The power of singing together (ft. Tiny Habits)
Summary
Hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding explore the decline of vocal harmonies in pop music, tracing their roots from gospel and the 1960s to the 1980s shift toward solo artists. They discuss the cultural and technological factors, like multitrack recording, that favored individualism over group singing. The episode features an interview with the trio Tiny Habits, who share how their close harmonies resonate with modern audiences and offer a healing, communal experience.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Sonos and Starbucks
Intro: Identifying 60s and 70s harmonies
The decline of group vocal harmonies in pop
Ariana Grande vs. true group singing
Personal experiences with choral singing
History of polyphony and global choral traditions
Gospel roots of American vocal harmony
From The 4 Seasons to the Beach Boys
Michael Jackson and the shift to solo artists
The Age of the Band vs. The Age of the Brand
Modern harmony groups: Tiny Habits
Sponsors: Sonos, Starbucks, and Google Gemini
Tiny Habits: Why they love singing together
Composing and arranging 'Anything He Was'
The mechanics of vocal blending and unison
Tiny Habits origin story at Berklee
Forming a collective vs. solo careers
Creating 'crunchy' harmonies and dissonance
Touring, live performances, and community
Outro and final sponsor reads
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