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PENTATONIX, GOING SOLOAND L O V E by joel martens
KIRSTIN If you don’t know who Pentatonix is, then child, you just haven’t been listen-
ing. Named for the pentatonic scale, which is made up of five notes that smartly represent each of the group’s five members: Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kevin Olusola, Avi Kaplan and Kirstin Maldonado. This hard-working, gifted quintet has managed to create and then skillfully ride their own unique acapella wave doing intricately arranged covers, since they first debuted on the reality show, TheSing-Off. Slick vocal harmonies, basslines, riffing, percussion and beatboxing modeled into a seamless pop vibe they tirelessly shared via social media, as they opened their lives and shared their journey, creating a passionate, very loving and intensely loyal fanbase along the way. It was with great sadness this last May that Avi Kaplan’s tearful announce-
ment of his impending departure, left fans wondering what would happen to their beloved group. Though thankfully, several encouraging, exciting things have happened since. First, the four remaining members have assured fans that the group would go on, though it would take some time to restructure and formulate what’s next, which is a process that is still ongoing … The group promised also to continue feeding their fan base by offering up
new music, not as a group per se, but doing so through individual projects. Undertakings that still reflect the rich, gifted musicality that made the group unique and their vocals so irresistibly compelling. It’s just in a different format now. Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying released their fun, wonderfully energetic and musically engaging EP under the borrowed name of their popular YouTube web show, Superfruit, Part One (available now) and Part Two (releasing September 15). If you haven’t nabbedNumber One, get
it...It will leave you aching for the second, for sure. Flying too, from Pentatonix’s fruitful nest and striking out on her own is the
group’s only female member, Kirstin Moldonado. Standing out not simply because of her femininity, but because of her intelligent musicianship and superb vocal prowess. She continues that tradition, shedding the safety of PTX (even if only temporarily) too and rebranding herself simply as Kirstin. In my humble opinion however, that evolution is anything but simple. Decidedly adult, absolutely alluring, her recent solo venture is filled with both emotional and musical maturity. L O V E is all about Kirstin growing up and into her own power, claiming
her emotional experiences, both good and bad and fusing them with powerful music and vocals. It’s like bearing witness to someone as they morph from a girl into their power as a woman and I for one am thrilled to behold the transforma-
tion...As you will be, once you’ve heard her latest cadre of songs. There are many exciting things coming up for Kirstin Maldonado—sorry... I mean Kirstin—and I can’t wait to hear her roar.
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RAGE monthly | SEPTEMBER 2017
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