Chapter 9: Incorporating Vocals

Choosing the Right Vocal Style

The vocal style you choose for your Deep Wave tracks can significantly influence the overall tone, emotional impact, and listener engagement. In this chapter, we will explore various vocal styles suitable for Deep Wave music, their characteristics, and how to select the right style to complement your sound design and arrangement.

1. Understanding Vocal Styles in Deep Wave

a. Types of Vocal Styles

  • Singing Styles: Different vocal techniques contribute to the emotional tapestry of a track, including:
    • Melodic Singing: Melodic singing involves traditional melodies sung in a clear, expressive style. This style can express a wide range of emotions and is a staple in many Deep Wave tracks.
    • Chopped/Vocal Samples: Many songs incorporate manipulated vocal samples, where snippets of original vocals are edited and rearranged. This adds a unique, texture-driven component and can convey specific emotions.
    • Vocal Layering: Layering multiple vocal takes creates depth and richness. This can include harmonies, backing vocals, or contrasting melodic lines that enhance the main vocal.
  • Styles by Genre Influence: Influences from surrounding genres also play a role:
    • R&B and Soul: Smooth, emotive R&B vocals can bring a heartfelt quality to tracks, making them resonate emotionally with listeners.
    • Pop: Catchy, hook-driven vocal lines often derived from pop music can lend a sense of familiarity and accessibility to your production.
    • Chillwave: Ethereal and dreamy vocal styles prevalent in chillwave add to the atmospheric quality often desired in Deep Wave.

2. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Vocal Style

a. Track Emotion and Theme

  • Alignment with Emotion: The chosen vocal style should complement the emotional tone of your track. For example, if your track aims for a nostalgic feel, consider a soft, airy vocal style or lofi vocal samples that evoke a sense of longing.
  • Lyrics and Narrative: Consider the content of your lyrics. A more heartfelt, reflective track might suit a melodic singer, while a heavy electronic track might benefit from chopped or processed vocal samples to create an atmospheric quality.

b. Instrumentation and Arrangement

  • Compatibility with Instruments: Evaluate how the vocal style will interact with the instrumental arrangement. A powerful vocal might be overshadowed by dense synth pads or complex instrumentation; lighter vocal styles can offer a more seamless integration.
  • Creating Texture and Layers: Think about how the vocal will layer with other elements. A breathy, less prominent vocal style allows the main melody or instrumentation to shine through without being overly intrusive.

3. Exploring Vocal Techniques

a. Vocal Performance Styles

  • Soft and Breath-like: This style adds an intimate and emotional quality, often used in dreamy or atmospheric sections. It creates a connection with the listener and enhances the immersive experience of Deep Wave.
  • Powerful and Belty: A stronger and more assertive vocal can drive the energy of a track. Ideal for choruses or climactic moments, these vocals create an uplifting and engaging atmosphere.
  • Falsetto and High Notes: Utilizing falsetto can add a unique texture and ethereal quality, fitting well within the lush, synth-driven sound typical in Deep Wave music.

b. Vocal Effects and Processing

  • Creative Processing: Consider applying vocal effects such as reverb, delay, and modulation to enhance the chosen vocal style. Ethereal reverb can add depth, while delay can create rhythmic interest.
  • Vocal Chops: Process and manipulate vocal samples to create catchy hooks and rhythmic patterns. Vocal chops can serve as instrumental elements within a mix, adding to the sonic palette of your track.

4. Examples of Vocal Styles in Deep Wave

a. Ethereal Vocals

  • Example: Angelic and airy vocal performances that blend harmoniously with lush synths. This style is excellent for creating atmospheric tracks with a dreamlike quality.

b. Vocoded Vocals

  • Example: Frequently used in electronic music, vocoded vocals can add a robotic quality while still delivering melodic lines. This style fits well with the nostalgic aesthetics of Synthwave.

c. Chopped and Processed Samples

  • Example: Vocal snippets processed into rhythmic patterns enhance the instrumental aspects of the track. Use creative slicing to make unique rhythmic textures that blend into the groove.

5. Practical Exercises for Vocal Style Selection

  • Experimentation: Record several vocal styles over a backing track. Experiment with different techniques to understand how they alter the emotional impact and cohesiveness of the song.
  • Creating Vocal Chops: Take a vocal recording and experiment with chopping and rearranging it to create a new melody or rhythmic element. Listen to how this adds texture to your track.
  • Layering and Harmonizing: Record multiple takes of the same vocal line using different styles (soft, breathy, belted) and layer them together in the mix to create a rich vocal tapestry.

Conclusion

Choosing the right vocal style is crucial for crafting impactful Deep Wave music. By understanding the different styles available and considering how they fit with your track's instrumentation, emotion, and overall production, you can create memorable, engaging vocals that enhance the music's emotional depth. In the next chapter, we will delve into techniques for recording and processing vocals, ensuring they sit perfectly within your Deep Wave productions and elevate the entire composition.