BEHIND THE STAGE: BEHIND THE MIC: VOLUME II

We are back with Behind The Mic Volume II and this time we are talking to Reece Wallard (We The Hollow), Ecrothi Morgath (Necrostasis), Panda (Engraved), Dane Blanch (Doombride), Laura Lazzara (Nightlight), Blake Curby (Irken Armada), Daniel Macdonald (Body Prison) and Ryan Dennis (Seek Misery) and here is what they had to say.

Reece Wallard What inspired you to become an alternative singer? I used to sing a lot in the car when I was a kid and I think the idea of being a frontman just kind of grew on me as I got older.

How would you describe your vocal technique?

EM - I use a mixture of techniques, but mainly focus on false chords for most of my screams.

P - My approach is very dynamic — balancing melody with aggression depending on what the song needs. I focus heavily on control and tone so I can move between clean vocals and heavier textures without losing consistency. For me, technique is there to support emotion, not overshadow it.

RD - I would describe it as pretty broad in the extreme sense, as I can hit some pretty high vocal fry which you can especially hear in my early work with my other band Arbitrator. Then with Seek Misery I can hit some pretty low and sludgy false chords, but what I’m more consistent with is my false chords hitting those lower to mid ranges.

DB - I like to use a mix of false chords and fry screams.

RW - I would describe my vocal technique as a gritty fry scream I guess?? I’m not really big on technical terms.

LL - A chaotic combo of pop diva belts, bratty yelling, sultry raps and screams on a singular vowel because I’m still learning.

BC - When I was like 15 and learning to scream it was just called ‘Exhale screaming’ but somewhere along the way it’s adopted the name ‘False Chord’, it’s really loud and makes me feel like I’m gonna pass out after a set haha - for singing I’m still really new to it, so it’s hard for me to really say with confidence, I guess I’m just trying to sing with emotion and see what sounds nice!

DM - I'm not too well versed in the terminology of vocal techniques but I know 100% that I am using False chord to achieve my sounds.

Ecrothi Morgath What inspired you to become an alternative singer? Having been listening to metal for a few years and naturally having the ability to mimic voices and various characters, Claw from Inspector Gadget for example, I decided to give vocals a go.

How long have you been singing?

EM - I began doing metal vocals in 2013 with my first band, Slaves of Anubis. I use to be in school choirs and take vocal lessons from 2009.

P - I’ve been singing for about 16 years. It started as something I naturally gravitated toward, but over time it became a serious craft. Those years have been about learning control, building endurance, and figuring out how to evolve my voice while keeping it healthy — especially for live performance.

RD - I have been doing extreme vocals for 12 years now, I have only taken it more serious in the past 6 years since forming a band, before that I would just have fun doing vocal covers of some of my favourite songs trying to expand my range.

DB - Probably 10 years as a hobby, didn’t really start practising on my singing until I joined my band 6 years ago.

RW - I have been singing from about 5 years old  But singing properly I would say about 5 years using “proper” technique.

LL - My earliest singing memories go as early back as primary school, where I’d write songs about my crushes and cursed lyrical mashups of classic radio pop songs in my Snow White notebook. I feel like music has been a part of me for as long as I can remember - and as every singer says, I was ‘probably singing straight out of the womb’.

BC - Really only been trying to sing since 2022. But I started screaming around 2007 and finally had something worth using around 2009

DM - About 10 or so years now.

Photo Credit: Sam Herbert Laura Lazzara What inspired you to become an alternative singer? I always sung pop, but during my teenage years I had a deep passion for and connection to alternative music; which would eventually find its way into my singing career. I often think back to the moment where my high school band would cover songs by bands like Bring Me The Horizon - at the time I had no clue how to sing the scream sections, but god did I have the urge to. My younger self is definitely proud of me for giving it a go.

What does your warm-up routine look like?

EM - On my way to practice or gigs, I just sing along to music in the car. No other warm ups.

P - I keep it structured but simple — breathing work, light humming, lip trills, and gradual scale work. The goal is to wake the voice up gently and build into intensity rather than forcing anything early.

