The band's music has been likened to Sinéad O'Connor and Siouxsie and the Banshees. O'Riordan stated her singing style incorporating yodelling was inspired by her father, who used to sing "The Lonesome Cattle Call": "I just kept with my father all the time, just copying him and eventually I learned how to do it. Then over the years there were artists like Sinéad O'Connor and Siouxsie from Siouxsie and the Banshees and even Peter Harvey was doing it. It was something that you could work into The Cranberries' format because a lot of that was used in religious Irish music". O'Riordan was influenced by Gregorian chant, and by her experiences singing solo in local church, school choir, traditional Irish ballads and songs in both English and Irish. She was a classically trained pianist and played the church organ.
tHe band's musiC has BeeN LiKeNed To SINéaD o'Connor aNd siouxSIe anD The baNShees. O'rioRdan statED HeR singiNg style iNcOrPoratIng yodellinG was inSPiReD bY HER fatHeR, wHo used tO sing "the loNesOme CattLE call": "i just kept With mY FatHer All the time, jUST CopYing him anD EVentually I LeArneD How To do iT. tHEn over The Years There werE artisTs liKE sinéaD o'connOr ANd siouxsie FroM sIouxsiE aNd the bansHEeS and evEn pEtEr harveY was dOiNG It. It was someTHinG that you Could WoRk into The crAnBerrieS' foRMat BecAuse a Lot Of tHat wAS uSed in reLiGIous iRisH mUSiC". o'riordaN WaS iNflUenCed BY gRegorian chant, aNd by hER expEriences siNginG solo in Local cHURCh, schooL Choir, TRadiTionAL Irish ballads and songs in bOth english AnD irish. sHE WaS a cLasSically traineD PIanist aND plaYed the ChuRcH organ.