of the song he is not that distorted but he has a vocal thing going on that sounds like he is using his nasal voice with his chest voice. Its like a top end whine with a lower heavier chest sound. Very advanced sounding to my ear and I still can't get his scream down on the words "Scared to death". It is a really full scream and I can hit it I just can't do it with the fullness he does it. Mine sounds thinner, when I go lower it doesn't have the top end nasal whine he has.
Very unusual singer with some fantastic vocals, he is one that take a lot of practice to get even close.
I am starting to get that one section right, aside from the scream I can get the rest of it, it only took about 102 takes. Thats how hard it is to sing in the style of Layne. I actually came here for tips on his scream lol. When I finish I'll post here to get some feedback from folks.
The tips I have for him is lower the inside of your jaw sort of like mimicking having an under bite to get the marble type effect in his singing, higher notes he sings resonate a bit in the nasal area. His grit takes a lot going on, I did notice I usually have to lower the register when I try his screams.
Love this Chris, you have such amazing content
What a god damn legend
I love his side project Mad Season, so many gems on the Above album
Finally someone said it
I like Staley's vocals because of how simplistic it sounds, almost like you don't really need to think too much into it. Range is also a factor here as well, because his range is a bit more unique than what a lot of people can seem to get to. I don't try to imitate Staley, but it's great being able to create that eerie echo that travels in his voice.
Could you do Scott Weiland please?
Technically not good as layne or chris but he has an amazing emotion and sexiness on his voice..
@@gokberkmusic6865 couldn't be truer
The chameleon of voices
I became enamoured with two vocalists when I was starting to make my own music in high school. Mike Patton and Layne Staley. And both of their vocal techniques and nuances totally betray each other (pretty much abandoned my actual theater vocal training).
But I found this sweet spot where trying to mimic what Patton did with his 6-octave range actually made it easier to hit Layne's register. It was like straight diaphragm. It felt like my throat and chest were just dirty and relaxed enough that I could waver in and out of Layne's dopesick softer melodies into Dirt howls with NO ISSUE.
The only thing that was important afterward was Layne's cadence and vibrato.
At least for me, given that Jar of Flies/Tripod Layne was what I wanted.
I toured for like 4 years after and all the actual exhale screaming/ gutterals I did and the fry vox weren't even necessary anymore. I'm just loud.
This is great, thanks for sharing!!
@@chrisliepe Thank you so much, man!
I should be thanking you, though. Because this is the most extensive, thoughtful dissertation and break down I've ever heard based around his style and this is the video that made me subscribe. But the way you conducted this made me nerd out a bit. So I'd love to talk shop about how you go about vocals yourself.
Great video! Really enjoyed watching /listening to you work!
Man, you made my day, a tru fan I see rock on!!!
Hell yes! 😍😍😍 Can you do Jerry Cantrell at some point too?