Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Behind the mic: evidence of backing tracks in Linkin Park’s live performances
Videos captured by fans during Linkin Park‘s Sept. 28 performance in South Korea seem to indicate the usage of a backup vocal track, over which Emily Armstrong has been singing quite passionately. There is a slight lead vocal in “The Emptiness Machine” and “Heavy Is the Crown,” even though Armstrong stopped singing and moved the microphone away from her face twice. Armstrong sings, “Fire in the sunrise, ashes raining down / Try —” and holds out the mic to the audience during the last lyric of “Heavy Is the Crown,” the anthem for the League of Legends video game championship. Her voice can still be heard repeating the phrase, “…to hold it in, but it keeps bleeding out.”
On September 28, Armstrong momentarily left a chorus line where her mouth was closed but a lead vocal was still audible. One line later, she was singing again, making her way closer to the edge of the stage. Rock and metal shows are increasingly using backing tracks as a regular practice. That Linkin Park is one of those bands really shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially in light of their innovative style-hybridization. They have always been such a distinctive, captivating, and skilled group because of their inventive studio techniques, such as layering records and using electronic beats. Armstrong’s background vocal appears to be supporting him to give a deeper and rich sound on stage because it is not prominent in the live mix. She doesn’t ever seem to be trying to mime or lip-sync her way through the passages using the backing music in any manner. In these situations, the co-vocalist is engaging with the crowd, thus it’s normal for them to forget a lyric or two during a long and physically demanding headlining set. Any vocalist can have a number of situations going on at any given time while performing. There are countless reasons why somebody might need to pause and clear their throat or catch their breath. At these points, Armstrong returns, and there’s a distinct spike in the vocal’s sonic level—it sounds definitely live. Additionally, it’s unclear if Armstrong had a lead backing vocal during all of his performances or only select parts of them. Several factors might impact a live performance of the voice, making it a sensitive instrument. Weather conditions, both indoors and out, as well as illnesses ranging from the common cold to severe illness, can pose difficulties for vocalists. What spectators often fail to notice is that musicians—even singers—frequently perform through illness. There are numerous remedies for different illnesses, ranging from droplets to throat sprays. Gum can aid in boosting saliva production, which is necessary for a vocalist to perform at the highest level. Yet, because vocalists must take sharp breaths, there is also a risk of choking.
The purpose of this piece was not to make any assumptions regarding Armstrong’s health or requirements while performing. Here is a general overview of the struggles faced by traveling singers along with standard solutions for regular problems encountered on the road.