The Pulse

The Pulse

Keeping your fingers on the pulse of a cappella!

2020

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.

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

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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Fundamentally Sound

The suspender-clad men 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.

Learn more about the group here: http://uwfundamentallysound.com.

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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

Learn more about Squad Harmonix at http://www.squadharmonix.com.

Learn more about InToneNation at https://www.facebook.com/intonenation.nm.

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Voices Only 2020 – Eight Beat Measure

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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Voices Only 2020 – Maize Mirchi

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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Voices Only 2020 – Highline Vocal Jazz

Highline is a vocal jazz quintet comprised of five friendly friends who really like singing. The group was founded in December 2017 and has been creating music videos for original, tight 5-part arrangements ever since. Based in NYC, they perform in the tri-state area and beyond, such as headlining N.E. Voices 2020, opening for DCappella on tour, and setting the stage for Kathie Lee Gifford at the 2019 Nashville Pops Holiday Show. We sit down with the group’s arranger, Jared Graveley, to talk about their rendition of the jazz standard, How High The Moon.

Listen to it at https://open.spotify.com/track/5edHUd37KiVPLm5bTfkU4S?si=xrfGFvk-Q8uVPkOO5JTpKQ.

Learn more about the group at https://www.highlinevocaljazz.com.

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Voices Only 2020 – POSTYR

The Danish vocal group POSTYR gives vocal music a facelift with their five voices, one computer and catchy melodies. The group has become known worldwide for their characteristic and evocative sound, combining four gripping voices with sampled beats and heartfelt songwriting, also making POSTYR’s live performances unprecedented in the international music landscape. We sit down with the group to talk about their hauntingly beautiful original tune, No Home Without You, arranged by Line Grodt and Tine Freese-Ronsfeld and sung by Lucas Tuan Minh Hoang.

Check out the tune at https://open.spotify.com/track/4zfirdmBYkGbCAdU01cPRu?si=W70eC9nWRX2ZSjUSn2MLjg.

Learn more about the group at http://postyrproject.dk.

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Voices Only 2020 – Docacappella

Mark Silverberg, aka Docacappella, takes a page right out of musical satirist Weird Al Yankovich, with IT Guy, an original tune written, arranged, and sung by Silverberg and featuring Chris Harrison from ARORA. We sit down with Mark to talk about this tune’s selection for Voices Only 2020!

Listen to the song at https://open.spotify.com/track/16oG0mzUIE2skG7TxLiidW?si=gnsasUi9QmibNTR5WqWBkQ.

Learn more about Docacappella at https://www.docacappella.com.

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Voices Only 2020 – Business Casual

Vocal band Business Casual combines elements of pop, jazz, and other genres to produce fresh a cappella versions of vintage chart toppers, today’s top 40 hits, and award-winning original songs. Featuring powerful leads, floor thumping bass, and sizzling beats, audiences can’t believe that this group rocks the room using only their voices! Since 2012 the group has performed throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, USA, where they are based, as well as at festivals and competitions at home and abroad. We sit down with the group to talk about their funky rendition of Faith, originally performed by Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande, arranged by Jon Smith, and soloed Roshun Alur.

Listen to it at https://open.spotify.com/track/3C66uGS2x9iCb6F0Ts0Jom?si=vGDwCnrUTtugAej6ZarZOw.

Check out the group at https://www.bcvocals.com.

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