If you’ve been captivated by the smooth, breathy vocal style that has been making waves in the music scene, then Beabadoobee’s “Real Man” is a masterclass in understated vocal power.
This song showcases everything that makes Beabadoobee such a compelling artist, from her intimate, quiet delivery to her jazz-influenced phrasing and deeply thoughtful lyrics. In this post, we’ll break down the key vocal techniques behind “Real Man” and show you how to start working on them yourself.
The Breathy, Quiet Sound of Beabadoobee
One of the most striking things about Beabadoobee’s vocal style is just how breathy and quiet she keeps her voice throughout much of “Real Man.” This isn’t accidental, it’s a deliberate technique that requires real control. To achieve this sound, Beabadoobee uses what vocal coaches refer to as “slack vocal folds.”
Essentially, she allows a small amount of air to pass through the vocal folds without them fully closing, which creates that soft, airy tone. Maintaining this kind of breathy delivery for an entire song takes serious stamina and vocal awareness, and it’s a big part of what makes her performances feel so intimate and effortless.
It’s also worth noting that Beabadoobee stays very close to the microphone during “Real Man.” This is a key part of how she’s able to project such a quiet vocal and still be heard clearly.
Microphone proximity amplifies the subtle textures in her voice, the breathiness, the gentle vibrato, and the nuances that would otherwise be lost at a greater distance.
Falsetto vs. Head Voice in Real Man
A fascinating aspect of Beabadoobee’s technique in “Real Man” is the way she navigates between her chest voice, head voice, and what may or may not be true falsetto. When she moves into her upper register, there’s a distinct “click” — a shift in quality where the voice becomes hollower and more detached. This is a hallmark of falsetto singing.
However, the lines aren’t always clear-cut. In some of her higher passages, there’s enough core and vocal fold closure to suggest she may actually be in a reinforced head voice rather than a pure falsetto. How can you tell the difference? Here are a few things to listen for:
- Volume flexibility: If you can get louder on the note, you’re likely in head voice. If you’re stuck at one dynamic, it may be falsetto.
- Hollowness: Falsetto tends to sound more hollow and detached compared to head voice.
- Vibrato (VAT): While vibrato can appear in both, a strong and consistent vibrato often points toward head voice rather than falsetto.
Understanding these differences is essential for any singer looking to develop range and versatility, much like what Beabadoobee demonstrates throughout “Real Man.”
High Larynx Position and Brightness
Another technique that defines Beabadoobee’s vocal quality in “Real Man” is her use of a high larynx position. By keeping the larynx elevated, she creates a brighter, more forward-placed tone. This is especially noticeable in the mid-range sections of the song where her voice has a certain sparkle and clarity.
There’s an important subtlety here as well. When some singers try to achieve brightness, they tend to widen the mouth by smiling excessively. Beabadoobee takes a different approach, because her brightness is already being produced by the high larynx and a raised tongue, she can afford to bring her lips slightly forward. This gently darkens the timbre just enough to avoid overshooting into a sound that’s too thin or nasal. It’s a sophisticated balancing act that gives “Real Man” its warm yet present tone.
Thin Vocal Fold Production and Flexibility
Throughout “Real Man,” Beabadoobee employs a thin vocal fold production. This means the edges of her vocal folds are coming together in a light, delicate way, creating a sweet, almost fragile sound that suits the emotional landscape of the song perfectly. Achieving this consistently requires a great deal of vocal flexibility, and it’s something that comes with dedicated practice.
Some key areas to work on if you want to develop this kind of flexibility include:
- Gentle onset exercises that train light vocal fold closure
- Scales and intervals sung at a very low volume to build dynamic control
- Practicing smooth transitions between chest voice and lighter productions without breaks or tension
- Working on intonation accuracy, especially with the jazz-influenced intervals that Beabadoobee uses so beautifully in “Real Man”
Finding Your Own Voice as an Artist
One of the most inspiring takeaways from studying Beabadoobee’s approach to “Real Man” is her clear sense of artistic identity. Her voice doesn’t sound like she’s trying to imitate anyone, it’s a deliberate, personal choice. While her singing voice differs noticeably from her speaking voice, the sound she creates feels intentional and authentic.
For any singer working on their technique, this is a crucial reminder: the goal isn’t just to master every possible vocal trick. It’s about discovering what you want your voice to sound like, what suits your artistic vision, and then using technique to get you there.
Whether you want to sing louder, higher, softer, or breathier, the foundation always starts with understanding what your voice can do and then building from there.
It’s also important to recognize that having a solid chest voice base is essential before exploring lighter, breathier styles like the one Beabadoobee showcases in “Real Man.”
Without that grounding, the subtleties of slack vocal folds, high larynx placement, and thin fold production become much harder to control.
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.