The Complete Guide to Hiring a Session Vocalist

How to Find the Right Vocalist for You

Chapter 1 of 7

Learn how to choose a vocalist who matches your music, communication style, and expectations.

8 minute read

Updated July 2026

Contents

• Session Musicians Marketplaces

• Find Vocalists Through Bands You Already Listen To

• Use Social Media

• Listen Beyond the Vocals

• Look for Experience in Your Genre

• Communication Matters More Than You Think

• Ask What's Included

• Don't Choose Based on Price Alone

• Final Thoughts

How to Find the Right Vocalist for You

Whether you're writing your first single or finishing a full-length album, finding the right vocalist can completely change how your song feels. A great vocalist doesn't just hit the notes, they understand the emotion, the genre, and how to bring your vision to life.

If you're looking to hire a remote session vocalist for a metalcore, post-hardcore, or other heavy styles, there are so many options. The challenge isn't finding someone who can scream or sing, it's finding someone who's the right fit for your music.

Here's where I would start.

1. Session Musicians Markeplaces

One of the easiest places to find a session vocalists is through dedicated music service platforms. These websites let you browse vocalists, listen to examples of their work, read reviews, and contact artists directly.

Some of the major platforms include:

• SoundBetter - Great for experienced professionals and established session musicians.

• Fiverr - Offers a wide range of budgets and styles.

• AirGigs - Music focused with many session musicians.

Each platform works a little differently, but they all give you a chance to compare vocalists before committing to a project.

When browsing profiles, don't just look at ratings. Listen to multiple examples of their work. Every vocalist has strengths. Some specialize in huge choruses, others excel at aggressive screams, layered harmonies, emotional vocals, or dynamic vocal arrangements.

The best session vocalist for your project isn't necessarily the most expensive or the one with the most reviews. It's the one whose style naturally complements your song.

2. Find Vocalists Through Bands You Already Listen To

Sometimes the perfect vocalist is already on your playlist.

If you hear guest vocals on a song that fits your project perfectly, find out who performed them. Many professional vocalists take on freelance session work outside of their own bands.

Even if someone isn't advertising session work, it never hurts to respectfully reach out and ask.

3. Use Social Media

Social media has become one of the best ways to discover talented vocalists.

Instagram and TikTok are full of musicians posting:

• Vocal covers

• Studio sessions

• Writing clips

• Breakdown performances

• Live one-takes

These short clips often give you a much better feel for someone's personality and vocal style than a demo alone.

If you find someone whose sound fits your project, send them a message or check if they have a booking link in their bio.

Many independent vocalists handle all of their business directly through social media.

4. Listen Beyond the Vocals

This is especially important for metalcore and post-hardcore.

Heavy vocals are only one piece of the puzzle.

Ask yourself:

• Can they deliver emotion?

• Is their pronunciation clear?

• Do they understand song dynamics?

• Can they switch between aggression and emotion naturally?

• Do they know when to leave space instead of constantly pushing intensity?

Sometimes the vocalist with the most brutal scream isn't the one that serves the song best.

Great performances are about contrast.

5. Look for Experience in Your Genre

Metalcore, post-hardcore, hardcore, deathcore, and other modern heavy music all have their own vocal styles.

A vocalist who excels in nu metal may not naturally fit a metalcore track.

Likewise, someone who primarily records deathcore may approach melodic sections very differently than what your song needs.

When possible, find someone who has experience recording music that's similar to your song.

That usually leads to better creative ideas, faster communication, and a smoother recording process.

6. Communication Matters More Than You Think

One thing that's easy to overlook is communication.

A great remote session vocalist should be easy to work with.

Look for someone who:

• Responds in a reasonable amount of time

• Clearly explains their process

• Asks questions about your vision

• Keeps you updated throughout the project

Recording remotely means communication replaces being in the same studio.

The smoother that communication is, the smoother the project usually goes.

7. Ask What's Included

Every vocalist offers something different.

Before hiring someone, make sure you understand exactly what you're getting.

For example:

• Clean vocals

• Screamed vocals

• Harmonies

• Vocal doubles

• Layered gang vocals

• Lyric writing

• Vocal arrangement

• Editing

• Tuning

• Mixed vocal stems

• Raw stems

Knowing what's included upfront helps avoid surprises later.

8. Don't Choose on Price Alone

Everyone has a budget, but hiring a vocalist is an investment in your song.

A cheaper option may save money upfront, but if the performance doesn't fit your vision, you'll likely spend more time and possibly more money trying to fix it later.

Instead of asking:

"Who's the cheapest?"

Ask:

"Who sounds like they will match my song?"

That question almost always leads to a better result.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right remote session vocalist isn't about hiring the biggest name—it's about finding someone who understands your music and helps bring your ideas to life.

Whether you're discovering vocalists through SoundBetter, Fiverr, AirGigs, social media, or by reaching out to artists whose work you've admired, take the time to listen carefully, communicate openly, and choose someone whose style genuinely fits your project.

The right vocalist won't just add screams or melodies—they'll help elevate the entire song.

Continue Reading..