Acaville Podcast Network Feed

For episode 28, Helen Burns tells listeners how her time as a teacher has influenced her approach and understanding of contemporary a cappella.

When fairly new groups hit the ground running, we like to dive in and figure out why and how they do it. Voicebox from the University of Central Florida certainly fits that bill, as they've been going less than three years - yet are sounding strong and getting lots done. We talk about it all, and hear some of their current music. Recorded in 2017.

The Tarpeggios from the University of North Carolina have done a lot in only a handful of years or so - we revisit their founding, talk about how they've made such progress, and look ahead to see what's on the horizon for the group. While they were in the mobile studio, the group also sang some song for us. Recorded in 2017.

What goes in to creating an effective a cappella logo? Acclaimed graphic designer Kyle Dybdal is here to break it down for us.

In late 2016, we invited the guys of Emory University's No Strings Attached into the mobile studio, to get to know the group better, learn about their backstory, and hear them sing some songs from their current repertoire.

The guys of the North Carolina State University Grains of Time joined us in the mobile studio to sing some songs, tell some stories, and have some laughs. And while they were here, we did all three! Recorded in late 2016.

Our first post-concert breakdown! Christy Wood joins John to discuss her perspective from outside the a cappella sphere on the group Straight No Chaser and their 2016 Portland Christmas Concert.

Every group has times of the year when it's busier than others. But there are some groups - like KnightSong - that are very quiet for much of the year, then go wild for a month or two, then get quiet again. We talk with KnightSong about that routine and how to make it work for all the singers, and hear them sing some songs as well. Recorded in late 2016.

While at a Barbershop Harmony Society convention, we caught up with the guys of the IPA Quartet, and talked about their evolution as a group, their relationship to their chorus in Boise, and about their sound. Hear it all - including some tunes - in this episode, recorded in late 2016.

While in the Atlanta area, we were happy to bring the Ecotones from the University of Georgia into the mobile studio. They talk about being a mission-driven a cappella group, and how that reflects itself in what they do and how they do it. We also hear them sing some songs for us. Recorded in late 2016.

While in the mobile studio, the Virginia Commonwealth University Notochords talked with us about the scene at VCU, about their backstory, and about what they're working on right now. They also sang us some tunes! Recorded in late 2016.

Holiday music occupies a unique space in the contemporary a cappella sphere, so Duncan Tuomi is here to break down the ins and outs of the genre and how groups can properly tackle it.

There are several groups with the name Rip Chord - even several quartets in the barbershop world. We were happy to be sitting with the quartet from Washington State on this episode, as they talked about their growth through personnel changes and more, and sang us some songs. Recorded in 2016.

The University of North Carolina Tar Heel Voices joined us to talk about their origins on the UNC campus, their recent travel on tour, and their thoughts about recording and competition. We also heard them sing us some of their current tunes. Recorded in late 2016.

In a fun switch-up, original Talkappella guest Brandon Vance interviews John about creating his first group, University of Puget Sound's The Timbermen.

We had a great time sitting with the guys of the University of Connecticut's A Completely Different Note! We talked with them about deciding to be in an all-guys group, about festivals like SingStrong vs. competitions like ICCA, and more. They also sang for us in the mobile studio. Recorded in 2016.

It's always impressive when a collegiate group hits their 20th anniversary - and MEMO is doing it in style. They have concerts, videos, recordings - all kinds of projects in the works. We talk about it all, and hear them sing some of their current music for us! Recorded in 2016.

Master cellist Bronwyn Hagerty sits down with John to discuss her venture into contemporary a cappella with Carnegie Mellon University's Counterpoint.

While in the Atlanta area, we invited Georgia Tech's Nothin' But Treble, a treble-voiced group, into the mobile studio to talk about their history as well as how they are making music today. We also heard some of their current music, as they sang for us! Recorded in late 2016.

We invited the University of Virginia Virginia Belles into the mobile studio to talk about their distinctiveness in a crowded UVA a cappella scene, and also about all the things they have in the hopper, including some recording. They sang some of their current music for us as well. Recorded in late 2016.

We were happy for barbershop quartet Square One to join us - while together, we talked about the problems of naming, the development of a quartet's sound, and what's in the future for the guys. Recorded in late 2016.

The James Madison University Low Key has been busy - most recently, releasing their album Meraki. We talk with them about that process, from rep choice to laying down tracks, and about the other things they have going on right now. They also were kind enough to sing us some of their tunes! Recorded in late 2016.

John invites his longtime mentor, Jacob Herbert, to discuss the unique culture, dynamics, and experiences that come with singing in a tenor/bass a cappella ensemble.

An a cappella group for the "musically challenged," the University of Virginia No-Tones are perhaps the most fascinating and subversive corner of the a cappella community featured on Talkappella yet.

While in North Carolina, we invited Psalm 100 into our mobile studio to talk about their vibe as a group, their process for selecting music from the wide array of religious tunes out there, and what they're up to these days. The group was also gracious enough to sing some of their current music for us. Recorded in late 2016.