Singing Coach AI
Mastering the "Hunter" Vocal Style
Released in 2014 as the second single from the album V, "Animals" is one of Maroon 5's most rhythmically complex pop hits. Adam Levine utilizes a very specific "forward" placement to cut through the heavy synth and bass. The song is famous for its predatory lyrical theme and the iconic howling, which requires significant vocal agility.
Singing this track successfully means you must manage your breath for the rapid-fire verses while saving enough energy for the explosive choruses. Let's break down exactly how to tackle it, section by section.
Phase 1: The Rhythmic Verse (0:00 - 0:34)
The song starts with "Baby I'm preying on you tonight..." The delivery here is almost percussive. The notes are short (staccato). If you drag the notes out, you will fall behind the beat.
The Trap: Running out of air. Because the words come so fast, you need to take quick "sipping" breaths between phrases. Keep your diaphragm engaged so the words pop out clearly.
Phase 2: The Pre-Chorus Climb (0:34 - 0:49)
As the lyrics move to "Maybe you think that you can hide," the melody begins to climb. The tension builds here. You should start mixing more head voice into your chest voice to prepare for the leap into the chorus.
Phase 3: The Chorus & Howl (0:49 - 1:20)
This is the signature moment. The line "Just like animals, animals, like animals-mals" is catchy, but the real challenge is the "A-wooooo" howl that follows. This jumps up to a high E5.
- The Howl: Do not try to belt this in pure chest voice—you will strain. Flip into a reinforced falsetto or head voice.
- Vowel Modification: Shape your mouth like you are saying "Oooo" but keep the sound forward in your mask (behind your nose and eyes).
- Agility: The run down from the high note needs to be clean. Practice it slowly on the app before speeding it up.