Mastering the Atmospheric Indie Vibe
"Wires" is a quintessential track from The Neighbourhood's debut era, characterized by its moody atmosphere and Jesse Rutherford's distinctive vocal style. Unlike powerhouse ballads, this song demands control over your lower register and the ability to convey a sense of isolation and longing through tone color.
The song stays relatively grounded in terms of pitch, making it accessible for Baritones and lower Tenors. However, the challenge lies in the rhythmic cadence (influenced by hip-hop) and the subtle shifts in intensity between the verses and the chorus.
AI Coach Tip: Relax Your Jaw
Many singers tense up to get the "dark" sound, but this muffles the lyrics. Keep your jaw loose and focus on chest resonance to get that deep, rich tone on "I've got a tough time hearing people talk" without sounding garbled.
Phase 1: The Verses (Low & rhythmic)
The verses sit in the G2-D3 range, which is quite low for some singers. You need a solid chest voice here. The delivery is almost conversational, bordering on "speak-singing."
The Trap: Losing pitch accuracy because you are too relaxed. Even though the style is laid back, you must hit the center of the note. Focus on the rhythm of the lyrics; treat the vocals like a percussion instrument.
Phase 2: The Chorus (The Lift)
When the line "We talked about making it" hits, the energy shifts. You aren't belting high notes here, but you are increasing the *intensity* and volume.
- Resonance: Shift from a pure chest rumble to a slightly more forward placement to cut through the mix.
- Breathing: The phrases are longer here. Ensure you take a full, low breath before the chorus begins so you don't run out of air mid-sentence.
- Emotion: This is the plea of the song. Let a little bit of "cry" enter your voice to sell the emotion.
Phase 3: The Bridge & Outro
The song builds to a climax where the instrumentation thickens. Here, you can allow a bit of grit or vocal fry to enter your tone, emulating the distorted production style of the original track. The vocal line repeats, becoming more desperate.
Keep your throat open. If you squeeze to get the grit, you will fatigue quickly. Instead, use more air pressure with a relaxed throat to achieve the desired texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
The lead vocal generally tops out around G4 in the chest/mix voice. There are falsetto layers in the production that go higher, but the core melody is mid-range.
It helps to have a developed lower register, but Tenors can sing this by darkening their tone (dropping the larynx slightly). You can also transpose up +2 semitones in the Singing Coach AI app if the low notes are too quiet.
Focus on the "lazy" articulation. Don't over-enunciate consonants. Let words blend into each other slightly, and use a breathy tone for the softer parts.
