As the headlining concert for this season’s VoiceJam A Cappella Festival, The Edge Effect strives to prove that singers do not need autotune and computers to put on a great show for all ages. Their music is as diverse as they are, offering a wide array of styles and showcasing influences that span decades. The group is taking a cappella to the next level, even causing Harry Connick Jr. to say, “Are you trying to put me out of business? That was really, really, really great!”
Ahead of their Friday, April 4 performance, we asked members of The Edge Effect to answer a few questions to get more insight into this talented group.
How did The Edge Effect come to be?
The Edge Effect was born out of a love for vocal music and years of relationships. We all wanted to create something we could be proud of and that we could grow into something special. Sean, John and Troy were founders of the Las Vegas-based group Mosaic. When they decided to leave the desert, they reached out to Danny who was singing with 42Five (now Voiceplay). Danny knew Karl from the Voices of Liberty at EPCOT center and the group was born.
The five of you have spent a lot of time together over your years of performing. If you were to give each member a title, what would it be?
Troy would be the “mad scientist,” Danny would be “Mr. Practical,” Karl would be “payday Karl,” Sean would be “the idea machine” and John would be “Mr. Chill.”
Pick 5 words—that start with the letter ‘E’—that best describe your work.
Energetic, enthusiastic, entertaining, eclectic, engaging.
What is the best advice that you have been given; and what advice would you give to aspiring vocalists in the audience?
Be prepared for the opportunity. There is no such thing as luck. It’s cliche, but luck is when opportunity meets preparedness. Our advice to aspiring vocalists is to put in the time. Practice, practice, practice. Learn your craft. Study your idols and put the time in. The time on stage or in the recording booth should be the culmination of all the time you’ve put in behind the scenes. There is no substitution for time and experience.
Whom do you define as visionary; and why?
We all have different influences, but we can all agree on Stevie Wonder as being probably the biggest musical influence on all of us (followed closely by Prince). His fusion of R&B, funk, soul, pop, gospel and genre bending style allowed him to create a sound all his own that has influenced generations of musicians. He was so ahead of his time with his use of synthesizers, jazz progressions. Harmonic voicing, and overall song structure. You can listen to his albums from 1973-1978 and they still sound fresh today.
What is the most rewarding thing about being a part of The Edge Effect?
Getting to do what we love for a living with friends who have become family.
What are some unique or memorable experiences you’ve had while traveling around the world to share your music?
We have been blessed to see the world through music. We have been to Barcelona, Sicily, Lisbon, Malta, Chile, Alaska, Colombia, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Honduras, Belize and more. That never would have happened without a cappella! We have sung in cathedrals, theaters, caverns, on beaches, in mountains, near glaciers. It’s been an amazing journey and we can’t wait to see where else music will take us.
What message do you hope to send the world via your music?
That we are really all the same. We travel everywhere and the one thing that brings us all together is music. Music is a great unifier, and everyone LOVES harmony!
Tickets to The Edge Effect concert are on sale now for only $10! Tickets are available online at waltonartscenter.org, by visiting the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 am–2 pm or by calling the box office at 479.443.5600 weekdays 10 am-5 pm. To learn more about VoiceJam Festival visit waltonartscenter.org/voicejam.
VoiceJam Festival Schedule
VoiceJam Kickoff Concert – The Edge Effect
Friday, April 4 | 7:30 pm
All tickets are $10
VoiceJam Workshops
Saturday, April 5 | 9 am – 5 pm
VoiceJam Competition
Saturday, April 5 | 7:30 pm
Tickets are $27
One Day Choir
Sunday, April 6 | 10 am – noon
Free! Click here to sign up