Vocal fry, or 'creaky voice,' is a distinctive drop in pitch often heard at the end of sentences. Traditionally associated with young women, like Britney Spears, it turns out men use it more frequently than previously thought.

According to Jeanne Brown from McGill University, vocal fry is actually more common among men. Despite this, we still perceive it as particularly prominent in younger females. Vocal fry occurs when the vocal cords slacken, leading to a low, rattling sound that can be heard at around 70 Hz.

Decades ago, John Nix from the University of Texas, San Antonio, suggested singers like Britney Spears and Katy Perry use it because it adds emotional expressiveness. ‘Amplified styles tend to display effort as something genuine,’ he noted. Classic singers might mask their efforts, while pop artists show them openly, perhaps through vocal fry.

Interestingly, vocal fry isn’t a female-only phenomenon. Male stars such as Justin Bieber and gospel bassist Mike Holcomb have also used it in performances, showing that the technique is not gender-specific but rather a versatile tool for singers to convey emotion.