Justin Bieber delivered a stripped-down, emotionally charged performance of “Yukon” at the Grammys 2026, and it was packed with vocal technique worth studying.
From his use of chest voice in the higher range to subtle moments of twang and constriction, this performance is a masterclass in contemporary singing. Whether you are just starting out or looking to refine your sound, there is so much to unpack here. Let’s break it down.
Setting the Stage with Loop Stations and Self-Accompaniment
Before Justin Bieber even began singing “Yukon,” he set up his own backing track using loop stations. Programming these live takes serious skill and practice, and it is clear that his experience with live streaming has helped him sharpen this ability.
This is a great reminder for singers at every level: learning to accompany yourself on an instrument, whether it is the piano, guitar, or something else entirely, is incredibly valuable. Being able to create your own musical foundation gives you more creative control and makes you a more versatile performer.
Chest Voice in the Higher Range
One of the standout elements of Justin Bieber’s performance of “Yukon” is his use of chest voice further up in his range. You can actually see his larynx rising as he pushes into those higher notes, which is exactly what needs to happen when singing higher in chest voice. Key things to notice in this part of the performance include:
- The larynx visibly moves upward as the pitch increases
- There is a slight tightening at the back of the throat
- The overall tone stays grounded and powerful, even in the upper register
This combination creates that rich, full sound that is characteristic of Justin Bieber’s style. For singers looking to strengthen their own chest voice, spending time on melodies that sit in a similar range (like “Yukon”) is a great exercise because the repetitive nature of the melody helps you hold on to that chest voice feeling without jumping into a different voice quality too soon.
Twang and Constriction
Throughout the performance of “Yukon,” Justin Bieber uses a noticeable amount of twang. Twang is created when the area just above the larynx (the epilaryngeal tube) is narrowed, producing a brighter, more focused tone. But it is not just the narrowing of that space alone. Several things are happening at once:
- The tongue root tenses slightly
- The back of the tongue rises to a higher position in the throat
- The space above the larynx becomes smaller and more compressed
When you combine this twang with a bit of constriction and a slight vowel modification, you get that edgy, contemporary sound that defines so much of Justin Bieber’s vocal signature. It is a wonderful recipe of different vocal elements working together seamlessly.
Thyroid Tilt and Making Your Singing Sound More Sung
Another important technique on display during “Yukon” is thyroid tilt. The thyroid cartilage is where the vocal folds live, and the top part of it forms the Adam’s apple. When this cartilage tilts forward, it is the key mechanism that separates singing from speaking.
This tilt gives the voice a more “sung” quality, adding a sense of melody and musicality even to phrases that sit in a conversational range. For singers who feel like their voice sounds too “talky,” working on thyroid tilt is one of the most effective ways to start sounding more polished and musical.
Breathing Technique and Posture
You might notice that Justin Bieber stays quite crunched in his posture during parts of this Grammys performance. While this works for a seasoned professional who knows how to adjust breath pressure instinctively, it is not the best model for someone still learning. When you are developing your voice, correct posture matters because a collapsed or crunched position can push air out too forcefully and create tension.
That said, there is a fascinating moment where you can see his abs engage on an in-breath. He takes a lower, quieter breath in that section, likely to reduce the audible sound of breathing through the microphone and to create more relaxation in the throat. Some important points about breathing in this performance:
- The phrases in “Yukon” are short, so he uses quick, shallow breaths for most of the song
- Taking a deep belly breath for short phrases would waste energy and cause discomfort
- For the longer, more expressive moments, he drops the breath lower into the lungs and releases the abdominal muscles
- Male singers often show more rib expansion on the sides rather than belly movement, which may also be a trained habit for Justin Bieber
Melismas and Jaw Movement
During the performance of “Yukon,” Justin Bieber doodles around repeated note patterns with melismatic runs, and you can see his chin moving along with those ornamental phrases. In a lesson setting, a coach might work on keeping the jaw more stable and strengthening the tongue instead, since excessive jaw movement during melismas can sometimes be a compensation for a weaker tongue muscle.
Targeted tongue exercises can genuinely improve not only the clarity of your runs but also the overall strength of your voice. However, for a professional like Justin Bieber, if it works and it is not causing problems, there is no need to fix it. The takeaway for learners is that building tongue strength early on can pay off significantly down the road.
Stage Presence and Audience Engagement
One area worth discussing from this Grammys performance is stage presence. Justin Bieber spent much of the performance with his eyes closed and his body turned inward, creating a very personal and internal moment on stage. While this can be powerful in small doses, doing it for the majority of a performance can disconnect you from the audience. A few things to keep in mind when performing:
- Closing your eyes and turning inward can create beautiful, intimate moments
- However, these should be balanced with direct eye contact and open body language
- Your eyes are the primary tool for emotional communication with your audience
- A simple nod, a quiet “thank you,” or even just standing at the front of the stage at the end shows respect and gratitude for the audience’s time and energy
Opening up to the crowd, even when it feels vulnerable, is what transforms a good performance into an unforgettable one.
Why “Yukon” Is a Great Song for Building Chest Voice
The melody of “Yukon” by Justin Bieber is fairly repetitive, which makes it an excellent practice song for singers who want to develop their chest voice. When you stay around the same set of notes, you can really focus on maintaining that chest voice quality without being thrown off by large interval jumps or shifts into a different register.
For male voices, this song sits in an ideal range for chest voice work. For female voices, transposing it up about three semitones (three half steps) would bring it into a brighter, more comfortable area while still offering the same benefits. It is also a great vehicle for experimenting with:
- Adding a bit of twang for a more contemporary edge
- Practicing constriction and vowel modification
- Working on short, efficient breaths for quick phrases
- Exploring thyroid tilt to make your tone sound more sung
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.