How to Create Deep, Atmospheric Vocals Like Billie Eilish, Björk, and Grimes
When it comes to artists like Billie Eilish, Björk, and Grimes, one of the signature features in their music is the atmospheric, moody quality of their vocals. But what’s the secret behind this sound? The producers behind these artists often use a simple yet powerful vocal trick to add depth and texture to their recordings — and the best part? You don’t need the singer to rerecord anything. In this blog post, I'll walk you through how to achieve this deep, layered vocal effect using just a few plugins and some creative processing.
The Basics: Why Standard Delay Isn’t Enough
We’re all familiar with the classic delay effect. You know the sound: the vocal seems to echo or "fall back" in the mix, creating a clean, rhythmic delay. And while that can be perfect for some tracks, what if you want something with more texture, mood, and depth?
That’s where we can get creative. What I’ll show you today is how to take a basic delay and turn it into something that feels darker, more atmospheric, and unique — a sound that can transform the feel of your entire track.
Step 1: Creating an Auxiliary Send for Your Delay
First, we want to set up an auxiliary (aux) send from your lead vocal track. This allows us to process the delay separately from the main vocal, giving us more control over the effect without touching the dry vocal itself. Send your lead vocal to Bus One. Move the delay plugin (in this case, Echo Boy) from the vocal track directly onto this aux channel.
Important: Set the mix to 100% wet. This aux channel is all about the effect — no dry signal. For this example, I’m using a slapback delay set to an eighth note. You can experiment with the timing based on the vibe you’re going for, but this gives a quick, subtle echo that doesn't overwhelm the vocal. Start blending in the send amount so you can hear it interact with the lead vocal.
Step 2: Adding Depth with Formant Shifting
Now comes the fun part. To get that signature moody atmosphere, we’ll add a formant shift to the delayed signal. For this, I’m using the Little AlterBoy plugin by Soundtoys. It allows us to shift the formant of the vocal, which gives it a darker, more vibey sound. In this case, I’m bringing the formant down by minus two.
This adds that brooding quality without making the vocal too deep or unrecognizable. Solo the aux channel so you can hear the effect on its own. You'll notice how this subtle shift instantly creates an atmospheric layer underneath the main vocal.
Step 3: Blending the Effect with the Lead Vocal
Once you’re happy with how the effect sounds in isolation, it’s time to blend it back into the mix. Start by adjusting the send level until the delay complements the lead vocal without overpowering it. The key here is subtlety. You want it to sound like a natural, slightly delayed double track — not an obvious echo.
Conclusion
Creating moody, textured vocals doesn’t have to be difficult or require multiple takes. By using creative effects like delay and formant shifting, you can add a new dimension to your vocal tracks — perfect for creating those rich, atmospheric vibes heard in the music of artists like Billie Eilish, Björk, and Grimes. Give this technique a try in your next production, and let me know how it works for you! If you have any questions or want to explore more advanced techniques, drop a comment below or stay tuned for the next post on sidechain compression. Happy producing!
Download the Full Project
To help you recreate this effect, I’ve included a downloadable project file along with links to the plugins used. You’ll find that this trick is easily adaptable for many different genres!