RD - My warm ups have always been inconsistent, especially over the past few years, when I first started I would definitely try and do the right thing and gradually warm my vocals up with some terrible singing or humming, these days, depending on how I’m feeling, I can just get up on stage and hit everything, but if I can feel in my voice beforehand that I'm a bit out of range or raspy, I will do my best to warm up my ranges both low and high with humming, plenty of room temperature water to hydrate the vocals and maybe even some honey to give a protective layer on my voice.

DB - I usually just drink water or start humming.

RW - Usually throughout the day I will do some vocal runs of my favourite tracks and then an hour before stage I will have something warm to drink and stretch all my face muscles, do little tongue twisters and things like that.

LL - When I’m not running around like a headless chook and actually give myself 5 minutes to warmup before a show or rehearsal, I always start with lip trills and hums first, then sirens to awaken my full range. Sometimes if I’m feeling fancy I’ll do some 5 tones and arpeggios, then I usually sing a bit of my stim song of the week. I feel like warming up with my own songs before a show is kind of bad juju, so I try to avoid that where possible.

BC - Heaps of water during the day of the show, lots of weird sounds and hums to warm up my vocal cords and the muscles in my face and mouth. Then a bunch of screaming and some light singing to make sure I'm ready!

DM - Admittedly I'm horrible when it comes to warming up. Sometimes I don't warm up at all. But if I do I'm using a steam inhaler for about 10 or so minutes followed by lip trills and other basic techniques. After that I'm usually good to go.

Who is your biggest vocal influence?

EM - Shagrath from Dimmu Borgir was one of my main influences and what I originally shaped my vocals after. I expanded into learning techniques and styles similar to Dissection, Shade Empire, Bloodshot Dawn and Shadow of Intent.

P - I take influence from a few vocalists who each represent something different to me. Howard Jones showed me how melody and power can coexist without losing emotion. Björn Strid’s versatility really influenced how I approach switching between styles. Dez Fafara’s energy and attitude shaped my understanding of performance, and Chris Cornell’s emotional delivery and control set a benchmark for authenticity in rock vocals.

RD - That is a tough one, as it has changed and evolved over the years, but just from the top of my head in the order from who started to influence me to who influences me now and everyone in-between. Johnathan of KoRn, Corey of Slipknot, Winston of Parkway Drive, Alex of Chelsea Grin, Phil of Whitechapel and David of Signs of the Swarm. It spans over a range of 12 years, discovering new music, new ideas, new techniques, but all these artists have influenced me over the years. I may have even missed some, as every artist can bring something new and cool to the table to learn.

DB - My biggest vocal influence is Marcus bridge from Northlane.

RW - I would have to say a mix of Oli Sykes from Bring Me The Horizon and Winston Mccall from Parkway Drive. They are both such versatile vocalists and it’s definitely inspired me a lot seeing them enhance their voices and abilities over the years!

LL - Ariana Grande. Like a good mother would, she raised me, she taught me, she made me who I am. Not to be dramatic or anything.

BC - I’d say Mitch Lucker from Suicide Silence and Aaron Gillespie from Underoath, there’s heaps of others but they’re definitely the most I look to.

DM - Honestly I don't have one single person who I can say is my main vocal influence. But in my early days of starting out it was Chris Barnes, Corpse grinder, Cory Taylor, Ruben Rosas and Don Campan.

Panda What inspired you to become an alternative singer? I’ve always connected with music that sits slightly outside the mainstream — music that feels raw and honest. Alternative vocals give you freedom to be expressive and imperfect, and that’s what drew me in. It’s less about fitting a mould and more about finding a sound that feels genuine.

Is there a new vocal technique you are currently practising?

EM - Not currently. Just trying to make what I know better.

P - I’m constantly refining how I use distortion so it stays sustainable. The challenge is getting intensity without tension and making sure the sound is powerful but repeatable night after night, finding your voice is one thing, however keeping up with its development and adaptation is a full time job.

