Ariana Grande’s vocal shift has been a topic of criticism by fans for many years. The pop sensation, known for her powerful voice and impressive voice range, has been spotted altering her speaking tone in interviews many times. Recently, during an interview, her voice changed from a deeper speaking voice to a baby-girl voice within seconds, and it is still making rounds on the internet.

The singer is well-known for his squeaky voice in the Nickelodeon show Victorious, and in fact, it became her trademark voice. However, the topic resurfaced again during the media appearances for her role in Wicked, sparking a new wave of online comments and questions about her “real voice.” Even Grande herself explained the reason behind her soft voice.

Ariana Grande came a long way from her higher-pitched voice in the Nickelodeon show Victorious to giving hit after hit and winning Grammys with songs like 7 Rings, Thank You, Next, and Rain on Me. Now, she is even running for an Oscar for her performance in Wicked. Despite her success, Grande’s shifting voice in interviews has been a topic of scrutiny for many years, and a recent clip is making rounds on the internet.

People might hate her for her baby voice, but there is a profound reason behind the singer’s soft voice in interviews. Speaking to host Chloe Veltman of NPR News about the viral clip of Grande’s shifting voice, Sarah Schneider, a voice speech pathologist, provides further insight into the science behind vocal modulation. Schneider, who is a voice speech pathologist at the University of California San Francisco, said,

The average person who is not using their voice for their profession takes their voice for granted. They don’t realize that our instrument is inside of our body, and the things that we do with our body impact what we can do with our voice.

She explained that vocal performers, especially those with demanding schedules, often modify how they use their voices to preserve vocal health, “To help with stamina, to help with endurance, to help with voice preservation.” While this practice may seem unusual to some, speaking in a higher register has proven to be effective in preserving her voice. Veltman said,

And the voice speech pathologist says the vocal shifts performers make are often more subtle than Grande’s. Artist adapts their voices in different ways to maintain their vocal health.

The adjustment can range from subtle changes in airflow, breath, and their resonance. The key is to understand what works for an individual. “Ariana Grande pitches her voice because that specifically helps her,” which means at the end of it, Grande’s speaking higher is not an exaggeration, but it helps her maintain her vocal health.

In a recent interview on the SmartLess podcast, Grande addressed the ongoing speculation, explaining that her voice shifts are primarily for health reasons.

If I have a long day of press or if I have to sing, I’ll place it a little higher.

She explained herself, noting that a higher register puts less strain on her vocal cords. This tactic helps her voice during long and demanding days of interviews and performances. Grande’s explanation is not new, she discussed the importance of vocal preservation in many interviews and even on her social media. Even people on Reddit explained that her shifting voice includes vocal health reasons.

Ariana Grande changing her voice
byu/Altruistic-Topic-775 insinging

Comment
byu/Altruistic-Topic-775 from discussion
insinging

Comment
byu/Altruistic-Topic-775 from discussion
insinging

Comment
byu/Altruistic-Topic-775 from discussion
insinging

Comment
byu/Altruistic-Topic-775 from discussion
insinging

Grande’s voice shifts have been more noticeable compared to other artists, which has led to further scrutiny. In the end, her changing voice is the result of her unique approach to vocal health. Thanks to her perseverance, she can pitch the Mariah Carey whistle notes effortlessly.

Wicked is now streaming on Prime Video.