A Costa date with Semi-Toned, EX4’s heartthrob A cappella group

Meet Semi-Toned, the reigning champions of UK A Cappella. 14 of the best and sexiest singers on campus form Exeter’s best all male A cappella group and they’re taking the scene by storm. Fresh out the ICCA Semi-Finals (the competition Pitch Perfect was based on) and about to drop their newest EP, I invited some of the lads to coffee to to find out more about the well-groomed burgundy-clad phenomenon.

Firstly, Eddie, since you’ve been there since the birth of Semi-Toned, what’s been your proudest moment?

Eddie: It definitely has to be this year winning the Exeter quarterfinals of the ICCA, it felt amazing having worked so hard. Winning the Voice Festival last year as well was great.

How does the UK acapella scene compare with the US?

Charlie: It’s definitely getting big, the US scene has been around for much longer so there’s more attention, but with things like Pitch Perfect and Glee there’s been a rise in interest.

What’s your criteria for picking new members?

Eddie: First and foremost the unique thing about us is that we are genuinely really good friends and you have to be because you spend so much time with each other, so we look for people that fit in with us socially. It’s the fact we’re so close that helps us tolerate each other. Having excellent voices helps too.

Tommy: While we do try and be thorough it’s a bit of a stab in the dark and we have been really lucky so far. There’s no room not to get on well with each other.

#SquadGoalz

Tell us a bit about your upcoming tour?

Tommy: Well, whereas last year it was more about getting to know the US acapella scene, this time we’re doing proper gigs in big theatres from Miami up to New York. It’ll be a chance to show the Americans what the UK acapella scene has to offer.

Do you guys have special outfits you wear for shows?

Henry: The jackets are the renowned staple item.

Charlie: They’re a deep burgundy by the way, not purple.

Eddie: Exepose said they were purple, it made us really upset. Since the group’s start we’ve always done shirts and braces, the jackets are a new thing and they’re much more practical for performing. We wanted something sharper, slicker. We’re very happy with them.

 Have you got any big shows coming up?

Eddie: Yes, we have our first ever show on home turf at the Barnfield Theatre on the 18^th March. It’s gonna be huge and very similar to the show we do at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Some slick new moves, too.

Tommy: And that night we’ll also be releasing our brand new EP, Sing Theory.

 Tell us a bit about your new EP:

Tommy: So last year we released our first professional EP, we’ve had it on Spotify, iTunes, even Tidal. It was received really well so we’re excited to release our next one on the 18^th March at the Barnfield Theatre. It’s gonna feature Rich Man and loads of new tracks, including some Beyonce, Fleetwood Mac, Frank Ocean and Regina Spektor. We have a Kendrick song in the pipeline too

 Do you have big plans for Semi Toned?

Eddie: We try to be entrepreneurial all the time. Last year was a massive year for us because we did our first music video. This year again has been huge, we have a new music video on the cards for next term and the tour in Easter is something we’ve never done before.

Favourite albums of all time?

Eddie: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Charlie: To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar

Henry: Greatest Hits by Queen

Tommy: Dangerous by Michael Jackson

How do you crack down and get rehearsing if you’re such good friends?

Eddie: It’s difficult to be strict when we’re so comfortable around each other, but everyone wants to get it done and make it sound good. Sometimes you do have to be heavy handed but we’ve never had too many problems..One of our new boys Tom Broadbent… he’s fantastic. A really lovely guy, he’s got two personalities: Normal Tom and Swindon Tom. We had a gig in Swindon in Christmas and he kept getting really stressed that we were gonna be late. God bless him, love him, he’s great.

Henry: You do get to see everyone’s different sides and in all their states.

www.semitoned.com