It was early 2023. Anthony Scarmack was working at the Sun Devil Fitness Center on the Downtown Phoenix campus when he noticed an a cappella group practicing on the fourth floor.
This was during the group's competition season, so he would stop by now and again to speak with the members.
"I'd watched it, and I was just completely blown away by them," Scarmack, a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication, said. "I was like, 'I don't want to just sit here. I want to be a part of it.'"
Scarmack auditioned for the same group in the 2023-24 school year and found a spot on the team — the same group that took first place at the 2024 ICCA Southwest Quarterfinal 1 in Arizona — The TEMPEtations.
The TEMPEtations are one of two competing coed a cappella groups at ASU, accompanied by the Devil Clefs. The Devil Clefs, much like the TEMPTEtations, revolves around building a foundation for members to define their college experience and innovate their musical talents. Both groups voiced their perspectives on building a strong community through art.
"For us, this competition is more of a fun experience and something that we truly enjoy doing," Julia McKnight, a junior studying industrial design and a co-president at the TEMPEtations, said. "Whether or not we win or place isn't as important as the experience and the journey that gets us there."
McKnight said that before leaving school for winter break, the TEMPEtations began rehearsals for their ICCA set. Building the set starts with a democratic vote on what songs they want to include. Then, their assistant music director — who McKnight said has experience in figure skating — choreographs the set.
"It was probably one of the most defining experiences of my college career," McKnight said. "I have met so many irreplaceable friends through Temps (TEMPEtations), the experience alone of going through the things that we did. I'm a big theater kid, so that's a very bonding experience to work so hard to put forward something that's artistic and that's a piece of your heart."
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McKnight said her favorite song from their ICCA set was "Joy" by Bastille, where the group strayed from the traditional approach to performing a song.
"We call it vibing, where we just look at each other and dance and feel the emotion of the song," said McKnight.
Like many student organizations, the transition period for the TEMPEtations after having members leave from the previous school year was a learning curve to begin organizing their competition set.
"It was definitely a transitional period," McKnight said. "Bringing in new people is always super interesting, and seeing how everyone integrates with the group not only vocally, but personality-wise."
Scarmack said everyone has a unique aspect that meshes with each individual, and the group builds on different majors and backgrounds to improve its chemistry.
As someone in a leadership position, McKnight said there are moments when difficulties arise when trying to maintain a light atmosphere while preparing for a rigorous competition.
"It's always a struggle to figure out the ways that you want to run rehearsal, what expectations to have, and how to keep things fun and light, but still make sure you're getting enough work done," McKnight said.
Nevertheless, McKnight said that the group has fostered friendships outside of rehearsal. She said they meet in coffee shops and do homework outside rehearsals, building a "close-knit group of friends."
Devil Clefs relies heavily on building a group that sings together and improves their personal experiences together.
"This group is such an integral part of my college experience," Emily Goodwin, a senior studying data science, said. "No matter what, I know that this group is going to lift me up two days a week and that they're always gonna have my back, and I think that's so special just in any a cappella group."
Goodwin said that she was heavily involved in music in high school, being a member of the choir program and the marching band, and needed to find an outlet for herself going into college.
"I loved to sing," Goodwin said. "I listened to a lot of music and enjoyed listening to it intently and hearing the harmonies, and it was like scratching off the bucket list, joining a group where I get to sing to my full capacity."
Katrina Chin, a freshman studying biomedical sciences and a member of Devil Clefs, said that her freshman experience was new and exciting, but being able to find a group inside a large university helped shape her college experience. Competing in the ICCA has been a highlight of that experience.
"One of the coolest things I've ever been a part of," Chin said. "It's cool that our specific region of ICCA is only Arizona schools. I feel like that just shows that the collegiate, a cappella community just in Arizona itself is so rich and so full."
Edited by Katrina Michalak, Walker Smith and Caera Learmonth.
Reach the reporter at gheadle@asu.edu and @George_Headley7 on X.
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