Mixing Oli Sykes’ Raw Vocals w/ Dan Lancaster & Bring Me The Horizon

Let’s be real: Bring Me The Horizon’s vocal production is a masterclass in modern rock. Oli Sykes’ voice cuts through a dense wall of sound with raw emotion and power, supported by a rich tapestry of harmonies and layers, often from keyboardist Jordan Fish. It’s polished, yet aggressive and full of character.

Ever wonder how to take those raw vocal tracks and build them into that massive, finished sound? We got a firsthand look at how producer/mixer Dan Lancaster (Enter Shikari, Don Broco, 5 Seconds of Summer) tackles the vocals from a BMTH track, breaking down his killer techniques. Forget a one-size-fits-all vocal chain; this is about intuitive, musical decisions that give every part its own space to shine.

Taming the Lead: Spanking Oli’s Vocal into Place

Before you can even think about stacking harmonies or adding slick effects, the lead vocal needs to stand on its own. Dan’s first move with Oli’s isolated lead vocal track isn’t to reach for an EQ; it’s to control the dynamics.

Get Aggressive with Compression

The first order of business is to give the vocal some serious “spank.” Dan identifies the raw take as being bright and dynamic, so he immediately slams it with some heavy compression. This isn’t just about gentle leveling; it’s an aggressive move to clamp down on the performance, creating a super consistent and upfront sound that can serve as the solid foundation for the entire vocal arrangement. This kind of heavy-handed approach is a cornerstone of modern metal production, ensuring the vocal never gets lost in the chaos.

Add Grit with Saturation

With the dynamics under control, the vocal is still a bit too clean and bright for the track’s vibe. Instead of just trying to tame the top end with EQ, Dan breaks up the brightness by adding a layer of distortion or saturation. This move adds harmonic complexity and a bit of grit, helping the vocal feel more integrated with the heavy instrumental tones. It’s a great reminder that distortion isn’t just for guitars; it can be an incredible textural tool for vocals.

Building the Vocal Wall: Stacking and Layering

Once the lead vocal has a solid footing, it’s time to build out the arrangement with layers. This is where Dan starts bringing in Jordan Fish’s backing vocals and harmonies, but he’s careful to treat each one with individual care.

Targeted EQ for Different Voices and Mics

Dan quickly identifies the distinct sonic signature of Jordan’s vocal layers, noting they were likely recorded on a Shure SM7B. This mic is a studio workhorse for a reason, but it can have a specific harshness or honk in the upper-mid frequencies, especially with a powerful vocalist.

Instead of applying the same EQ settings across all vocals, he zeros in on this issue. He applies surgical EQ cuts specifically to Jordan’s tracks to smooth out that harshness without gutting the vocal’s presence. This targeted approach is crucial. Every vocal layer has its own unique character, and applying smart, corrective EQ is key to making them all blend seamlessly.

Using Simplicity to Your Advantage

A key musical insight Dan offers is that the simplicity of the main vocal melody—with its long, sustained notes—is an invitation to get creative. Because the vocal isn’t rhythmically complex or busy, there’s a ton of space to fill. This makes it a perfect canvas for drenching in thick reverbs and long delays without creating a cluttered, messy mix. If the part was more intricate, this much ambience would be a nightmare. It’s a great example of how arrangement dictates mixing possibilities.

Creating Vibe: Individual Processing and Creative Effects

This is where the mix goes from good to great. Dan moves beyond basic balancing and EQ into creating a unique vibe for specific vocal sections, ensuring the listener stays engaged.

Why You Should Use Insert Reverbs

When it comes to the dreamy, falsetto harmonies, Dan breaks a common “rule.” Instead of setting up a reverb on a send/aux track and feeding multiple vocals to it, he slaps a reverb plugin directly on the harmony track as an insert.

Why? It’s all about control and character. He isn’t trying to put these harmonies in the same “room” as the lead vocal; he’s creating a distinct effect. By using an insert, he can tailor the reverb’s sound and level specifically for that one part, giving it its own unique space and vibe. He explains that just sending everything to one or two reverbs can be boring. This technique allows certain parts to have their own little world, making the overall vocal production far more interesting.

The “Push and Pull” Effects Method

Here’s a simple but killer workflow tip. When dialing in an effect like a reverb or delay, Dan will often push the effect level way up, making it ridiculously loud in the mix. This isn’t the final level, but it allows him to clearly hear exactly what the effect is doing—how long the decay is, what frequencies it emphasizes, and how it interacts with the source. Once he understands its character, he drags the level back down until it sits perfectly, just highlighting the vocal in a subtle, supportive way.

Bring It All Together

Mixing world-class vocals like Bring Me The Horizon’s is a game of bold moves and subtle details. It’s about:

• Aggressive lead vocal compression to create a solid anchor.
• Targeted EQ for each layer to address specific microphone and voice characteristics.
• Creative effects processing, like using inserts for unique character, to build vibe and interest.

These are techniques you can start applying in your DAW right now. But imagine having the full multitracks and watching Dan Lancaster build this entire vocal mix from scratch, explaining every plugin, setting, and decision along the way.

That’s what Nail The Mix is all about. You don’t just learn the theory; you get the real sessions from bands like Bring Me The Horizon and watch the pros who mixed them show you exactly how it’s done. If you’re ready to move beyond presets and truly learn how to mix music, this is how you do it.

See Dan Lancaster mix Bring Me The Horizon from start to finish—get access to his full session and multitracks on Nail The Mix.