Mastering the Mood of "The Hills"
Released on the 2015 album *Beauty Behind the Madness*, "The Hills" is a masterclass in atmospheric R&B. Unlike standard pop ballads, this song relies heavily on texture, mood, and extreme dynamic shifts. The song creates a claustrophobic, horror-film vibe that requires the singer to act as much as they sing.
To perform this well, you must navigate the difference between the monotone, numbed-out verses and the explosive, distorted energy of the chorus. Let's break down the vocal layers.
AI Coach Tip: Head Voice Resonance
The Weeknd places his voice very high in the "mask" (forward in the face). Avoid a chest-heavy sound in the pre-chorus. Keep it light, buzzy, and nasal to match his piercing tone.
Phase 1: The Verses (Numbness)
The song begins in C Minor. The line "Your man on the road, he doing promo" should be delivered with almost zero affect. Think of it as speaking on pitch rather than "singing."
The Trap: Adding too much vibrato or emotion here ruins the vibe. Keep the tone straight and slightly breathy to mimic the lyrical theme of detachment and intoxication.
Phase 2: The Pre-Chorus Climb
As you move to "I only call you when it's half past five," the melody ascends. This is where you switch from the low speaking register into a mixed voice. The tension builds here. You need to increase your breath support significantly to prepare for the drop.
Phase 3: The Chorus Drop
When the bass drops on "The hills have eyes," the studio recording uses heavy distortion effects on the vocals. Singing this acoustically is difficult. To replicate that intensity without damaging your cords, use a technique called "vocal fry onset" or add a safe amount of grit/compression.
Do not just shout. Maintain the pitch accuracy of the C5 notes while projecting an attitude of chaos. The contrast between the loud chorus and the quiet verses is the most important element of the performance.
Phase 4: The Bridge (Ethiopian Influence)
The bridge features a haunting melody sung in Amharic (in the outro) or high falsetto. The run on "who are you to judge" showcases The Weeknd's agility. This requires a pure head voice—light, flexible, and very fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Weeknd hits a high F5 in his falsetto/head voice during the ad-libs and bridge. The belted chorus hits around C5.
Focus on "twang" (narrowing the epiglottis) rather than pushing air. You can also use the Singing Coach AI app to add a distortion effect to your clean vocal take to hear how it matches the original.
The song is in C Minor. It uses a lot of dissonant intervals that give it that signature dark, eerie feeling.
