Tearing the song apart with Esther
Healthy Distortion, inspired by Yungblud
Inspired by the raw energy and voice of Yungblud, I wanted to dive deeper into the art of distorting your voice without damage, something I already touched on in SING (distortion without destruction) Personally, I rarely use this effect when I sing, precisely because it’s technically demanding. Let’s be honest: distortion may sound easy, but doing it in a healthy way is another story entirely.
And as you know, I’m never too proud to ask for help when I need it. In this case, it’s essential. If you really want to throw that rock edge onto your voice, you need to know exactly how to do it safely. That’s why I invited Esther Spee, the scream queen herself, to share her clear and practical insights on how to approach this technique in a healthy way.
I’d almost say don’t try this at home, because the difference between doing it right and doing it wrong is subtle but hugely important. Here are a few key things to keep in mind:
✔Distortion should never hurt or make you cough.
✔Imagine lifting something heavy, that way you’ll feel how your false vocal folds close.
✔Play with gargling and sliding your sound into that raspy edge.
✔Remember: many singers use this effect irresponsibly, and end up always sounding the same. That’s not ideal, because you also want the flexibility to sing clean when you need to.
✔With the right guidance, you can use this powerful effect consciously, creatively, and, most importantly, without harming your voice.