Although the summer has arrived and the majority of Tufts students will take a break from their school commitments, this is not completely the case for the a cappella groups on campus. While the logistical headache of getting people from different ends of the country together to perform on a regular basis prevents most groups from taking on summer gigs, they are all devoting some time to further their group's popularity and repertoire.
To begin with, the Jackson Jills, the Beelzebubs and the Amalgamates will all be performing at various senior week events including the Alumni Dinner, Pops and commencement itself.
After Senior Week concludes, the Amalgamates will be apart but not dormant. They recently recorded the group parts on their new album, but they are leaving the solos for a later date. The solos can be recorded separately and then combined with the group parts to fill out the remainder of the track. The album will be set for release sometime in the fall.
Over the summer some Mates such as production manager Adam Pulver will continue to work on their music. Pulver will practice his own arranging skills and will also organize the group's fall performance schedule.
The Jackson Jills recently finished recording their next album, and will be using the summer months to produce it. The final product is due for release early next fall.
Sophomore Lauren Lerner, a member of the Jills, said that while the women will not be together as a group over the summer, she and the other singers will be "keeping an ear out for new songs."
"We're always looking for cool, fresh new stuff," she said.
According to the Beelzebubs music director, junior Travis Marshall, in the days prior to Senior Week, the group spent the time together "relaxing and getting a headstart on next year's repertoire" at the Beelzebubs Founders Cabin on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. After their performances during Senior Week, they will go their separate ways for the summer.
Still, several members will continue keeping their vocal chords in shape through the summer months, and have joined up temporarily with regional singing groups. Junior Greg Binstock will be performing with Hyannis Sound, a professional a cappella group from Cape Cod, and Marshall will be singing at churches and weddings over the summer.
At the end of the summer the group will meet up before orientation week to prepare music for the O-Show which takes place during orientation.
Shir Appeal, Tufts' only coed Jewish a cappella group, will be releasing its third album this coming fall, right about the time when school begins.
According to the group's president, senior Steve Sobey, its is currently "finishing up the recording phase." After that, they will be mixing songs, finishing in time to begin production in August.
"A lot of hard work has gone into this CD," said Sobey. "It should be our best one yet."
Likewise SQ! is also planning to release a CD in the fall and many members pursue musical interests over the summer. "We're mixing for a CD that's coming out in the fall, probably in October or November," SQ! president, junior Dave Rosen said. "Some of us will spend the summer mixing some of our songs in the studio."
Essence was unavailable for comment.
