Chinos Vocal Style On Koi No Yokan

[IceX]

Songs like Gauze are absolutely perfect vocally and I'm quite glad he has evolved his vocals over time. If it was all too aggressive the album wouldn't be as dynamic as it is.

[Bifrost]

I dont think you are gonna see that 'melancholy/rage' side of him too much anymore, he has matured and is in a better place now in his life (you can tell) its not as natural to him anymore- I think if it was up to him he wouldnt scream anymore at all, he just does it to appease the long time d'tones fans and occaisionally if a song really calls for it, he even busts out a few scream/singing in crosses

I remember an interview when he talked about record exec's criticizing the way he sings and when he started working with S Lopez, Lopez said he wanted him to really work on pronoucing his vocals clearly... I think that really effected his style

[Jerry_Curls]

I think its a combination of things, Stef keeps going lower and lower on every record and when you change the tuning on the guitar you have to change your playing style a little bit cause the things you used to play before dont sound that good anymore... and Chino cant sing lower cause it will completely change Deftones sound so he has to go up...

Proof:
[Good Quality] Deftones ft. System of a Down -Toxicity (2009 - Benefit Show for Chi Cheng)

I'm not a 100% sure but the songs that Chino sings "naturally" are songs played on C or C#  (minerva, change, riviere) and he has some difficult times singing energetic songs like Leathers (played on A) 'cause he has to sing on a higher note and on top of that he has to sing it kind of loud... but i also noticed that its not too much of a trouble when he sings softly like in Rosemary chorus which is played on A# key.

I think you've hit the nail on the head.

There are some examples on KNY that sound like old Chino. Romantic Dreams comes to my mind. I hear the desperation in his voice that has always attracted me. It sounds like he's on the verge of breaking down. I love it.

I'm getting used to this new style, but you know what...I feel like Chino doesn't think he would've made a great record if he stuck with the same formula. He's older now and I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to keep singing the same way every time. It's like a challenge for him, I think. That's why he's done so many side projects...he's an artist and they need to express that. Sticking to what you always do doesn't get you anywhere.

People will never be happy. They have their expectations of what someone ELSE's work should sound like. Why don't they go out and make their own music? I sure a hell would like to make my own version of metal/shoegaze/electronic/dream/grunge music, but I just don't have it in me. Atleast, not yet.

I remember all the shit people gave S/T for his "lazy" singing style, but I loved it. KNY doesn't sound like that, but I'll live. I get to hear some of that in Rosemary and other songs, but its no biggie. I'll just have to get used to it.

[Vesanic]

The main thing ? Begin to sing with his throat rather than his diaphragme ? So that's why he lost his melancholy vibe ?
How do you know that he sing with his diaphragm or his throat ?
Why this date ?

Nah, his melancholic tone loss is a mix of several things that happened to his voice through the years, I think. I mean, he doesn't sound as deep as he used to on Digital Bath verses, for example.
Because you can hear it, a note from the throat and a note from the diaphragm sound different.
I have no idea, but Chino's SNW-like vocals (struggle, throat singing, lack of stamina and notes length) started around 2004. I've heard quite a few bootlegs from that year.

[UrZ*]

I think its a combination of things, Stef keeps going lower and lower on every record and when you change the tuning on the guitar you have to change your playing style a little bit cause the things you used to play before dont sound that good anymore... and Chino cant sing lower cause it will completely change Deftones sound so he has to go up...

Proof:
[Good Quality] Deftones ft. System of a Down -Toxicity (2009 - Benefit Show for Chi Cheng)

I'm not a 100% sure but the songs that Chino sings "naturally" are songs played on C or C#  (minerva, change, riviere) and he has some difficult times singing energetic songs like Leathers (played on A) 'cause he has to sing on a higher note and on top of that he has to sing it kind of loud... but i also noticed that its not too much of a trouble when he sings softly like in Rosemary chorus which is played on A# key.

I think you've hit the nail on the head.

There are some examples on KNY that sound like old Chino. Romantic Dreams comes to my mind. I hear the desperation in his voice that has always attracted me. It sounds like he's on the verge of breaking down. I love it.

I'm getting used to this new style, but you know what...I feel like Chino doesn't think he would've made a great record if he stuck with the same formula. He's older now and I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to keep singing the same way every time. It's like a challenge for him, I think. That's why he's done so many side projects...he's an artist and they need to express that. Sticking to what you always do doesn't get you anywhere.

People will never be happy. They have their expectations of what someone ELSE's work should sound like. Why don't they go out and make their own music? I sure a hell would like to make my own version of metal/shoegaze/electronic/dream/grunge music, but I just don't have it in me. Atleast, not yet.

I remember all the shit people gave S/T for his "lazy" singing style, but I loved it. KNY doesn't sound like that, but I'll live. I get to hear some of that in Rosemary and other songs, but its no biggie. I'll just have to get used to it.

This.. U guys are spot on. The tunings get lower and lower.. It effects the complete band (listen to bass and snaredrum on SNW or DE).. they sound so floppy and low! Bassguitar too..

As for live performances. And studio vs live is completely different mic'd.. Dynamic vs condensor mic! Chino would benefit from using one of those shure m4a2 or something. But they'd need one hell of a noisegate.

And ofcourse, playing 3-5 nights a week puts a strain on it. So he savors it and doesn't push it too much (long notes, high chest notes etc). When he was younger his chords could take way more beating, but he overdid it and blew out one of his chords in 2001. After that it was much weaker.

Still he has a great voice, and considering all the variety of stuff he does.. he's doing well. But yeah some more technique could help him (diaphragm)

oh and like the notes on poltergeist chorus. He can belt them out live, probably, but i think he's scared his voice will crap out.. i mean if it hurts he can't say i'll take a break for 30 mins (like he can do in the studio)

[Diplo]

Thanks for the answer Vesanic.
Actually the record grows on me, it's seems to be more bold, I like that.

