Thespotlight

The Tarpeggios (or Tarps) are one of the newest groups on the UNC Chapel Hill campus, but in their relatively young tenure, they've covered a lot of bases - from recording to competing and more. We talk about it all, hear them sing some live tunes, and look to the future.

It's a rare day when our East Coast and our West Coast team members are all together - so when we were in the same room recently, we recorded this special podcast-only episode of #TheSpotlight, to commemorate the 300th show. Take a listen behind the scenes and enjoy some stories and laughs with the group!

While at SoJam in early November 2019, we brought No Southern Accent into the mobile studio to hear them sing, catch up on what's new with them, and talk about their brand-new album, Permanent Address.

The members of Rutgers' Kol Halayla were kind enough to come into New York while we were there in early October 2019, joining us in the mobile studio to sing some songs and share their evolution as well as some of their special concerts and competition work.

While in NYC in early October, guest-host Rachael had a chance to catch up with Aperture, a very new group based in Los Angeles. They talk about all of their preparations for entering into (then successfully competing in) the AcaOpen, as well as preview some fun things on their horizon. They also sing for us!

In only two years (more or less), Reverb has launched itself as a presence in the NYC a cappella scene. We talk about the joys and challenges of the startup phase, from defining the group through managing personnel changes in the early years. They share stories and songs in this episode, recorded in early October 2019.

Concrete is a post-collegiate sextet based in New York City, and while we were in NYC in early October 2019, we sat down with them. They talked about how the group has evolved through size and personnel changes, how they are feeling about their rep and sound these days, and more - and they sang some tunes in our mobile studio.

Gotta Sing! is a quartet borne from a Sweet Adelines chorus in Santa Monica, California, and just in the year they've been together, they've already achieved a lot! We talk about the ramp-up of a new quartet, the relationship between quartets and choruses, and how to get more quartets started. Just hours before they took the Harmony Sweepstakes finals stage, we also heard them sing!

Every time we bring Halfway to Midnight into our mobile studio, we have a good time. This time around, the Bay Area post-collegiate group talks about recording, and what kinds of trade-offs and decisions are involved; we talk about becoming a sub in the group one month before a national Finals competition, and about perfecting the art of slow-but-steady. The group also sings some of their current rep for us!

We had a great discussion with the Westminster Choir College Deaftones when they joined us in the mobile studio - they talked about re-engaging with competition after a rough time, about how they pick tunes, and about why they're excited to bring contemporary a cappella into their music classrooms after they graduate and start teaching. They also sounded great singing for us, too!

In 2019, just before the Baudboys took the stage at the National Harmony Sweepstakes Finals (and placed in the top three!), they came into our mobile studio to talk about everything from their early days to a performance that could have gotten them fired from their day jobs. We discuss their new approach to recording, their experiences at the Sweeps over the years, and much more. Plus, they sounded great on some live tunes!

Furmata joined us in the mobile studio while at the 2019 Annual Northwest A Cappella Festival, and in addition to singing some tunes for us live, they shared their background and how they've been focusing on significant musical improvement in recent years. They discussed the value of an "off year," and what they're looking forward to in the year to come.

Forecast has been together for several years, through some personnel changes, and has emerged as a harmonic force, competing well in both the Barbershop Harmony Society circles and at the Harmony Sweepstakes. Hear about their experiences, and their songs that got them 2nd place in the country!

The Pace University FREQUENCY has only been together as a group for two years, and in that time has advanced to the ICCA semifinals twice, all while figuring out their routines, processes, rituals, and vibe. We talk about it all on this episode - and catch some of their tunes live!

Vocal quartet RESOLVE hasn't been together all that long, but in that time, they've already started building an impressive reputation with their music. On the afternoon of the National Harmony Sweepstakes Finals (which they won!), we talked with them about their journey and how they're developing their sound. Plus, in our mobile studio, they share their buttery, smooth sound on some music!

In late April 2019, we spent time with the Mixtapes of NYU again - it had been a few years, and it was great to catch up again. This time, they talked about how their sound is evolving, and how they're making plans for a new year with very little turnover. Plus, they sing some songs in our mobile studio!

While at the Harmony Sweepstakes finals, we spent time with the gentlemen of Drive, a barbershop quartet that covers all kinds of music. We talk about replacing a member of an existing quartet, the differences between competing in a barbershop contest vs. the Sweeps, and how they're changing they way they record their music. Plus, some tunes!

While at the Annual Northwest A Cappella Festival, we spent an hour with Willamette University's Headband. In our interview, they talked about charting a new course for the group and re-entering the competitive a cappella world. They also sang some tunes in our mobile studio - and revealed which collegiate group is their role model!

Final Melody, a post-collegiate group from the Chicago area, spent time with Rachael late in 2018, talking about their experiences with America's Got Talent, the Harmony Sweepstakes, and growing a group after college. They also share some tunes. (Note that there were some audio issues with the recording of this session; we cleaned them up a bit, but you'll still notice. We apologize!)

Blue Light Special is one of fairly few community/junior college a cappella groups in the US. In this session of #TheSpotlight, we talk with them about developing their reputation across the region, setting up new structures and policies, and growing a group on a community college campus. Plus, they sing some tunes!