Mastering the "Folktronica" Vibe
"Doing Good" by Milky Chance blends reggae-inspired guitar strums with electronic beats, creating a vocal pocket that is incredibly fun to sing but deceptively tricky. Lead singer Clemens Rehbein is known for his unique, gravelly tone and laid-back delivery.
Unlike a power ballad, you don't need massive lung capacity here. Instead, you need impeccable rhythmic timing and the ability to control your tone texture. The song stays mostly in a comfortable chest voice range, but the challenge lies in the "cool" factor—sounding effortless while being technically precise.
AI Coach Tip: Don't Force the Rasp
Clemens has a natural rasp. If you try to grind your throat to mimic him, you will hurt your voice. Achieve the texture by relaxing your vocal cords (vocal fry) at lower volumes rather than pushing air harder.
Phase 1: The Verses (Rhythm & Diction)
The verses move quickly. The lyrics are conversational but rhythmic. You need to treat your voice almost like a percussion instrument here, locking in with the guitar upstrokes.
The Trap: Slurring words too much. While the style is "chill," the consonants need to be intelligible. The AI Coach often flags users for dragging behind the beat during the fast-paced verses.
Phase 2: The Chorus (Melodic Flow)
When the chorus hits ("I'm doing good..."), the melody opens up. This is where you switch from the staccato verse style to a smoother legato phrasing. The notes are sustained slightly longer.
- Breath Support: Even though it sounds relaxed, keep your diaphragm engaged to prevent the pitch from going flat at the end of phrases.
- Vowel Shapes: Milky Chance often uses flattened vowel sounds (typical in indie pop). "Good" might sound a bit more like "Gud" with a relaxed jaw.
Phase 3: The Bridge & Style
The bridge maintains the groove. The key here is consistency. You aren't building to a high belt like in rock songs; you are maintaining the "trance" of the song. Keep your volume consistent (Mezzo-Forte) and focus on the groove.
To really nail the style, practice "scooping" slightly into notes, a common technique in folk-pop, but don't overdo it or the pitch analysis will mark you down.
Frequently Asked Questions
The vocal melody peaks around an E4 or possibly an F#4 depending on ad-libs, which is very accessible for most male voices without needing falsetto.
Yes! You don't need the rasp to get a high score. Focus on hitting the right pitches and the rhythmic timing. Your own tone is better than a forced impression.
The original is in E Major. If this feels too low or high, use the Singing Coach AI app to transpose the backing track +/- 2 semitones to find your sweet spot.
