Since their emergence in 2011, Pentatonix has become one of most innovative vocal groups of all time and redefined what a cappella is all about.
The three-time Grammy winning vocal quintet, which features Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee, have sold more than 10 million albums and performed everywhere from The White House to The Hollywood Bowl. Last year the group completed their biggest Christmas tour to date by selling more than 200,000 tickets in support of their Greatest Christmas Hits album.
This weekend, the group is bringing its ubiquitous vocal talent and high energy to the Allentown Fair for a performance on Saturday, with special guest and “American Idol” alum David Archuleta. It’s a show that promises both a healthy dose of classic Pentatonix material as well as new songs along with a few surprises.
I recently spoke with vocalist Kirstin Maldonado about Pentatonix’s Allentown Fair show and more in this new interview.
Q. What can Pentatonix fans expect from your Allentown Fair performance?
Kirstin Maldonado: We’re really looking forward to the show. It will be fun and different. Last year we were touring constantly and this year we had a lot had time off to be able to work on new music and we’re also bringing back some oldies and classics. We always try to include the songs everyone wants to hear.
Q. What kind of a song lends itself to getting a Pentatonix spin?
A lot of it is based off inspiration but generally it’s something that sounds like it could be replicated by voices. Sometimes it might just be a song one of us really loves and other times it might be a song we know Matt and Kevin could really kill a groove or a beat vibe on. If the production of a song is very musical, then I think it’s possible to be done. But we always put our own vocal spin on it and never try to completely replicate a sound.
Q. How do you determine who sings which part?
It’s all pretty agreeable. Sometimes we all may hear a certain person for a particular solo, or one of us may want to sing a part and you just go with the flow and passion.
As a group we’re pretty good about saying things like, “Oh, we all want to hear Mitch on this part, or we all think Scott should do this.”
Q. What’s the group writing process for new material?
This year it’s changed a little bit. Previously we’d all go into a session with just us or with some other songwriters. That way you could start out with an instrument or vocal lines. This year we’re building arrangements differently and adding them into a session. This allows us to be able to flesh out the song by bringing in the sounds we want to hear. You think it might be too many cooks in the kitchen, but it’s been really interesting to create and layer things that way.
Q. Are these new songs part of a project you’re working on?
There’s not any specific project right now but we are creating new music and putting it all within this new vibe and style. At the end of the day we may wrap it all in a bow and it becomes a project but regardless, we will be releasing these songs this year.
Q. Was having a career in music something always aspired for?
Oh yeah. I was a musical theater major my junior year of high school and wanted to go to New York and Broadway. I loved it so much and knew it was exactly what I wanted to do. Take a chance and get in the nitty gritty of it all and fight for my passion. I had never been in an a cappella group before but it’s such a great gateway into music.
Q. What was your high school music program like and how important was it?
I feel music in schools is so crucial and important. For me it was a safe place and our choir teacher was incredible. Three of us were under her direction and it inspired our work ethic. She was amazing at being able to lift us up and inspire as well as push us. She was awesome about teaching life lessons and it made you really want to work hard. She recently retired after 41 years and we went back and celebrated her.
Q. How did Pentatonix come together?
Mitch, Scott and I all went to the same high school. We started putting together an arrangement to meet the cast of Glee in a radio competition. We were working on it in one of the side choir rooms and our teacher heard us and encouraged us to perform it at our choir show that year. Someone took a video of us singing and it went viral on YouTube. That’s when we realized we should start doing more.
Q. At the time did you think there was a limit to the success you could have as an a capella group?
I think in the beginning we were very young and naive in the most wonderful way. We knew we were getting noticed and all believed in the music and what we were doing. If a cappella had a ceiling, then we were going to evolve and keep pushing. We’re inspired by what feels good and not putting rules on what a cappella is so it’s more freeing and fun.
Q. Is there a message you’d like fans from the Lehigh Valley to know prior to your performance?
I hope everyone can come out to see us. It’s always fun to do the summer shows and we’re all feeling really inspired and having a great time creating new music that feels good. We also have a new medley of songs from a singer that we’ll be doing. It’s about 8 minutes long and I think people will be really excited. That’s my little surprise!
James Wood is a freelance writer. You can contact him at jimmywood@gmail.com
