The Ultimate Indie Rock Vocal Challenge
"Sex" is the definitive anthem of The 1975's debut era. While it may seem like a straightforward rock song, Matty Healy's vocal performance is deceptively tricky. The song requires a blend of conversational singing, rapid-fire rhythmic delivery, and high-energy belting in the chorus.
To nail this track, you need to channel a specific "attitude." It's less about perfect operatic technique and more about emotional urgency and stamina. The pacing is relentless, leaving little room for breath between lines.
AI Coach Tip: Diction & Accent
Healy's delivery is famous for its stylized pronunciation. He often drops consonants or modifies vowels (e.g., "Use your hands" sounds more like "Use yah hands"). The AI Coach will analyze your rhythm closely here—don't be too rigid with your enunciation.
Phase 1: The Verses (Fast & Wordy)
The verses ("And this is how it starts...") sit comfortably in the mid-range (E3-E4). The challenge is the speed. The lyrics are dense and conversational.
The Trap: Running out of air. Singers often try to sing the entire first verse in one or two breaths. You must snatch quick "micro-breaths" at punctuation points to maintain the energy without sounding gaspy.
Phase 2: The Chorus Belt (1:10)
The energy explodes at the chorus: "And she said use your hands." This line jumps to a sustained B4 chest belt. It needs to sound full and desperate, not thin or whiny.
- Resonance: Keep the sound forward in your "mask" (the front of your face) to cut through the heavy guitar mix.
- Vowel Mod: On the word "hands," modify the vowel slightly towards "hens" or "hons" to keep the throat open on the high note.
Phase 3: The Outro Scream (2:55 - End)
As the song reaches its climax, Healy pushes his voice to the limit, hitting F#5s in a mix of head voice and falsetto screams. This is pure emotion.
If you cannot safely scream, switch to a reinforced falsetto. Focus on the rhythm and the "cry" in your voice rather than pure volume to convey the angst of the lyrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest belted chest note is a B4. However, the background vocals and ad-libs in the outro reach up to an F#5.
Not necessarily, but the song's rhythm is built around Healy's specific dialect. Adopting slightly softer vowels (characteristic of the accent) often makes the high notes easier to sing.
Practice the song at 75% speed in the Singing Coach AI app. Mark exactly where you will take breaths in the verses, and stick to that pattern when you speed it back up.
