Counterpoint with Deke and Dietz

Deke and Dietz are joined by the branding experts behind DCappella as well as Tik Tok superstar, Paige Zilba to talk about all things social media! PLUS: VJ Rosales of the Filharmonic shares his top tips for Instagram! 

Deke and Dietz answer your burning a cappella questions in part two of our listener Q&A session!

Deke and Dietz answer your burning a cappella questions on the first edition of Q&A!

Deke and Dietz sit down with choral legend, Eric Whitacre to share some of the conversation that was too big to fit in our season 2 premiere! Topics include live performance, composition, and how to get the most out of your singers as a conductor!

How many ways can you effect the human voice? The possibilities are endless. Join Deke and Dietz as they talk to Blake Lewis (American Idol) Mel Daneke (Musae/Six Appeal) and Chris Harrison (Arora) about live looping, pedals, studio effects and more! PLUS Bill Hare and Ed Boyer share some behind the scenes on songs they've mixed!

How lowwwww can you go? Deke and Dietz talk to some of the best bass singers in the biz about what it means to hold down the low end. Featuring Barry Carl (Rockapella), Kaedi Dalley (Citizen Queen), and Tim Foust (Home Free)! PLUS, Geoff Castellucci (VoicePlay) talks subharmonic singing and Elliott Robinson talk groove.

On the season two premiere of Counterpoint, Deke and Dietz explore what it means to make music long distance. Evan Sanders and James Rose of Accent discuss how to collaborate with others from all over the world, Eric Whitacre delves into what it means to be creative during a global pandemic, and Women of the World talk to us about what it's like to use cultural differences to create beautiful art. PLUS, we check in with teachers from all over the US to find out their best practices for working w/ students online!

Deke and Dietz sit down to discuss the incredible a cappella legacy of Persuasions founder and lead vocalist, Jerry Lawson. Rest in peace, Jerry! The Persuasions performing "Buffalo Soldier" in 1971 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGlZQQFqmcc

On the final episode of Season One, Mario Jose joins us to talk about making a career in Los Angeles, singing with Pitch Slapped on The Sing-Off and how friendship and hard work landed him gigs singing with Pentatonix, John Legend, Meghan Trainor, and more!   Segments - Tales From the Road with Christopher Diaz of The Exchange, and Sound Tutorial with Selame Scarlett of Traces.   Counterpoint - Should groups use effects live?   Original Song - "Is It Wrong?" Performed by The Funx. Written by Harry Nichols. Used with permission.              

Danielle Withers of Afro Blue joins Deke and Dietz to talk about her path from The Sing-Off to performing with some of the biggest artists in the world, including The Killers, Demi Lovato, and Ariana Grande. Segments: Muted trumpet sound tutorial with Deke, and arranger's corner with Ben Bram on his arrangement of Pentatonix's "Can't Help Falling In Love."  Counterpoint: Should you move to a major city to start an a cappella group? Original Song: "Uncharted Heart" performed by Forte. Written by Sophia Rosado. Used with permission.

A cappella veteran, and Grammy winning producer Bill Hare joins Deke and Dietz to talk about how he got his start recording a cappella, his years of collaboration with The House Jacks, and how messing around in the studio led to recorded a cappella as we know it today. Segments: Sound Tutorial with Jo Vinson of Musae. Counterpoint: Can long-distance groups be successful? Original Song: "Isn't It Good to Be in Love Every Day?" by Bassless. Written by Sašo Vrabič . Used with permission.  

Home Free baritone, and former Streetcorner Symphony bass, Adam Chance joins Deke and Dietz to share his perspective as a former aca-outsider who has gone on to sing with two of the most popular groups of all time! As with most things, it all started in choir... Segments: Arranger's corner with Clare Wheeler of The Swingle Singers, and Tales from the Road with VJ Rosales. Counterpoint: Awards in a cappella. Original Song: "Picturing You" by Streetcorner Symphony (written by Jeremy Lister) Club for Five - "Brothers in Arms" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gerr99h0nS8

This week's guest is the original vocal percussionist for the House Jacks, and live looper extraordinaire, Kid Beyond! Kid joins Deke and Dietz to talk about the process of developing vocal percussion as we know it today, what it was like evolving into a solo act, and what the evolution of modern a cappella has looked like to someone who was there at the beginning! Segments: In honor of ICCA/ICHSA finals - History Minute about the ICCA MTV pilot in 2009, and a word of advice about competition from our friends at Acaville Radio.  Counterpoint - Should groups use outside arrangers? Original Song - I Shall Be Free by Kid Beyond. Used with permission.

