Tunesday: Backtrack At YouTube Space in NYC

Tunesday: Backtrack At YouTube Space in NYC

YouTube A Cappella group Backtrack talks about shooting a video at YouTube space in NYC.

Apr 18, 2017 by Evan Feist
Tunesday: Backtrack At YouTube Space in NYC
Since 2013, Backtrack has been defining itself as a powerhouse a cappella group. Originally formed to produce YouTube videos, the group has gained over 7.6 million views and 88,000 subscribers. Last year, the group won the 2016 YouTube Next Up competition and was described by Business Insider as one of the "34 up-and-coming YouTube stars you should be watching right now."


When asked about the experience of making this video, Bass and Arranger Andrew Kim said:

This was the first time we ever did choreography in one of our videos. It's definitely one of the more dramatic videos we've done. Hence, Jordan staring Melissa down at the beginning.

We got to film it at YouTube Space and got to use all their fancy equipment, which was really cool! They have a space and stage set up specifically for music video shoots called 'The Stage,' and we wanted to take advantage of that.

Since the new year, we've been releasing two full music videos a month: on the second and fourth Sundays. That's what we're doing going forward and plan to stick to that regular schedule. It's tiring, but it's pretty cool.

Musically, we're looking at more 'out there' stuff and taking song suggestions, really listening to what the YouTubers want. Turns out that when you release the videos that they ask for, the views come. We have some non-Top 40 pop stuff coming out, including a Mary Poppins medley that we bought costumes for. It's definitely the most expensive shoot we've ever attempted.

For this video, we tried to do it all in one shot. We ended up cutting between different takes. We went through all of the choreography each time to make sure that the continuity was there and made sense. For us, this was a new way to shoot a music video. Much different than the square 'Brady Bunch' videos that we're used to doing.
Expanding from their YouTube origins, Backtrack has taken the stage at venues across the nation, including universities, concert halls, festivals, high schools, and private functions. Notable venues include Apollo Theater, Louisville Palace, and One World Observatory. Audiences praise Backtrack on their unique, high-energy and interactive performances and applaud the strong musicality and skill of each of the members and the ensemble as a whole.

In addition to performing, Backtrack is passionate about inspiring and educating the youth of America about a cappella and the Performing Arts. Backtrack demonstrates this passion by adjudicating a cappella competitions, such as the Wyvern International A Cappella Festival, showcasing at a cappella festivals, such as the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) and SingStrong NY, and providing workshops to students across the nation.

What do you want to hear Backtrack perform next?

Let us know in the comments below!

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