Music and Perspectives
The Sirens, a women’s centered a cappella group from Simmons University in Boston, MA, has released a new EP titled “Brookline Ave”! They sit down with Rachael to talk about the process of recording this EP and feature 3 of its songs: High Hopes, Unbreakable Smile, and American Boy.
Listen to the EP at: https://open.spotify.com/album/1HmdZbXtGUZBCUos8GYr6F
Learn more about the group at: https://www.facebook.com/simmonssirens.
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What happens when you start a new group and the pandemic hits only a couple semesters later? Clearly you grow, compete, AND record! Meet Ascension, the newest mixed gender group at East Tennessee State University. Rachael sits down with the group to talk about the release of the group’s first EP, Ascension Level 1.
Listen to the album at: https://open.spotify.com/album/6ZvEPqbLSgMjSGktF1lXHk
Learn more about the group at: https://www.facebook.com/ascensionetsu
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The Pennchants are the University of Pennsylvania’s ass-kicking, name-taking and award-winning all-male a cappella group, and College Ambassadors for MEMBERS ONLY apparel. In partnership with Philabundance, the largest hunger-relief organization in the Delaware Valley, The Pennchants have created an Online Concert-Series, Bedroom Bops. Rachael sat down with the group’s executive board to talk about this unique collaboration and to listen to some tunes.
Check out Bedroom Bops on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzXEFpy05QNUcwYfmBdz1RssZ6PT8ZcoC.
Learn more about Philabundance at https://www.philabundance.org.
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Semi-Toned was formed in 2010 as a five-man barbershop harmony group at a university which doesn’t teach academic music. Today, the group is at the forefront of a cappella in the United Kingdom. The guys released an EP in December called Infrared and sit down with Rachael to discuss it, in addition to talking about where the group is heading in the upcoming months and the ambitious goal they created for themselves last term to create new music weekly!
Check Infrared on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4mu7wY8SKnu3jBbYsKUxex
Purchase Infrared on iTunes: iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/infrared-ep/1539866259
Watch the videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLJdDUcQJbS-nXJFNngNiv7qUSaApTcs&fbclid=IwAR1K9JOr3YJj5o9lZLnLr71S_HWXQlOiWuNw7TrrVObTm-2LeLd1nOGXfa0
Learn more about Semi-Toned at: https://www.facebook.com/semitoned.
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University of Bristol’s award winning all-male a cappella group Academy has just released their DEBUT ALBUM, Exhibit A! Rachael sat down with group members Mark and Felix to talk about all the hard work that went in to pulling this off, especially under lockdown, and delves deeper into the meaning of two of the particular recordings, Bang, Bang, Bang and No Time To Die.
Check out the album on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2uh4j6FVYmQJqllETMOFbj.
Learn more about the group at: https://www.facebook.com/AcademyACappella
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No Comment has become a household name in a cappella after their appearance on the special, Sing It On. Since that time, the group has been competitive in ICCAs and, this year, UpStaged AID! They have made it to the semifinal round, competing with their recording of Fall In Line, originally performed by Christina Aguilera, featuring Demi Lovato. Arrangement of this tune is by Trent Calderone and includes soloists Ramya Jaishankar and Destinee Feliciano.
You can check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4npExkH6ro.
Vote for this group here: https://www.commoninja.com/bracket/eafdb423-d966-4753-9712-efaf41bb513b.
Learn more about No Comment here: https://www.facebook.com/uiucnocomment
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Eight Beat Measure began in 1987 as the RIT Men’s Octet. Originally faculty-lead and formed as an extension to the RIT Singers, they quickly expanded their horizons and branched into the world of contemporary a cappella, changing their name to Eight Beat Measure to reflect the new attitude, and expanding from only eight members. The group now sings hip-hop to rock to Irish folk, so there is something for everyone in their repertoire. The boys continue to raise the heat for their audiences at two annual concerts, and now they’re ready to compete on stages all across the country. That heat is in full force on Hollow, the second to last tune on the second Voices Only 2020 album. We sit down with soloist Jarrell Green to talk about this Matt Goldstein arranged powerhouse!
Listen to the song at https://open.spotify.com/track/3dD8EYlNKLMUaPmwbcGEZp?si=Nf9ZPlAGRAGWfAcL9ONSTQ.
Learn more about the group at https://8beat.org.
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Founded in 2007, Maize Mirchi was brought together by two students who decided it was time to fuse together two cultures with the power of voice, and bring a new genre of performance to the a cappella stage. Since then, their passion for learning music, their love for beautiful sounds, and their connection to South Asian culture has only grown. Those elements are represented in the gorgeous mash up of Winter Bird and Albela Saja, originally performed by Aurora and Ustad Rashid Khan, respectively. We sit down with arranger Prakash Kumar to talk about this beautiful tune, soloed by Olivia Pak and Swathi Sampath.
Listen to the song at https://open.spotify.com/track/2UsPpQgcKivAGWXXEe5OwG?si=GcCHK8emSBmBExrmkh06Gg.
Learn more about the group at http://www.maizemirchiofficial.com.
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Originally founded in 2003, Distilled Harmony has grown from humble beginnings into one of Northeastern’s most recognized a cappella groups. The music they perform, which ranges from mainstream pop to indie rock, is just as varied as the interests and academic backgrounds of each of its members. Yet “ohana” still means family for this fun-loving and ever crowd-pleasing group. And this family created an incredible rendition of Breathe, originally performed by RZLZ, arranged by Johnny DelToro, and soloed by Karizma Kishnani. We sit down with Karizma herself to chat about the tune!
Check out the song at https://open.spotify.com/track/360YnNTpaFaFLvNVqXSdw3?si=AgaFqcqcSqeqFx8hT3hu2Q.
Learn more about the group at https://web.northeastern.edu/distilledharmony.
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Profecy A Cappella is an entirely student-led all male A Cappella group at Rowan University. The group’s mission is to both strengthen the presence of A Cappella within the Rowan community, as well as increase Rowan’s presence within the national A Cappella community. The group is well on their way now that their tune Say Amen (Saturday Night), originally performed by Panic! At the Disco has been selected for both BOCA 2020 AND Voices Only 2020! We sit down with music director Tim Catrino to talk about this Matt Goldstein arranged power hitter, soloed by Zack Spencer.
Check out the tune yourself at https://open.spotify.com/track/3asKuPDVT24fVOrZAL6RzW?si=Ak4cFWRGTQ6peg4DdluWVw.
Learn more about the group at https://www.facebook.com/RowanProfecy.
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