Singing Guide: Devo
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
To learn singing like Devo, one must embrace the quirky style that they're known for. Devo's unique vocal technique is characterized by high-pitched, robotic-sounding vocals with a strong emphasis on pronunciation. Their songs often feature unconventional rhythms and musical structures, accompanied by synth-heavy instrumentation. In this article, we'll explore how to emulate this style of singing and highlight some practical advice for achieving Devo's sound.
Emulating Devo's Vocals
To begin with, it's important to focus on proper breathing as a foundation for good singing. Check out Singing Carrots' article on breathing basics before attempting to sing Devo-style vocals. To sing like Devo, you'll need to use a distinctive, nasal-sounding pronunciation. Work on honing your articulation skills to enunciate all your words clearly - for further practice, check out our article on articulation. Devo's vocals are heavily reliant on head voice. In order to achieve that, you will need to learn about voice registers and vocal break.
Devo's Signature Songs
To really capture Devo's style, it's important to know which songs to focus on. Devo is known for their hit single "Whip It," which features a catchy synth hook, distinctive backing vocals and energetic vocals. Clear pronunciation is key to really bringing out the best in the song. Another notable hit is "Jocko Homo," which features robotic and monotone vocals. Pay close attention to the rhythm and the unconventional structure of the song, as it carries a signature Devo flare. Singing Carrots' platform offers a search feature that allows you to browse songs by vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference, and help you find songs fitting Devo's unique style.
Singing Carrots' Resources
Singing Carrots offers a variety of resources to help you learn. Check out our vocal range test to assess your current vocal range and better understand Devo's higher pitch range. Use our pitch accuracy test to improve your accuracy, focus on honing the mastery of pitch matching. Use Vocal Pitch Monitor to work on your pitch visualization and reach Devo's iconic pitch. Furthermore, our pitch training is an interactive game that can help you warm up and improve your vocal range and agility. You can also use our educational singing course for a thorough understanding of singing theory and practical tips to improve your skills.
In summary
In order to learn singing like Devo, it is important to focus on the style's signature nasal and robotic vocals through proper breathing, articulation, and an understanding of head voice and vocal registers. Devo's hit singles such as "Whip It" and "Jocko Homo," emphasize unconventional rhythms and clear pronunciation. Utilizing Singing Carrots' resources such as the vocal range test, pitch accuracy test, pitch monitoring tools, pitch training game, and educational singing course along with their library of comparative artist vocal ranges can help you achieve Devo's unique style and unlock your full potential as a singer.