Acclaimed dancer and choreographer Kristin Denehy joins Deke and Dietz to discuss her choreography work on The Sing-Off, how to pull off great looking choreo regardless of your group’s skill level, and the trends of movement and dance in current pop music.  Additional segments include: Tales from the Road with Mario Jose, and Sound Tutorial with Kevin Olusola. Counterpoint: The pros and cons of competitive a cappella. Original Song: Something Good by Hannah Tobias. Used with permission.  

VJ Rosales of the Filharmonic joins Deke and Dietz to talk about his experiences on The Sing-Off, backing up stars like Anna Kendrick and Usher for riff-offs with James Corden, and his plan to take over the world with original music. Segments: Arranger’s Corner - Hot Seat Edition, and Inside the Studio with Ellie Brigida of Clear Harmonies (https://www.clearharmonies.com). Counterpoint: Should groups have a faculty director? Original song: I Don't Remember by NoVI. Used with permission.

This week’s guest is videographer Ryan Parma who dishes about how he got his start in the industry, his early work with Pentatonix, and the making of some of his viral videos featuring award-winning groups like Pentatonix, Forte, the Tufts Beelzebubs, and more.  Segments: History Minute with Deke Sharon re: the Icy Hot Scandal, & Tales from the Road featuring Danielle Withers of Traces of Blue. Original song - “Canción del Pajaro by Women of the World (written and arranged by Jacinta Clusellas). Used with permission. The Tufts Beelzebubs - "Believer" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLdL3ijl54k Forte - "Recovery" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRhWkSioYQI

Renowned arranger, director, and activist Lisa Forkish sits down with Deke and Dietz to talk about inclusion in the a cappella community. Lisa draws upon her experiences in Divisi (the group that inspired Pitch Perfect), her annual festival WeSing, and her passion for music to help explore the question: why aren’t there more women in a cappella? Additional segments: Arranger's Corner with Kevin Olusola (Pentatonix  - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen), and Sound Tutorial with Deke Sharon (Vocal flute). Counterpoint: Should groups change their arrangements in the studio? Original Song - "Love Warrior" by Lisa Forkish. Used with permission.

80Fitz joins Deke and Dietz to talk all things beatboxing. He shares his thoughts and criticisms of the beatboxing world, discusses finding success in the era of Internet video, and explores his journey from Andrew Fitzpatrick to the persona of 80Fitz, and what it would mean for his career to retire that persona.  Segments: Inside the Studio with Alex Green of Plaid Productions (http://plaidacappella.com), and Tales from the Road with Musae. Original Song: "Get Pumped" by Stiletta. Written by Haley Clair, Meghan “MC Beats” Costa, Jaymee Frankel, Olivia Harding, Stevi Incremona, and Judy Minkoff. Used with permission. (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/stiletta-ep/1367465001) Jake Moulton's sustained crash tutorial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTydC8vfaSo  

In this week's episode, hosts Deke Sharon and Rob Dietz sit down with two of the current members of The Kinsey Sicks, "America's Favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet." The hilarious and musically-talented Jeff Manabat and Nathan Marken, AKA the current Trixie and Winnie, talk through the group's humble and socially-minded beginnings in 1993, and how the members of the group have remained faithful to their original authenticity and political mindset up to and through the most recent celebration of their 25th anniversary. With heart, sincerity, and pure fun, Jeff and Nathan discuss the importance of finding purpose and intention in song choice, and how the a cappella community can continue to lift up different identities and performances that might not always fit the mold. Additional segments: History Minute featuring Lisa Forkish about the group that inspired the movie Pitch Perfect, and a Sound Tutorial with Kid Beyond. Original song: Jerry's Song by The Kinsey Sicks (used with permission)

In this special edition of Counterpoint, Deke and Dietz take a giant step back to the dawn of a cappella music, answering questions about how the industry got its start, how it’s evolved over the years, why groups look and sound the way they do, and so much more! If you’re a newbie just getting your start in the world of vocal music, or a seasoned oldie looking to brush up on the basics, tune into this episode to get your fix!

In the premiere episode of Counterpoint with Deke and Dietz, hosts Deke Sharon and Rob Dietz sit down with award-winning beatboxer and a cappella superstar Kevin “K.O.” Olusola of Pentatonix. They learn about Kevin’s surprising entry into the a cappella world and how a casual YouTube upload put him on The Sing Off’s radar, launching one of the most exciting careers in vocal music history. The trio also discuss how the music industry as a whole has changed so dramatically over the last decade, ways to succeed as a musician both on and off the stage, and the process of developing Pentatonix’s signature sound. Additional segments: Arranger’s Corner featuring VJ Rosales and his arrangement of “All of Me” (apb John Legend) for his group the Filharmonic and History Minute featuring Deke Sharon explaining his famed takedown of a cult. Original song: Satellite by Arora (used with permission) The NXVIUM RARB thread - http://forums.casa.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4412 ARORA "Bioluminescence" - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bioluminescence/681276257