The Classical Crossover Five: Veritas

Classical Crossover Vocal Group Veritas otherwise known as the ‘Veritas 5’ brings audiences a unique blend of harmony. With influences from rock, Broadway, and Gospel their harmonies there is something for everyone.  Their latest album is entitled, Simply Veritas.

Natasha Barbieri: You have been described as a “wall of sound.” Can you tell us a little bit about each of your backgrounds and how that creates the Veritas sound?

Veritas: Everyone of us has been trained classically, and we each have different stylings we gravitate toward.  Scott and James both lean into their love of opera and classical music.  Andrew has a bit more of a pop/broadway vibe to his voice.  Jordan grew up listening to rock bands like Queen and Journey, which has influenced much of his singing.  And of course, Jeff has a bit more of a soulful/gospel sound to his voice, but he can easily switch into a classical styling if we need him to.  Somehow, it all works together to produce a powerful “wall of sound.”

Natasha Barbieri: Was this the first time all of you have been in a group or have you tried it before?

Veritas: We’ve all sung in different groups before, mostly in college.  What we didn’t realize is how much preparation that gave us for Veritas.  Learning how to sing in a group, harmonizing, ear training, and learning how to balance interpersonal group dynamics were all invaluable lessons we learned in the groups we sang in before starting Veritas.

Natasha Barbieri: What was your first impression of everyone the first time you sang together?

Veritas: The first time we sang together was pure magic.  We got around a piano with a friend of ours who had arranged a song for us, and it started in prime unison.  The moment we started the first note, you could literally feel how special the sound was.  The blend was unreal!

Natasha Barbieri: Sometimes when singers are so in tune with each other there is a physical buzzing feeling. Is that something you’ve experienced together or in different set-ups of the group? Also given the power of your 5 voices, have you ever tried breaking a glass?

Veritas: Although we’ve never tried breaking a glass (which we absolutely should!), sometimes, the tuning and connection between each other is so tight, we’ll trade glances at each other on stage that say “man…this so good!”  A few years ago, we had the opportunity to sing a sold-out show at Carnegie Hall.  Our tenors (Andrew, Jordan, and Jeff) did a trio of “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables.  Their performance was so tight and so powerful, the audience stood to their feet and gave them a standing ovation that seemed to last for 20 minutes.  It was unbelievable!

Natasha Barbieri: What are some of your favorite touring or pre-concert rituals?

Veritas: Before each concert, we huddle up and pray together.  It’s a really special time to get centered and focussed before we take the stage.  Also, post-show food is the BEST!  Whether it’s pizza, chicken nuggets, or a bowl of cereal, something about post-show food feels like a pat on the back for a job well done.

Natasha Barbieri: How do you decide which music you will perform? Is there a voting system or do you have a musical director?

Veritas: Whether it’s developing a song list for a record or deciding on a setlist for a show, we always work on it together.  Having five guys as a part of a group, there are five different opinions on which songs move us and which don’t.  However, we’ve never let that get in the way of our relationships with each other.  Just like any kind of healthy, working relationship, it’s give and take and a lot of communication.

Natasha Barbieri: Tell us about your latest album: Simply Veritas. What is the inspiration there?

Veritas: Simply Veritas is our very first all A CAPPELLA album.  It’s a collection of songs that are meaningful to us and meaningful to our audience.  Typically, our arrangements are recorded with a full orchestra and rhythm section.  We thought it would fun to strip all that away and concentrate on just the blend of the five voices.  It’s one of our favorite albums we’ve recorded so far!

Natasha Barbieri: How have you all been able to sing over covid? Have you tried zoom practices or mixing separate videos together?

Veritas: What a difficult year it’s been for musicians, right?  COVID has certainly taken us out of our “normal” and forced us to find creative ways to meet, rehearse, and stay engaged with our audience.  When everything first ramped up in March, all our spring and summer show postponed to 2021.  So, we decided to start doing videos to share on our Facebook and Instagram pages.  Thanks to technology, we were able to record each part separately and then put them together.  It actually turned out really well!  Those videos are still available on Instagram @veritasfive and at www.facebook.com/veritasfive.

During the summer, we decided to take a break from the virtual events and videos to focus on our next album.  It’s a cover album of some of the greatest songs of each decade.  We’re VERY excited about it.  In fact, we’ve already booked a 50 city tour in 2021 with that album.  We can’t wait to get out on the road again and perform these songs to live audiences!  Readers can find out more about the tour dates and tickets at www.veritasfive.com.

Stream “Simply Veritas” now on Spotify.