RD - I’m currently trying to self teach myself on how to sing more cleanly, but also with some added grit and distortion, always trying to expand and grow as a vocalist, there is always something to learn and try to perfect in your own style.

DB - Not particularly right now, open to new techniques in the future.

RW - Currently I’m learning and practising how to articulate my mouth shape to gain a lower/deeper scream as well as my High to Mid screams. It’s crazy to me the amount of noise you can make with just slight adjustments.

LL - I feel like I’m constantly practising every vocal technique in my roster, but I’m definitely trying to strengthen my screams. I’m yet to hit up a teacher for scream lessons but I know I can only get so far by winging it, so I probably should.

BC - Yeah! I’m doing a MySpace deathcore band by myself for some fun at home between Irken Armada songs and I’m doing heaps of inhales for the lower screams, so I’m spending a fair bit of time trying to get them to sound okay.

DM - Admittedly I'm also horrible with practising vocals so currently no haha

How has your vocal style changed over time?

EM - I’ve grown more confident in my own abilities which has elevated my output and sound to a much higher standard. I’m much happier with where I am compared to where I was only a few years ago.

P - Early on I leaned more toward aggressive vocals, but over time I’ve learned the importance of contrast. I’ve become more focused on dynamics and emotional phrasing, knowing when to pull back can be just as impactful as full intensity.

RD -  Going back to what my first vocal covers used to sound like to what I have evolved into today, is like day and night, just hearing croaks in my voice not being able to hit as many ranges as what I can now, but super proud of the progress I have made since then.

DB - I’ve learned that I don’t have to push as hard and less is usually more. Pushing too hard leads to being gassed and losing my voice.

RW - I think over time I’m beginning to get more comfortable with how I sound. Instead of comparing myself to bigger names and thinking I’m not as good or on par with them. The voice is a very unique thing and everyone delivers their sound in their own way.

LL - I’ve definitely gone through my fair share of vocal changes, from different accents to embarrassingly imitating my favourite artists, before I found a style that truly suits me. There was a moment in time where I neglected my pop vocal when I dove headfirst into hip-hop/rap styles - but I’m glad I went back and honed in on both in a healthier and more authentic way. Now that I’m exploring my scream vocals, my goal is to collect vocal styles like they’re Pokémon.

BC - I’d say it’s gone from gutterals predominantly to higher screams with more character and voice in there. As for singing I don’t think much has evolved yet!

DM - I don't think it has really changed too much over the years besides for the tones of my voice developing and maturing into the sound I currently have today.

Blake Curby What inspired you to become an alternative singer? I reckon it’s Mitch Lucker / Suicide Silence live set at the UNSW roundhouse Sydney 2008 for Sweat Fest with Parkway, ADTR + The Acacia Strain. That set changed my entire life. Mitch was a powerhouse and still to this day put on the best metal performance I’ve ever seen.

What is the best technique/s you have discovered for the longevity of your voice?

EM - False chord allows me to continue for hours without feeling any strain on my voice. It just works and feels natural to me.

P - Good breath support and knowing your limits. Recovery is just as important as performance, hydration, warm-ups, and not over-singing off stage. Longevity comes from consistency, not pushing past what your voice is ready for, many techniques I have learned from professionals over the years have not worked for myself, fast paced walking while simultaneously running through a basic warm up really helps with conditioning for stage performance.

RD - The best technique for myself is doing anything false chord, pushing it from the diaphragm, I have had moments where my voice has struggled to keep up for shows, but this technique for myself has never failed me.

DB - Not pushing as hard makes me sound better and less worn out after a show.

RW - The biggest thing I have found personally is what you consume before a show can affect your performance e.g. Cold Water, Dry savoury foods, it just tightens my throat and puts strain on my throat muscles. Another thing I have found that’s helped a lot is breath work while running. It gives me much more gas in the tank for a long set especially trying to be high energy. 

