Thespotlight

We had fun with Choirfly, talking about how they got started a handful of years ago, landing on their theme, and going and growing in New York City. We hear them sing some of their songs, and have a great time. Recorded in 2016.

The Chromatics are a post-collegiate group that does a ton of original music (and an occasional cover here and there), focusing on life, love, and science and technology - and they've been doing it for over 20 years. One of their largest projects was an a cappella album and school kit called AstroCappella. We talk about it all, hear them sing some of the music, and have a great time. Recorded in 2016.

We brought TBD a cappella into the mobile studio in the Washington, DC area to talk about how they got started as a subset of the broader Alexandria Harmonizers, and all that they've been working on ever since. How do they make their way between more traditional standards and more contemporary a cappella? We talk about it on this episode!

Infrared is one of ... very few a cappella groups at the University of Utah. They discuss the scene on campus, where they fit, and what they've got in store for the months and years to come. While in the mobile studio, they also sing us some songs! Recorded in 2016.

While in the DC area, we invited the Georgetown University Phantoms into the mobile studio to talk about their rich history, their activities and concert opportunities today, and how they fit into an increasingly crowded a cappella community on campus. They also sing some of their current repertoire for us! Recorded in 2016.

One sang with Alias and Sheriff. One produced for Prince, John Mellencamp, and others. One scores for movies and TV. One's a session musician in Hollywood. But on the side, these four guys became Who's Your Daddy! We talked with them about their sideline in a cappella, and hear 'em sing! Recorded in 2016.

We were delighted to welcome VITA Quartet, a women's barbershop group from British Columbia, into the mobile studio, to talk about their in-house arranging process, their rep selection and current sound, and what's ahead for the group. While together, they also sang for us. Recorded in 2016.

As a part of our coverage of the 2016 Bend A Cappella Festival, we were happy to sit down with the members of the UpBeat! Quartet. They started with the story of the group's formation and took us from there - from music to performance to competition. While together, they sang some of their current music as well! Recorded in 2016.

ReSound NW is an organization offering singing classes, lessons, and workshops to people of all ages and ability levels. They also set up groups - some on an ad hoc basis, some more permanent. Dame Nation is one of those, so we explore it with the members and hear them sing as well. Recorded in 2016.

The House Jacks are a legendary group that has maintained its quality and innovation through years, personnel changes, and the development of contemporary a cappella itself. In 2016, we sat down with the group shortly after founder Deke Sharon left, to talk about where they were headed next. They also sang for us.

We invited Vox Pop, the DC-based group, into the mobile studio to talk about their first decade-plus of the group, as well as where they are now and their current sound. We talk about balancing non-aca life with the group, and hear them sing for us! Recorded in 2016.

The members of SeaNote have been together as a group for a little bit, but it hasn't always been smooth sailing - with members moving away (but staying in the group), it can add challenge to logistics. We talk about how that goes, and how they keep a cohesive bond together and keep their sound grooving and growing. They also sing some of their current tunes for us! Recorded in 2016.

The guys of Ac Rock have been together (perhaps with some minor personnel changes over the years) for over 20 years. We talk about how they keep it fresh, how their rep and experiences in the group have evolved over that time, and hear them sing some of their current music. Recorded in 2016.

While in the Washington, DC area, we sat down with The Sirens, an all-female-identified group from GWU, to talk about recording, performing, competing, and all the things. they also sang for us as well! Recorded in 2016.

In one of our more unusual episodes, we bring a Russian choir into the mobile studio - although they're based in Chicago. Their repertoire and musical traditions are Russian, and we talk about how that developed, and about performing and touring. They also sing some of their current music for us. Recorded in 2016.

While at the 2016 Bend A Cappella Festival, we sit down with the Sirens of Swank from Whitman to talk about their current sound and vibe, how they recruit and audition, and where they see the group progressing from here. They also sing some of their current music for us. Recorded in 2016.

Frequency brings together several talented and well-known figures in a cappella to form a supergroup of sorts - we talk with the members about their experiences in, and before, Frequency, as well as what they're working on together as a group. While together in the mobile studio, they also sing some songs for us. Recorded in 2015.

InVox is based in the Chicago area, a region increasingly rich with contemporary a cappella. We talk about that environment as a backdrop for the group, as well as how they've evolved over the last decade or so. We check in on what kinds of music are drawing them in these days, and hear them sing it! Recorded in 2016.

ShireiNU hasn't quite been around a decade, but has already been building a strong reputation in the Jewish a cappella world. We talked with them about their competition plans, about competing in genre-focused events like Kool HaOlam versus more general ones, and hear their current sound. Recorded in 2016.

Trailblazers on the U/Chicago campus, the Unaccompanied Women don't spend much time on competition, focusing more on gigs and sometimes, on recording. We sit down with them to talk about their history and about how they determine what to focus on each term and each year. We also hear some of their current music! Recorded in 2016.