Mastering the "Indie" Vocal Style
Robbers is a definitive track of the 2010s alternative era. Inspired by the movie True Romance, Matty Healy delivers a vocal performance that balances conversational nonchalance with desperate, belted emotion. It’s not about perfect technique; it’s about character.
To sing this well, you need to navigate the transition from a low, spoken-word style verse into a soaring, gritty bridge without straining your throat. Let's break down exactly how to tackle it, section by section.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Diction
Matty Healy is famous for his unique pronunciation. He often drops consonants and merges vowels. Don't over-enunciate. Keep the jaw loose and vowels "darker" to match the original tone.
Phase 1: The Verses (Conversational)
The song begins with a grooving bassline and vocals that sit in the lower register (F#3 range). The delivery here should be legato—smooth and connected. The key is to sound like you are telling a story to a friend in a quiet room.
The Trap: Many singers lose energy here because the pitch is low. Keep your breath support active even when singing quietly to avoid going flat.
Phase 2: The Chorus (Building Tension)
The refrain "Stay, stay, stay" requires a shift in placement. You need to move the resonance from your chest up into your "mask" (the front of your face).
- Volume: Don't shout yet. Save the volume for the end.
- Breath: Take quick, deep breaths between phrases. The lines are short but repetitive.
- Tone: Add a slight "cry" to your voice to mimic the pleading nature of the lyrics.
Phase 3: The Bridge (The Scream)
The climax of the song arrives with the line "Now everybody's dead!" This hits a G#4 with significant grit. This is the hardest part of the song.
To achieve this distortion safely, do not push from your throat. Engage your diaphragm heavily and think of "calling out" to someone across the street rather than screaming. Use the "twang" technique to protect your vocal cords while sounding aggressive.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest belted chest-voice note is a G#4 (on "dead"). Matty also uses falsetto ad-libs that go higher, but the main power note is the G#4.
Not necessarily, but the vowel shapes play a big role in the tone. Matty uses closed vowels. If you sing with very wide, open American vowels, it might lose the specific "The 1975" character.
Grit should come from compression, not strain. Practice doing a "fry" sound (like a creaky door) and slowly adding pitch to it. Do not do this if your throat hurts.