LL - I find that using the correct combination of chest, mix & head voice is great for vocal longevity - not necessarily what the recorded vocal is doing, but what feels right for MY voice in the moment. I especially practise this when rehearsing - I’ll usually do a full run through at 100%, before winding back and focusing on stagecraft. The minute something doesn’t feel right, I won’t push it. Keeping in good physical health is also super important, although I probably don’t practise what I preach as much as I’d like to. I do try and work in cardio to build vocal stamina - as we start to play larger venues and longer sets, god knows I’m gonna need it.

BC - Singing with an open throat, my own voice and avoiding straining. That’s been a huge help with singing.

DM - Quit smoking and vaping (I still vape), Staying hydrated, No over use of your voice after performing or doing vocals for whatever reason, good rest also does so much for your voice.

How do you prepare for being a travelling singer in Australia?

EM - I haven’t put much consideration into my travel plans as a vocalist, which is something I should probably look at. I’ve always been a “go with the flow” person.

P - Travel can be demanding, so I prioritise sleep, hydration, and pacing myself vocally between shows, staying adaptable and keeping a consistent routine no matter the environment.

RD - For extended periods of show after show, I do my best to try and workout my voice beforehand, push it for longer periods almost like a marathon runner, with plenty of rest and recovery on the in between days, never pushing so hard that it would cause and damage, but just consistently. Same as any athlete would too is just making sure I’m hydrated, keeping everything in working order.

DB - I currently don’t travel far for shows, but if I did I would say plenty of sleep and hydration.

RW - We have only travelled once to NSW as a band and that was my first time experiencing my usual routine in a different way and I’m honestly still yet to figure out what problems I will come across while travelling.

LL - I admittedly don’t have a crazy specific vocal kit that I carry around with (unless I’m sick, of course). My must haves are usually comfort-based - I always carry around a tub of Vicks, which I can use for a steam bath or simply sniff straight from the tub - mmm.

BC - I focus a lot on sleep, exercise and what I put in my body. I try to avoid work outs close to shows so I’m not recovering on show days. I do my best to get to bed if there’s an early wake up otherwise all my problems start there. I avoid alcohol before a show and wait til end of tour if I am going to have a beer.

Dane Blanch What inspired you to become an alternative singer? Discovering the genre in 2009 to bands like bullet for my valentine, asking Alexandria, black veil brides and of mice and men. I loved it so much I wanted to learn how to do that one day.

With such a broad vocal style, how do you choose which technique you will use in each song?

EM - I try to keep my vocals and screams as clear and understandable as I can. I aim to find the right vocal style that would boost Rosanna’s clean vocals without taking away from her spotlight in Necrostasis.

P - It always comes back to the emotion and message of the song. The technique is just a tool — if the song needs vulnerability, I’ll go cleaner; if it needs intensity, I’ll lean into heavier textures. The goal is to serve the music rather than showcase technique for its own sake.

RD - That just depends on the context of the song, the meaning of it, what emotions I want to convey through vocally, what works better in certain sections and if I hold back a certain technique so it has more of a wow factor later in the song when it is finally used. Just really depends on the context of the song that we are writing.

DB - I usually just go with what sounds good for me, live I can mix it up. In the studio I like to have a variety of different styles.

RW - I choose my style based on the feeling the song gives me when I write lyrics for it. Some words/lines I will want to stand out more than others so I will change it to a low or high or even a clean to give what I’m trying to get across more punch.

LL - In team nightlight, we’ve analysed my vocal styles and have literally created a pie chart, so that we can utilise as many vocal styles as possible within a given project. I also like to play into the shock factor when it comes to my vocals, so jumping from a sickly sweet falsetto or talking fake out into hard hitting screams always works a treat.

BC - Honestly I just throw darts at the board until something fits in my mind. The main thing I keep in mind is what does the part of the song call for or what can I do that feels new to me. I also try to avoid using the same tone every few lines so there’s more going on that just one sound.

DM - I have favourites/Staples of my technique that I use like my mid/yell range, low range and gutturals. Mids and lows will always be the staple of my sound and used in every song so to spice things up I'll sprinkle in other sounds like gutturals or highs. It all just depends on what the song calls for or what I'm feeling in the moment.

