If you’re a fan of Ellie Goulding, then you already know: the moment one of her tracks begins, you recognize her instantly. Her voice is unmistakable, bright, breathy, emotional, and entirely her own.
In this post, we’re breaking down the vocal techniques behind Ellie Goulding’s stunning performance of “My Blood,” a beautifully orchestrated song that showcases everything that makes her one of pop music’s most distinctive voices.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned singer, understanding what’s happening beneath the surface of this performance can help you grow as a vocalist and make more intentional choices with your own sound.
The Signature Ellie Goulding Tone: Higher Larynx and Bright Timbre
One of the first things you’ll notice in “My Blood” is Ellie Goulding’s characteristically bright, shimmering vocal tone. If you’ve ever heard her speak, you might notice that her speaking voice sits a bit lower than her singing voice.
That brighter quality in the song is created largely through a higher larynx position combined with a raised tongue. This technique narrows the vocal tract slightly, producing that signature sparkle that defines so many Ellie Goulding tracks.
If you want to experiment with this at home, try gently raising your tongue position while singing a comfortable note and notice how the color of the sound shifts toward something brighter and more forward.
Breath in the Sound: Less Than You Think
A common misconception when learning to sing “My Blood” — or any Ellie Goulding song — is that her voice is extremely breathy. While you can hear a slight airiness in her tone, there’s actually a strong amount of vocal fold closure happening beneath it. This is a critical distinction. What often tricks listeners is the microphone: it amplifies even the smallest amount of breath in the signal, making it sound far more present than it actually is.
Many singers try to replicate this by pushing excessive air through their vocal folds, which can quickly lead to vocal fatigue, dryness, and even coughing. The reality is that Ellie Goulding maintains a solid core to her sound, with just a touch of breath coloring the edges.
Here are a few tips for achieving that balance:
- Focus on building strong vocal fold closure first before layering in any breathiness.
- Keep the airflow controlled, think of a steady, narrow stream rather than a wide gust.
- If you feel scratching, catching, or coughing while practicing, stop immediately and hydrate.
- Remember that a microphone will naturally amplify breath, so you need far less than you think.
Body Alignment and Posture During “My Blood”
Throughout the performance of “My Blood,” you can observe Ellie Goulding occasionally bringing her head slightly forward or lifting her chin. While this works for an experienced singer whose body has adapted over a long career, it’s not necessarily something to imitate right away.
Proper alignment is foundational for good vocal technique, and for most singers, a more neutral posture will yield better results.
A simple alignment check you can try:
- Lift your arms up overhead, then let your shoulders roll back and settle down.
- Keep your chin level, not tucked, not lifted.
- Feel the natural, centered alignment of your spine.
This position allows the thyroid cartilage (where the vocal folds live) to tilt freely, which is essential for accessing higher notes and different vocal qualities. When the chin lifts too much, it can restrict that tilt and limit your range.
Constriction and Artistic Choice in Ellie Goulding’s Voice
One of the most recognizable elements of the Ellie Goulding sound is a certain degree of constriction in the throat. In “My Blood,” this is especially apparent during the more emotionally intense passages. The vocal folds are relatively open, the throat narrows, and a large volume of air is pushed through, creating that raw, almost fragile texture that defines her artistry.
It’s important to understand that this is a deliberate stylistic choice, not a technical flaw. Ellie Goulding has built a long and successful career around this sound, and it’s a central part of what makes her performances so emotionally compelling.
That said, if you’re trying to sing like this at home, approach it with care:
- Recognize that heavy constriction with lots of airflow can dry out the vocal folds over time.
- Practice these textures in short bursts rather than sustained sessions.
- Always prioritize how your throat feels, if something hurts or feels strained, back off.
- This sound works best at lower volumes; don’t try to force it at high intensity.
Breathing Techniques: There’s More Than One Way
One fascinating observation from watching Ellie Goulding perform “My Blood” is her use of short, sharp, high breaths between phrases. This might surprise singers who have been taught that deep, low breathing is the only correct approach. The truth is that breathing for singing is far more nuanced and varied than a single method.
Different styles and vocal qualities call for different breathing strategies:
- Pop music often features short phrases that don’t require massive lung capacity, quick, efficient breaths are perfectly appropriate.
- Deep, low breathing is valuable for sustained legato lines and classical or musical theater singing.
- Back breathing, rib expansion, and abdominal engagement all have their place depending on the context.
- The best approach is one that’s tailored to your individual voice, your style, and the specific song you’re working on.
In “My Blood,” we also see subtle engagement of the abdominal muscles during higher, more intense passages. This reflects the increased subglottic pressure needed to produce sound when the vocal folds aren’t fully closed, essentially, the body is working harder to generate enough airflow.
However, this doesn’t mean you should do a crunch while singing. Abdominal engagement for singing needs to be carefully calibrated on an individual basis.
Vocal Fold Closure: The Core of a Powerful Sound
Across the performance of “My Blood,” the moments where Ellie Goulding’s voice sounds fullest and most resonant are the moments where she increases vocal fold closure. You can hear it, the sound becomes richer, less breathy, and more present.
This is the foundation that so many singers are searching for when they say they want more volume, more resonance, or a fuller voice. Strong vocal fold closure gives you that solid core around which you can layer all kinds of textures, breathiness, constriction, brightness, warmth. Without it, those textures have nothing to anchor to.
Building this skill takes dedicated, targeted practice, but it’s one of the most transformative things you can develop as a singer.
The Takeaway: Make It Your Own
Perhaps the most important lesson from watching Ellie Goulding perform “My Blood” is that vocal technique is ultimately in service of artistic expression. She makes deliberate choices, the constriction, the breathiness, the high larynx, the body engagement, and those choices are what make her sound uniquely hers.
As a singer, your job isn’t to copy every detail, but to understand what’s happening, experiment thoughtfully, and discover what works for your own voice and your own artistry. There is no single way to sing, and the best vocal training is the kind that meets you where you are and helps you achieve your personal goals.
If you want to learn more about how you can learn to implement these singing techniques into your own voice, let’s sit down for a chat and discuss if the vocal academy is the right fit for you. You can join us here.