Two-time Grammy Award-winning artist Pentatonix will bring a large-scale a capella show to the heart of Phoenix as the group takes over Comerica Theatre on May 4. The band will be joined by fellow internet sensation Us the Duo.
The 2016 world tour follows the release of Pentatonix’s first fully original album in October. The self-titled LP, which features Jason Derulo, reached gold status in less than four months. On YouTube, the popularity of the album is evident, with nearly 30 million views for hit singles “Sing” and “Can’t Sleep Love” combined.
The tour’s Comerica Theatre stop will be the first time Phoenix fans see Pentatonix performing an abundance of original music live, which will create a closer connection with the band than in past performances.
“We’ve never written an original album, so for people to connect to our own lyrics and have our band connect to those same lyrics and hear themselves in the album is going to be an amazing experience,” said Kevin Olusola, cellist and beatboxer for Pentatonix.
Pentatonix is famed for many viral videos of a cappella versions of popular songs, and Olusola promised that some of the group’s best covers will be performed onstage. This makes Us The Duo, comprising two artists also famed for Youtube covers, the perfect opener for Pentatonix.
“They’re just great people, first and foremost,” Olusola said. “I think their vibe went really well with our band. It’s really nice, really chill. They’re good singers with good harmonies, because it’s a duo, and single songs that really touch people, which I really love.”
For the upcoming show, Olusola guaranteed that fans will be impressed by the high-tech, detailed video content that will be displayed.
In addition, Olusola emphasized that fan interaction will be maximized at the show. This not only foreshadows the content of the a cappella group’s headlining performance, but it also hints at new offers the band is providing to fans who purchase VIP tickets: a private performance, a meet-and-greet and more.
Enabling this large-scale show is the fact that Pentatonix is rising as a pop group, not solely as an a cappella group. Since launching to fame in 2011 after winning NBC’s a cappella competition, “The Sing-Off,” Pentatonix has become a double-platinum-selling band, thanks to their 2014 album “That’s Christmas To Me.”
Much like the “Pitch Perfect” franchise, Pentatonix has achieved popularity by increasing the accessibility of a cappella. Olusola said fans are drawn to the band’s music because the group does not try to emulate instruments but rather creates their own style.
“We don’t sound like anything else,” Olusola said. “We only sound like us doing our thing. I think our style is very pop music-oriented, which I think really appeals to a lot of people.”
Olusola also noted that social media has impacted the growing interest in Pentatonix and a cappella. The group has especially maximized YouTube as a way to connect to fans internationally. With over 10 million subscribers on the group’s main channel and seven other channels to add onto the follower count, Pentatonix has become a sensational internet presence.
“A cappella groups in the past didn’t really have that opportunity to use it like we have,” Olusola said. “Now that we have this opportunity, we really try to master the game of it and we’ve done pretty well.”
As Pentatonix prepares to stop in Phoenix for a high-energy night, Olusola reflects on the difference five years has made.
“It’s been a ridiculous, ridiculous journey,” Olusola said. “I mean, if you told me that we would have won two Grammys, we would have a double-platinum-selling album and we would sell out arenas worldwide … I would have told you that you were crazy.”
Contact the columnist at Emily.Liu@asu.edu