Are there any vocal techniques that you tried that didn’t work for you or fit your style?

EM - I’ve tried implementing a lot of the common deathcore techniques, but musically, we aren’t quite in the same style which makes the vocals just seem out of place.

P - Definitely. Early on I tried copying certain aggressive styles that weren’t sustainable for my voice. Over time I learned that technique has to be adapted to your own instrument rather than imitating someone else exactly. 

DB - Probably pig squeals, I can’t seem to get them down yet haha.

RW - I think every technique I have tried has helped me in some way and let me find my own way of doing things so I don’t damage my voice and can perform for long periods of time.

LL - If I could say anything to my younger self, I’d say ‘PLEASEEE stop singing with a British accent’.

BC - Yeah! I don’t like how my voice sounds when I fry scream - specifically if it’s just from the throat. I definitely am adding some vocal fry to my false chord screams but it’s 2 different techniques in my opinion. The traditional fry scream just doesn’t suit the bands sound unfortunately and i honestly don’t think I could do it live even if I did get it to sound half decent.

DM - Mainly high vocals. I like to sound like a pissed off and angry caveman. But to be honest these days I don't practice them at all so it's just a hassle for me to get them sounding good for live performance or tracking vocals especially when I don't really enjoy the sound of them.

Ryan Dennis What inspired you to become an alternative singer? Just growing up listening to heavy and extreme music, everyday going to school listening to a range of nu-metal, metal core and death core I had this dream of someday having my own band and here I am all these years later doing exactly what I dreamt of doing in high school.

Are there any breathing exercises that you practice to achieve the same sound on and off of the stage?

EM - I just wing it. I’m terrible when it comes to warm ups and breathing exercises. I think years of swimming to improve my lung capacity is the only thing I’ve done over the years.

P - I focus on diaphragmatic breathing and controlled release exercises. They help with stability and endurance so the sound stays consistent whether I’m in the studio or performing live. That being said, general health is very important and has become more integral over the years, singing is demanding but performing at the same time takes stamina and control beyond that.

RD - I do practice deep breaths not for achieving the same sound on and off the stage, but conditioning for the lungs, just deep breaths where I try and suck in as much air as possible, almost like stretching our my lungs to allow more intake for more demanding sections of songs.

DB - Not particularly maybe I should incorporate some.

RW - As I said before. I work on my breathing while running which helps with stamina. But I also take a few big breaths of air and hold it for 10 seconds as a part of my warm up.

LL - I’m a big believer in that breath technique can make or break a performance, so I always try to consciously breathe in the right places during songs. There are many nightlight songs where I will crumble if I don’t set myself up with enough breath - so it’s very important! I don’t do anything crazy, just simply remembering to breathe helps sometimes - being an anxious performer I can sometimes forget to!

BC - Yeah! So one of my vocalist mates showed me how to practice breathing in so breaths in the gaps of lines. The exercise focuses on learning to take a breath without moving your shoulders then slowly releasing the air like a balloon over 4,8 & 16 bars and repeating it. It gets super hard but that’s what helps us sing or scream for longer by building that lung capacity.

DM - For me personally no. But that is something myself and others should look into as it helps immensely.

Is there any advice that you would like to give to someone just getting into singing?

EM - Learn the techniques properly. Take in person lessons. An in person training session will correct unnoticed bad habits and serve you better in the long in.

P - Take your time and learn the fundamentals early. Don’t chase range or aggression before you understand control. Your own voice is your biggest asset — developing that identity matters more than sounding like someone else, just be yourself and then get good at it.

RD - My advice is, it won’t come overnight, it takes months and years of practice to get your voice to the standard you want it to be. Just be patient with yourself and focus on practising every few days, try achieving the technique first, then sing along to your favourite songs with that technique. If your vocals hurt at all, just stop and rest, re-evaluate your technique, there is plenty of great YouTube videos helping people achieve techniques in safe ways that won’t destroy your throat.

