System of a Down’s Serj Tankian recently shared his thoughts on what makes Faith No More’s Mike Patton unique among vocalists. He discussed his discovery of the singer in an interview with Christina Rowatt.
The conversation touched on Patton’s distinctive approach to vocals and what sets him apart from other performers in the music industry.
Tankian reflected on his early exposure to the vocalist when asked about how he discovered Mike Patton as a fellow artist with both seriousness and emotional depth alongside a playful side.
“With Faith No More. Probably the first Faith No More record with Patton on it is where I would have discovered him. Early ’90s, I presume,” Tankian said. “I like the way that he’s a great singer, but he doesn’t consider himself a singer.”
Tankian elaborated on what he finds most compelling about Patton’s artistic philosophy and approach to music.
“He considers himself an instrumentalist with the voice, you know, and that’s what I’ve always loved about Patton,” he continued. “Because he sees beyond the, you know, beyond the role of what that might be, you know, as a singer, although he is a great singer, you know, so to me that’s what was always amazing about him.”
Tankian’s admiration for Patton’s unconventional approach to vocals reflects the Faith No More frontman’s remarkable technical abilities. It also reflects his unique artistic philosophy that has made him a standout figure in alternative rock.
Patton’s vocal prowess is backed by extraordinary technical range. Vocals Spotlight reported that he possesses an outstanding six-octave vocal range that places him at the top of lists for rock and pop singers. This exceptional range allows him to seamlessly transition between different vocal styles and techniques within a single performance.
Patton’s abilities become even more remarkable when considering his completely self-taught approach to singing. Singing Carrots noted that Patton avoided formal vocal training. He relied instead on an exploratory, self-taught style. His unconventional path to vocal mastery demonstrates that traditional training isn’t always necessary for achieving extraordinary results.
“Training, oh god no,” Patton once explained in an interview. “I went to a vocal lesson one time and the guy, my teacher, made a huge pass at me.”
This rejection of formal training has led Patton to develop innovative vocal techniques that set him apart from traditionally trained singers. His approach includes inhaled notes, vocal distortion, and seamless shifts between different vocal styles without rigid structural constraints. This allows him to treat his voice as a versatile instrument rather than following conventional singing rules.
Patton’s philosophy of viewing himself as an instrumentalist rather than a traditional singer has influenced countless musicians. It continues to inspire artists who seek to push the boundaries of what vocal performance can achieve in modern music.
