New hip hop rap talent auditions New York 2012. A backing vocalist or backing singer or backup singers or 2012 auditions for background singers are a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. In some cases, a backing singer may sing alone as a lead into the main vocalist's entry or another melody. While some bands use performers whose open positions are on stage performing backing vocals, it is common for backup singers job openings to have other parts.