Heidi Shepherd Speaks Out on Vocal Training: “I Was a Singer Before I Was a Screamer”
She explains her classical background and the importance of technique in growling without vocal damage.
- Heidi Shepherd shuts down the myth that she ‘can’t sing’—because, actually, she’s classically trained. The BUTCHER BABIES frontwoman reveals that she was a singer before she was a screamer, but people still act shocked when they hear her clean vocals.
- New single “Sincerity” puts Heidi’s clean vocals front and center—and marks a major shift for the band. It’s the first release since Carla Harvey’s departure, and it’s packed with raw emotion, soaring melodies, and, yes, plenty of heaviness.
- BUTCHER BABIES are moving forward—new label, new music, new era. With a fresh deal under Judge & Jury Records, the band is set to release even more music, proving they’re not slowing down anytime soon.
Apparently some people still think Heidi Shepherd—frontwoman of BUTCHER BABIES, growler of unholy things, destroyer of vocal cords (except, not hers, more on that later)—can’t sing.
And she’s had enough.
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In a new interview with The Adventures Of Pipeman, she made it very clear: “I was a singer before I was a screamer. I was classically trained.”
That’s right. Not just raw aggression. Not just throat-shredding demonic howls. Actual trained, refined, polished vocal technique. And yet—somehow—when people hear her clean vocals, they react like it’s a plot twist in a bad thriller:
“Oh my gosh. What? Oh you can sing.”
And Shepherd’s response? Peak levels of “are you serious right now?”:
“Well, I am in a band.” (laughs).
Growling 101: Do It Wrong, and You’ll Pay in Blood
There’s an art to this. The whole screaming/growling thing? It’s not just uncontrolled vocal cord murder. There’s technique. Strategy. (Science, even.)
If you go in blind, just yelling your lungs out? You’re going to sound like a dying vacuum cleaner for the rest of your life. Shepherd explained:
“There’s a technique that we learned along the way, and, yeah, if you don’t do it correctly, you could damage yourself permanently.”
Permanent. As in, forever. As in, no coming back from it.
So yeah—she takes it seriously. Especially when switching between clean and screamed vocals night after night on tour. It’s a balancing act. One she’s been perfecting for 15 years. But somehow, people are only just noticing now, thanks to the band’s latest single, “Sincerity” (which dropped last November, by the way—go listen).
The Song That Made People Pay Attention (Finally)
“Sincerity”, this is it…
Shepherd and Henry Flury (guitarist, riff wizard) directed the music video themselves—because, at this point, why wouldn’t they just do everything? And if this single feels different, it’s because it is.
For the first time, Shepherd’s clean vocals are front and center in a way they weren’t before. Of course, she’s always had them—but people needed to hear it spelled out, apparently.
And then there’s the emotional gut-punch of it all. Shepherd explained:
“Over the last decade and a half, BUTCHER BABIES has become known for our aggression and soaring melodies. This new release is no different. Diving into real-life experiences and expectations while exposing the rawest part of our souls, this single is bound to invoke an emotional rollercoaster between looking toward the future with hope while reminiscing of past losses.”
(Translation: This one hurts. But in a good way.)
Oh and another huge reason why “Sincerity” hits differently? It’s the band’s first release since co-vocalist Carla Harvey left.
Carla Harvey Is Out. Heidi Shepherd Is Holding It Down.
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
Carla Harvey, one half of the band’s vocal duo for years, officially exited stage left. First, she missed their European tour in 2023 due to emergency eye surgery. Then—fast-forward to 2024—she left for good.
Big shift? Yes. Did Shepherd hesitate? Nope.
She and the rest of the band—Henry Flury (guitar), Ricky Bonazza (bass), and Devin Nickles (drums)—stepped right back into it, playing their first Harvey-less show on July 27, 2024, at the Stonehenge Festival in the Netherlands.
(And, yes, Harvey has been busy too—she’s engaged to Charlie Benante of ANTHRAX/PANTERA, so you know, things are working out for everyone.)
New Label, New Music, Same Butcher Babies (But You Know, Evolved)
BUTCHER BABIES aren’t just keeping things moving—they’re powering forward with Judge & Jury Records, the label created by Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Seether, Skillet) and Neil Sanderson (Three Days Grace).
Not a bad setup.
And let’s be real—Benson knows how to craft a hit. The instrumentation for “Sincerity” was put together at West Valley Recording Studios, aka Benson’s personal lair of sound sorcery.
So yeah. Expect more polished-but-heavy material from them soon.
Fans Are Talking. And, Well, the Internet Is the Internet.
Reactions to Shepherd’s vocal reveal? Mixed. Because, of course.
Team Heidi:
Fans who get it have been loud:
- “Heidi proving she’s got the chops in both clean and scream vocals is awesome.”
- “Love that she can bring out those clean vocals, she’s more than just the screams.”
- “Heidi Shepherd’s range from classical to metal screams is what makes Butcher Babies stand out. She’s a powerhouse.”
Team Skeptical:
Some aren’t convinced. (Because, again, the internet.)
- “Classical training or not, the screaming does take a toll on the voice. Proof is in the performance, not the training.”
- “It’s cool she’s trained, but in metal, it’s about how you use your voice in the context of the band’s music.”
The Future? Looks Loud
Last year (2024 ¬¬), they dropped a whole double album (Eye For An Eye… and …Til The World’s Blind), celebrating the tenth anniversary of their 2013 debut, “Goliath”. And now, with “Sincerity”, a new label, and a refreshed lineup?
The next chapter looks even louder.
And as for Heidi Shepherd? She’s done explaining herself.
She can scream.
She can sing.
She can do both.
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The founding member addresses lineup shifts and the band's current dynamics.