DB - If you are passionate just keep at it and practice.

RW - Know when to stop! If it hurts try doing things different and don’t push yourself too hard in the beginning. Your favourite artists didn’t sound amazing overnight. I think patience is a big thing as well.

LL - Start with the basics first! Like any hobby, I believe it’s an immediate curse to aim to be like the pros. Work on pitch and stability first, then find your personal style. Take note of singers you enjoy listening to and what they sound like, then trial and error until you feel comfortable! Also, choose songs to sing that bring you genuine enjoyment and make you feel good!

BC - Practice every chance you get. If people around you are not telling you to shut up, you’re not practising enough.

DM - Once you discover the proper technique to screaming safely, consistency and practice is key. Don't rush or be let down by how you sound at the start! As long as you practice and stay consistent, tones and techniques develop over time and you will eventually have a strong and unique sound to you. If you really want to do it, don't give up! I learned by watching two Youtube videos and just went from there. These days there are thousands of videos and many courses by people who know what they're doing so it's easier than ever to get started now.

Daniel Macdonald What inspired you to become an alternative singer? Always loved heavy/Alt music growing up and knew I wanted to do music in some sort of form,I tried learning a few instruments but nothing really clicked. One day I heard tomb of the mutilated by CC when I was younger and instantly knew then that I wanted to be a vocalist and make caveman sounds.

If you were to sing any other style of music, which would it be?

EM - If I had the ability to sing with a clean voice and still have a good tone, I’d probably aim for something along the lines of Trivium.

P - I’d probably explore something more stripped back like blues or acoustic rock. It really exposes your voice and phrasing, and I think that’s a good challenge for any vocalist.

DB - Pop punk or indie rock, something in the style of blink 182 or dear Seattle.

RW - I’m going to say Rap. I’ve always had a soft spot for a lot of rappers and it’s a genre that makes me feel something with their unique story telling as well as the flow and delivery.

LL - Not necessarily a style, but if I could pull off whistle tones I think I would lowkey be unstoppable.

BC - I think Pop - I’m already doing some sad emo acoustic songs so Pop is probably the only thing I’d like to do that I’m not doing already.

DM - Shoegaze

If you could feature with any other vocalist, who would it be?

EM - Ben Duerr of Shadow of Intent, Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir or Henry Hämäläinen of Shade Empire/Halysis.

P - Howard Jones would be incredible because of how he can balance power and melody. Chris Cornell would have been a dream collaboration — his ability to express vulnerability is something I’ve always admired.

RD - It would hands down be with Johnathan from KoRn, he is the main reason I chased this passion, KoRn was my gateway to finding heavy music from a young age. I owe it all to him.

DB - Jacob Charlton from Thornhill, I’m a big Thornhill fan and love his vocal style.

RW - It would be a massive achievement for me to have Winston McCall (Parkway Drive) feature on a We The Hollow track. Definitely a long shot but you never know what could happen one day. 

LL - I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t reach for the stars and say Ariana Grande, but a more realistic answer would probably be Emmy Mack from Redhook or Vana - let’s get in the booth ladies :* 

BC - Mitch Lucker.

DM - Shakewell.

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If you want to read more about Reece, you can find We The Hollow in 15 QLD bands you need to be listening to... here.

If you want to read more about Ecrothi, you can find Necrostasis in our review of their performance at ScasmFest here and a review of their latest single Soulbound here.

If you want to read more about Dane, you can find Doombride in our review of their performance with Grizzlyshark here.

If you want to read more about Blake, you can find Irken Armada in 15 Aussie Bands You Should Be Listening To... here and a review of their latest single Begging For Heart here.

If you want to read more about Laura, you can find Nightlight in our review of their performance at the Ocean Sleeper Metalcore Christmas Special here a break down of the bands here and their interview here.

If you want to read more about Panda, you can find Engraved in our review of their latest single Bleed here and their tour announcement including ticket links here.

If you want to read more about Daniel, you can find Body Prison in our breakdown of ArkFést here.

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