Best Modern Prog Vocalists

In the world of prog, the people that get the most attention are the instrumentalists. The musicians who play guitar, bass, drums, and synthesizers have not only stretched the boundaries of what can be done on their respective instruments but have also transformed what audiences focus on when listening to music. As a result, prog has become a genre where skill and dexterity are absolutely vital to survival. You don’t just have to be good on your respective instrument, you have to be great. And as you’ll find in most professional prog acts, the instrumentalists are indeed great.

The emphasis on instrumental prowess is no doubt a wonderful thing, but it has often come at the expense of singers being somewhat overlooked. In the case of classic prog, this was largely due to the contrast in talent between the singer and the rest of the band. Oftentimes, the singers were good, but their skills paled in comparison to those of the other members of the band. There have been exceptions to this – Jon Anderson, Peter Hammill, Steve Walsh, Annie Haslam – but the idea of the singer being lesser than the rest of the unit was a fairly common view that has sadly carried over to the modern age of prog where there are just as many, if not a greater number of talented singers than there were in the 1970s.

In light of this reality, I thought it would be appropriate to shine a light on some of the amazing vocalists that have emerged in the prog scene over the past 20 years. A difficult task, I’m aware, but one that proved rewarding because it allowed me to relisten to some of my favorite bands and artists. Not all of them ended up on this list. Cuts had to be made to keep this post concise, but that doesn’t mean the singers I left off weren’t worthy of inclusion. Chances are, I would probably have a different selection of vocalists if I had composed this list at a different point in time. That’s the way mood influences these sorts of things. With all that out of the way, here are some of modern prog’s greatest vocalists.

Aleena Gibson – Kaipa

How do you describe Aleena Gibson to people unfamiliar with her work? It’s a difficult task. Course, earthy, angelic. All are appropriate adjectives to describe Gibson’s Swedish pipes, but they fail to fully capture the beauty of her vocals. That’s largely because Gibson goes beyond fitting in the mold of the traditional prog vocalist. She’s just as comfortable performing stripped back, singer-songwriter material as she is harmonizing over Kaipa’s symphonic textures. Through it all, Gibson always finds a way to crawl her way into the listener’s ear thanks to her distinct lilt and mesmerizing annunciation.

Casey McPherson – Flying Colors, The Sea Within

Coming from an alt-rock background, Casey McPherson has a vocal color that is truly unique to prog. He doesn’t sound like the dramatic prog-metal titans who greatly redefined prog during the 90s, nor is he subdued like many Steven Wilson acolytes. Instead, he brings warmth and honesty to the genre with his rich baritenor. From his hypnotic lower end on songs like “More” to the chilling vulnerability of his falsetto in “Peaceful Harbor,” McPherson has proven time and again that he is more than just a Chris Martin soundalike.

Anne-Marie Helder – Panic Room

Though some might argue that Helder isn’t as rooted in prog as some of the other singers on this list, there’s little denying her vocal chops. She’s warm, collected, and above all, incredibly expressive. She doesn’t just plow through a song like she has somewhere better to be, no, Helder is very deliberate with her delivery because she knows that the human voice is what attracts most people to a particular song or artist. This careful consideration thus allows her to paint a picture with every word she sings and ensure that listeners fully engage with the music she’s performing. An undeniable skill in my book.

Ronnie Platt – Kansas

One of the older names on this list, Ronnie Platt first gained notoriety during his stint as lead singer for Shooting Star back in the late 2000s. It was during this time as lead singer that he caught the attention of the band Kansas, and when Steve Walsh retired from the band in 2014, they chose Platt to take over as front man. In the past seven years, Platt has not only proven himself to be a faithful adherent to the songs of old, but also as a talented vocalist in his own right. One need only listen to his emotive rendition of “Lonely Wind” to understand just how vital he has become to carrying on the legacy of the band. But that’s only aspect of Platt’s place in the band. What’s equally if not more impressive than his takes on the classic repertoire are Platt’s soaring vocals on the new material. It is on songs like “With This Heart” and “The Absence of Presence” that Platt truly shines as a vocalist. He doesn’t just sing these songs; he pours his heart into them.

Leslie Hunt – District 97

Despite making a name for herself on the corporate pop phenomena that is American Idol, Leslie Hunt is an artist with a distinct style. From her dark, creeping lower register to her wispy falsetto to her emotive belts, Hunt’s voice will no doubt bring chills down the spine of any listener. For proof of this, check out the live version of “Back in N.Y.C” off of District 97’s Screenplay. On that song alone, Hunt displays a grittiness that most singers would falter in replicating due to the amount of control needed to ensure such a song doesn’t turn into a screaming mess. Combine this control with Hunt’s passion and intensity, and you’ve got one hell of a powerhouse who understands how to inhabit a whole spectrum of styles and emotion.

Einar Solberg – Leprous

What do I even need to say about Einer Solberg? The man is a vocal powerhouse who is just as comfortable growling over breakneck, guitar runs as he is softly crooning over minimalist synth loops. Combine Solberg’s versatility with his opulent tone, crisp articulation, and top-notch breath control, and you have a master singer who is almost unmatched in his field.

Olivia Sparnenn – Mostly Autumn, Breathing Space

If there’s one word to describe Olivia Sparnenn’s voice, it’s graceful. Sparnenn possesses a lush set of pipes that greatly compliment the Celtic vibes present in Mostly Autumn’s material. This is largely down to the serenity found in Sparnenn’s voice. It’s an element that not only allows her to float above the sonic landscape the rest of her bandmates offer up, but also plant herself into any listener’s ear. And when she harmonizes with Bryan Josh and/or Chris Johnson, the results are stunning.

Tommy Karevik – Seventh Wonder, Kamelot, Ayreon

An operatic singer with the impeccable ability to occupy a plethora of roles and personas, Tommy Karevik is perhaps the most versatile performer on this list. From the way he belts triumphantly atop power metal choruses to the vulnerability he’s able to portray in a pseudo-musical theater style, Karevik shows that singers don’t need to inhabit just one genre. They should feel free to dabble in all of them, assuming they’re comfortable doing so. And it’s safe to say that Karevik is more than comfortable utilizing his golden pipes across different projects.

Christina Booth – Magenta

Perhaps more so than any other singer on this list, Christina Booth evokes an air of coolness. There’s a detached elegance to her delivery, and it’s this element that makes Booth rise above Magenta’s thick, layered musical backdrop. Most singers would falter in this approach, but not Booth. It’s a testament to her skills as a performer that she makes her job look – or rather, sound – so easy.

David Longdon – Big Big Train, Dyble Longdon

It’s hard to talk about David Longdon without getting emotional. He was a singer who closely encompassed the style of classic prog vocalists like Peter Gabriel and Derek Shulman, yet unlike those icons, Longdon left us too soon. Still, his warmth and impact live on, and this can be seen in the way Longdon used his voice to touch our hearts.

Longdon might have sounded like he was a man out of time, but he never sold himself as a soulless, retro artist. Instead, he sang with conviction and gravitas. You could tell that Longdon was dedicated to every word he sang, simply by listening to the songs he featured on. It’s for this reason along with the smoky flavor and unabashed Englishness in his voice that Longdon stood out as one of modern prog’s finest vocalists.