The Shoegaze Wall of Sound
Teen Angst by M83, from the 2005 album Before the Dawn Heals Us, defines the "electronic shoegaze" genre. The challenge in singing this track isn't complex melisma or operatic range—it is maintaining vocal presence against a massive, driving wall of synthesizers and drums. It requires stamina, urgency, and precise breath control.
Anthony Gonzalez's vocal style here is desperate and youthful. He uses a straight tone with very little vibrato, often shouting in key rather than singing traditionally. Let's break down how to achieve this sound without hurting your voice.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Breath
The tempo is fast (approx 165 BPM). Many users run out of air before the end of phrases. Plan your breaths on the snare hits between lines to stay locked in with the rhythm.
Phase 1: The Verses (Rhythmic Drive)
The song starts with a driving beat. The vocals need to be rhythmic and almost percussive. You aren't singing a melody that flows over the top; you are part of the rhythm section.
The Trap: It is easy to get swallowed by the music and start mumbling. Keep your consonants sharp. The lyrics express speed and emotion ("Coming out, coming out"), so your diction needs to be crisp to cut through the mix.
Phase 2: The Chorus (Projecting Energy)
The energy lifts significantly here. You need to project, but avoid screaming from your throat. This is where "calling" technique comes in. Imagine you are shouting to a friend across a busy street.
- Resonance: Keep the sound forward in your "mask" (the front of your face). This brightens the tone.
- Placement: Avoid a low larynx position. A slightly higher larynx position helps achieve that "indie/pop" brightness suitable for M83.
- Pitch: The notes hover around the passagio (break) for many singers. Commit to the note; sliding into it will sound pitchy against the synthesizers.
Phase 3: The Outro (Stamina)
By the end of the song, the instrumentation is at maximum volume. The challenge is maintaining your vocal intensity without fatigue. Engage your core muscles (breath support) rather than squeezing your throat muscles. If you feel a tickle in your throat, you are pushing too hard.
To replicate the studio sound, keep your vowels relatively narrow (e.g., modify "Ah" sounds slightly towards "Uh") to keep the sound focused.
Frequently Asked Questions
The lead vocal hits sustained notes around C#5, depending on how you classify the shouts. The harmonies often go higher into falsetto territory.
M83 uses heavy reverb and delay. In the Singing Coach AI app, you can turn on "Stadium Reverb" monitoring to hear yourself as you would sound in the mix.
Yes, but it will be a workout for your upper chest voice. You may want to transpose it down -1 or -2 semitones in the app to practice the phrasing first.
