TheSpotlight

Musaic, an all-male post-collegiate group, retains an independent director (who happens to be female) to manage and coach them – so we dive into that a bit and how it works, and talk about their choral-influenced sound. The group sings some live tunes for us as well. Recorded in 2015.

We were happy to invite the Generics into the mobile studio to discuss the evolving a cappella scene at UMD, and why they chose to join this group in particular. We also discuss their current sound and repertoire, and where the group is planning to go from here. While together, they sang some of their music as well. Recorded in 2015.

While in the Bay Area, we were pleased to be joined by Midnight Jazz from Milpitas High School. Members of this brand-new group are drawn from other ensembles in the school, so we talk about the comparisons and contrasts between that rep vs. contemporary a cappella (and jazz). We also hear how they’re sounding after being together only three months! Recorded in 2015.

It was the very first sit-down we ever did for #TheSpotlight (although it didn’t air first): we went to Palo Alto and invited Raagapella into the mobile studio. They sang some tunes for us, and talked about what led them to the group and this repertoire. Recorded in early 2015.

While in the Bay Area, we invited Everyday People into the mobile studio to talk about how constraints can drive creativity, and how they choose their music within the genre constraints of the group. We talk backstory as well, and look ahead to the group moving forward. While with us, they sang some tunes, too. Recorded in early 2015.

Yes, it’s THOSE Persuasions who are joining us in the mobile studio. The group that was founded in 1962 and discovered by Frank Zappa. More than 20 albums. Cited as influences by many, many big-name groups that have come since. It was a treat and an honor to sit down with them, and a sublime experience to have them sing for us. Recorded in early 2015.

In early 2015, we invited Prime Time into the mobile studio to talk about life in post-collegiate a cappella, and how it differs from experiences before and during college. We discuss how the group chooses its music, and what characteristics make for a good Prime Time song. Plus, we hear some of them, as they sing for us.

It was fascinating to talk with John Neal, who helped make the Harmony Sweepstakes what it is today. We discussed how a cappella has changed over the last 20 years or more, about the connections between the Sing-Off and the Harmony Sweeps, and about the competition itself.

Talk of da Town got started as Reality-In-Motion in the early 1970s, and has been on the scene either under that name or TODT ever since. They’ve performed with just about everybody, so we get some great stories and anecdotes from the guys on this episode – and delight in hearing them sing for us. Recorded in early 2015.

While in the San Francisco area, we were pleased to invite Ro Sham Bo into the mobile studio to talk about their 20+ years of being together (admittedly, with some personnel changes), how they’ve evolved over the years, and how they’re sounding today. They also sing some tunes for us as well. Recorded in early 2015.