[Inkblades]

The main thing ? Begin to sing with his throat rather than his diaphragme ? So that's why he lost his melancholy vibe ?
How do you know that he sing with his diaphragm or his throat ?
Why this date ?

Nah, his melancholic tone loss is a mix of several things that happened to his voice through the years, I think. I mean, he doesn't sound as deep as he used to on Digital Bath verses, for example.
Because you can hear it, a note from the throat and a note from the diaphragm sound different.
I have no idea, but Chino's SNW-like vocals (struggle, throat singing, lack of stamina and notes length) started around 2004. I've heard quite a few bootlegs from that year.

I think it started a little earlier than that. Compare his vocals on White Pony with his vocals on Deftones.

[Vesanic]

Yeah but that was because of the throat damage he had in 2001. Notes wouldn't come out as clear, but Chino would still give it all from the trunk.

[deftoner664]

I think that " Woaaah ooohh ohhh oh" on Swerve City is really tasty sounding... It is catchy and I don't mind.

[DAFTPUNK87]

I think his vocals change with the music the band creates. Simple as that..
His newer vocal style fits with the music they have created on Diamond Eyes & Koi No Yokan.
And his ATF/WP vocal style is still very much there, especially on "Poltergeist" "Swerve City" "Rosemary" & "Graphic Nature"
You gotta remember he's gotten older.. you're voice changes (obviously) as you get older. He's what? In his mid-late 30s?
In my opinion, even though his vocals have changed over the last few albums, he has still remained very true to himself and his vocal style.

[Diplo]

You know it's just an analysis ? It's not just for kill Chino and say something bad.
Even with this changes I think Chino stays one of the best singer, on KNY also.

[Dath]

His voice has never bothered me on record, I just wish he'd stop recording vocals that he can't even begin to replicate live (976-Evil, Leathers).

[DeftonesNZ]

His voice has never bothered me on record, I just wish he'd stop recording vocals that he can't even begin to replicate live (976-Evil, Leathers).

I don't think he should hold back in the studio just for live performances its kind of an expected thing that the live performance won't be as good as full studio quality

[DAFTPUNK87]

His voice has never bothered me on record, I just wish he'd stop recording vocals that he can't even begin to replicate live (976-Evil, Leathers).

I don't think he should hold back in the studio just for live performances its kind of an expected thing that the live performance won't be as good as full studio quality

lol yeah.. it's sad but true. I may only see them like once per tour.. I'd rather have great solid vocals on a record, than for him to hold his vocals back just so he can replicate them perfectly live.
Plus, somehow Chino pulls it off in his own way and kinda gets away with it with his badassery and overall supreme stage presence.
Although, I would like to see them have a great televised performance.
Seems like majority of their newer tv performances are not the best they could do ya know?

[DeftonesNZ]

His voice has never bothered me on record, I just wish he'd stop recording vocals that he can't even begin to replicate live (976-Evil, Leathers).

I don't think he should hold back in the studio just for live performances its kind of an expected thing that the live performance won't be as good as full studio quality

lol yeah.. it's sad but true. I may only see them like once per tour.. I'd rather have great solid vocals on a record, than for him to hold his vocals back just so he can replicate them perfectly live.
Plus, somehow Chino pulls it off and kinda gets away with it with his badassery and overall supreme stage presence.

haha that's my point why have him be average on the record and live ,yeah seeing them live isn't about the sound quality it's about the energy

[DAFTPUNK87]

His voice has never bothered me on record, I just wish he'd stop recording vocals that he can't even begin to replicate live (976-Evil, Leathers).

I don't think he should hold back in the studio just for live performances its kind of an expected thing that the live performance won't be as good as full studio quality

lol yeah.. it's sad but true. I may only see them like once per tour.. I'd rather have great solid vocals on a record, than for him to hold his vocals back just so he can replicate them perfectly live.
Plus, somehow Chino pulls it off and kinda gets away with it with his badassery and overall supreme stage presence.

haha that's my point why have him be average on the record and live ,yeah seeing them live isn't about the sound quality it's about the energy

BINGO! Nothing beats the energy at their live shows.. I won't forget the feeling I had the first time the lights went down and they all walked on stage, Chino jumping onto his platform and them kicking the set off with Feiticeira. Nothing can beat it for me.

[Dath]

Oh, I'm not trying to say he should hold himself back like that. More that it's worrisome when he struggles consistently with something live, what with his history of damaging his vocal cords.

They don't play 976-Evil live, so that's not relevant to this, I suppose. It's just kind of uncomfortable to hear him straining to do the choruses to Leathers or Passenger (or 976 when they did play it that time), knowing that he had to undergo surgery from working his voice too hard already.

I don't need everything to sound perfect live, things like the ending to Bored or the bridge to Hole in the Earth that he sometimes is off on don't bother me really. Besides, one of the best things about Chino's vocals is how great they can sound on or off key.

But yeah, the records are so consistently amazing, I don't want him to be preoccupied with how well it might sound live.

[DeftonesNZ]

I get what you mean i think he's got a lot smarter at preserving his voice i think stuff like TS and crosses have helped it keeps him in practice without too much screaming and strain ,wouldn't want a repeat of WP days lol

[only pieces remain]

I wish this had more crooning and screams, harsher vocals but I'm not an idiot. I realize its 2012 and chino is almost 40 years old. Hell I'm almost 30 and I don't think I would want to be the same style/type of vocalist for 20+ years. I just love it all. I can listen to KNY 5 times in a row then switch to S/T or ATF and know I enjoy all of his vocals. Yay Chino!

P.S. I am kinds hammered

[DeftonesNZ]

I wonder if he's going to let loose on the palms stuff