Spring Break
Quintessential bliss
A cappella group releases sixth album, plays first concert of semester
Allison Proite
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Scene
From Justin Timberlake to Marvin Gaye to Michael Jackson, UW-Eau Claire a cappella group "Fifth Element" has sung all genres of music for audiences for more than 10 years.
Six Eau Claire students make up the all-male group. Seniors Anthony Meehl, Nels Urtel, Joe Holtan, and juniors Alex Collie and Pete Elkin, and new member, freshman Tim Mattson round out the group.
This Saturday, "Fifth Element" will release their sixth CD, Quintessence. It is their first fully studio recorded album.
"I think the quality of this CD is better than any other 'Fifth Element' CD released," Urtel said.
Quintessence will be on sale for $15 at their concert on Saturday in Schofield Auditorium.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $5.
Meehl agrees with Urtel about the quality.
"It is a higher quality of sound, and is simply a lot cleaner," he said. "By doing it all in a studio, we were also able to add a few extra layers of voices on top of the six voices that we already have in the group."
Quintessence is full of variety, Urtel said.
"Old songs, new songs, up-tempo songs - this CD honestly has something for just about everyone," he said.
With the release of their new CD also comes "Fifth Element's" annual fall concert on Saturday.
"This concert is going to be big," Urtel said. "I'm excited because we are doing our first country song, a Keith Urban song."
Meehl thinks this will be a fun concert for the most seasoned of "Fifth Element" fans or those who have never attended.
"There are some really fun tunes that go along with this time of the year and I think the audience will enjoy those," Meehl said. "I think that students and the community should come to the concert because it is simply an awesome experience. It's also a great place to bring a date."
"Fifth Element" performs all types of music, which makes the audience more perceptive, Meehl said.
"They get to hear music they know, but it is in a completely new format with voices that sound like the instruments that they are used to," Meehl said. "Some say that it is just like a vocal rock show."
Six Eau Claire students make up the all-male group. Seniors Anthony Meehl, Nels Urtel, Joe Holtan, and juniors Alex Collie and Pete Elkin, and new member, freshman Tim Mattson round out the group.
This Saturday, "Fifth Element" will release their sixth CD, Quintessence. It is their first fully studio recorded album.
"I think the quality of this CD is better than any other 'Fifth Element' CD released," Urtel said.
Quintessence will be on sale for $15 at their concert on Saturday in Schofield Auditorium.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $5.
Meehl agrees with Urtel about the quality.
"It is a higher quality of sound, and is simply a lot cleaner," he said. "By doing it all in a studio, we were also able to add a few extra layers of voices on top of the six voices that we already have in the group."
Quintessence is full of variety, Urtel said.
"Old songs, new songs, up-tempo songs - this CD honestly has something for just about everyone," he said.
With the release of their new CD also comes "Fifth Element's" annual fall concert on Saturday.
"This concert is going to be big," Urtel said. "I'm excited because we are doing our first country song, a Keith Urban song."
Meehl thinks this will be a fun concert for the most seasoned of "Fifth Element" fans or those who have never attended.
"There are some really fun tunes that go along with this time of the year and I think the audience will enjoy those," Meehl said. "I think that students and the community should come to the concert because it is simply an awesome experience. It's also a great place to bring a date."
"Fifth Element" performs all types of music, which makes the audience more perceptive, Meehl said.
"They get to hear music they know, but it is in a completely new format with voices that sound like the instruments that they are used to," Meehl said. "Some say that it is just like a vocal rock show."
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