Green Envy: Finding magic in those notes
Green Envy is the oldest a cappella group at Tulane University. (Photo by Paula Burch-Celentano)
Singing isn"t just about the notes. It"s about finding the magic.
“Only 30 percent of an a cappella song comes from the notes on the page,” said Ethyn Samuels, co-music director of Green Envy, the oldest a cappella group at Tulane University.
“Only 30 percent of an a cappella song comes from the notes on the page.”—Ethyn Samuels, Green Envy
“Another 30 percent is the song"s emotional direction, 30 percent is the ensemble"s cohesion, and the last 10 percent can only be achieved through those first three factors. It"s that last 10 percent, that magic, Green Envy shoots for with our performances and recordings.”
Green Envy worked to find that last 10 percent with the group"s latest release, a version of the Sam Smith hit, “Stay With Me,” that is available for purchase and stream on iTunes and Spotify.
“One day after practice, the group decided our rendition of "Stay With Me" was polished enough to record, so we headed to the studio in Dixon Annex and laid it down all in one take. The single is the first release off a short, live EP we are planning,” said Samuels, a finance and management double major in the five-year master of accounting program. “With the proceeds from that, we hope to release a full-length album by the end of the school year.”
Green Envy is able to supplement money from song sales, which the group uses for recording and touring, by performing around town at alumni-sponsored events and area businesses.
“Sixty-five percent of our off-campus shows are between dinner and dessert at a function thrown by alumni,” Samuels said, “and 35 percent are at hotels and restaurants when they need musical entertainment.”
The group also performs on the Tulane uptown campus frequently, with appearances planned for Tulane University Homecoming Week, including the Lighting of McAlister celebration at 7 p.m. on Monday (Nov. 10). At an a cappella concert at 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, during Homecoming Reunion and Family Weekend, Green Envy will perform along with two other Tulane a cappella groups, Them and TULA, in McAlister Auditorium.
Benton Oliver is a senior at Tulane University majoring in music, communication and German.
