Anokha

Rachael covered the All-American Awaaz finals in April 2019 and had a chance to sit down with members from University of Maryland’s Anokha.

Check the group out at https://www.facebook.com/AnokhaUMD/.

Academy

Episode 137 (0:25:59)

Academy

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.

United Kingdom (1) | Album Release (2) | 2020 (26) | Collegiate Groups (63) |

No Comment

Episode 136 (0:17:29)

No Comment

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.

Vote for this group here: https://www.commoninja.com/bracket/eafdb423-d966-4753-9712-efaf41bb513b.

2020 (26) | Collegiate Groups (63) |

Fundamentally Sound

Episode 135 (0:17:50)

Fundamentally Sound

The suspender-clad men of Fundamentally Sound from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have carved out a niche in contemporary a cappella for their lively personalities, genre-bending arrangements, and engaging performances. Rachael talks to president Borna Riazi about the group's tune A Cappella 101, which was selected for Voices Only 2020 and they are using to compete in Upstaged AID.

Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3sQ-0jl3Lw.

Voices Only 2020 (18) | 2020 (26) |

Squad Harmonix and InToneNation

Episode 134 (0:20:32)

Squad Harmonix and InToneNation

Squad Harmonix is the relatively new kids a cappella group, with members ranging in ages from 8 to 15. This group is making their mark, getting lots of attention after making a theme song for Some Good News, hosted by John Krasinski.

In August, they reached out to 2019 ICHSA champs InToneNation from New Manchester High School to ask about working together and the result is an incredibly powerful and relevant rendition of the Cynthia Erivo tune Stand Up, from the movie Harriett. Tune in to hear representatives from both groups talk about this stunning collaboration and how it all came together.

You do not want to miss this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwxiiQB0hZ4.

Middle School Groups (2) | 2020 (26) | High School Groups (27) |

Voices Only 2020 - Eight Beat Measure

Episode 133 (0:05:55)

Voices Only Part 2

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.

Voices Only 2020 (18) | 2020 (26) | Collegiate Groups (63) |