ATF SINNER (Hate) – 19 år som vokalist

Adam the First Sinner eller ATF Sinner, som han kaller seg for tiden, er en herre jeg lenge har hatt kontakt med og til slutt fikk gleden av å møte for snart et år siden. Han viste seg å være en riktig så hyggelig kar og samtidig viste Hate seg som et knallgodt liveband. Vi har gjort et Hate intervju i forbindelse med slipp av "Morphosis" og nå er turen hans kommet til The Deepthroat Series.

When did you start doing extreme vocals (What year and at what age)?

I was around 17 when I started HATE; it was in 1990. Since then I have been doing extreme vocals which hasn't always been easy! First of all, I had to learn how to combine it with playing guitar. Secondly, I had to find some technique that would help me control my voice and make the best use of it.

What made you start to do extreme vocals?

Necessity. There were nobody else in the band who would do it convincingly enough. At the beginning I was not sure if I'd be fit for that. But after a few rehearsals I understood I was in the right place. Voice can be the most extreme instrument when it comes to expressing your feelings. On the other hand it's the toughest to fully control, so it takes a lot of training to use it in a right way.

Can you describe the technique or the techniques you are using?

First of all, I use diaphragm whilst singing. It gives me better control over the voice and I am never out of breath if I do it properly. Also very important is what posture you take; you should be straight with stiff spine and rather tighten muscles.

Has your technique changed during your career?

Sure, it has improved a lot I believe. In the beginning I had very little idea of how I should do that, so I used my lungs rather than diaphragm and often bend over a microphone which gave bad results.

Have you ever hurt yourself by using a "wrong technique"?

Not really, but I certainly sounded dull (using no intonation at all) and I was sometimes totally tired in the middle of a concert.

Is there something you do on a regular basis to keep your voice in shape? Any routines?

I try to train my stomach muscles quite regularly, especially in periods before intensive touring. I also take some breathing exercises.

Do you think it can be dangerous to do extreme vocals?

It can surely be. Using voice in an extreme way for a long time can lead to serious problems. Teachers can serve as good example. Prolonged throat problems is a very common ailment with them.

What is most important for you – to make cool sounds and interesting rhythms, or to have a clear diction/pronunciation?

A bit of both. I think clear diction is very rare among death metal vocalists. My biggest concern is to make myself understood as much as possible whilst singing. It's of course a very hard task, but I try to make progress with that on each record. Rhythms and overall sound are also very important, but it's much easier to achieve if you have any experience.

Do you think that extreme vocals can be made into a science, like "this is how it works for everyone, to make this sound you have to do this etc"? Or is it more intuitive and individual how to do it?

Well, some basic knowledge can be useful here, but much depends on your intuition and tone of voice that you were given by nature.

Do you have any advice to people who wants to start doing extreme vocals?

Do not strain your voice much before you get to know how to actually use it.

Mention three extreme vocalists whose style you admire, and explain your choice. What specifically do you like about the styles of those three? Also mention three vocalists (not necessarily extreme vocalists) which you have been influence by, and explain in which way you have been influenced by each of them.

David Vincent/Morbid Angel – I think he really stands out when it comes to death metal. His voice had a great tone and his diction is almost perfect. I think his works influenced me quite much, especially MA early albums such as "Altars of Madness" or "Blessed Are the Sick".

V.I.T.R.I.O.L/Anaal Nathrakh – he has a wide range of techniques and sounds including real singing on quite a good level. He's probably the most many-sided vocalist in the extreme metal now.

Diamanda Galas – she's a genius. An absolute legend. Most inspiring and most all-embracing vocalist I've ever heard. Nobody uses a voice in the way she does. Although she's associated with experimental music, modern jazz, blues and classical, I think the sounds she gives off can be determined as one of the most extreme ever when it comes to modern music.

Who do you want to challenge in this series? (Who should be the next extreme vocalist to answer these questions?) Give a brief explanation for your choice.

Definitely Diamanda Galas; I think she beats up every vocalist I have heard. 

 

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