When it comes to a cappella we know using 100% vocals for a track is quite the art, but for Assemble, collecting hundreds of vocal parts was no challenge. The contemporary mixed voice choir based in the UK have dropped their debut single “Blue Monday.” With a range of singers from different musical and cultural backgrounds, community and inclusivity is at the heart of Assemble's ethos.
The cover of the electronic classic “Blue Monday” still carries that digital tone despite every single thing you hear being only vocals. After the last year, the amount of devastating events that have occurred globally has pushed Assemble to unite more than ever to shine a light of hope. The lead vocalist Barbara Pursey shares, “The single is not so much a protest narrative but a recognition of self and others and how we can come together through working together to see and appreciate our differences and similarities with a big dance at the end… HOPE."
Impressively, the hundreds of vocal recordings were created during the peak of lockdown, through Zoom, home recordings and later using The Park Studios, the track came together in a stunning electro harmony of energy. The beatboxing from SK Shlomo along with vocalised pulsing synths, huge bass sounds and metallic melodies came as no challenge to recreate. Founder and arranger Juliet Russell spilled, “I could just hear the track vocally – the undulating synths, the pads, the low choir sustained notes, the nod to disco.”
This high vibe, uplifting track oozes electro, disco and all things fun. If you're looking for something different or just a sense of community, hope and joy, then this is the track for you.
