Extreme Vocals – Voice Science

A controlled vocal technique that layers additional noise (aperiodic sound) onto a sung pitch by shaping structures abovethe true vocal folds.

Despite the name, extreme vocals are not defined by volume or aggression—they’re defined by where the sound is created. The singer maintains normal phonation at the true vocal folds (the source) and introduces a secondary vibration or turbulence in the supraglottic region (the filter), involving structures like the false folds, epiglottis, or pharyngeal walls. When produced intentionally and without excessive breath pressure, research shows they are no more inherently harmful than other styles of singing. The risk comes not from the sound itself, but from poor strategy, imitation without guidance, or oversinging.