We’ve all sung in the shower or belted out some Aretha alone in our bedrooms. But the rare and proud who can sing without the support of any kind of instrument are on a nearly untouchable level — enter the world of a cappella.
Today, we bring you one of our own, Mark McCarthy. He’s a sophomore majoring in international studies and Spanish, and the community outreach chair in the group Exit 205.
Along with Exit 205, he’s a USG off-campus senator, co-chair of the Sustainability Committee, programming chair of the DU Environmental Team and a member of the USG Diversity committee.
How did you initially get started with Exit 205?
“Initially, I didn’t actually know that I was good at singing. I loved singing in the shower, but that was the extent of it [laughs]. When I came into college, I adopted the motto of trying anything once. There were other people on my floor freshman year who were going to the Exit auditions, and invited me along. I was nervous, because I had never sung in front of people and I didn’t think I was any good at it, but I went anyways.
“When I got a call-back, I was surprised. During the second round of call-backs, I was sad because I liked everyone in Exit after bonding with them, but I thought there was no way I was going to be called back. Every single moment since then has been incredible and eye-opening for me. I’ve learned to love performing in front of people, and being able to express myself through singing is a completely different perspective. I never saw myself as a singer, always a pianist.”
What’s the best part of being involved in a group like Exit 205?
“It’s mostly the community aspect that it builds, and the friendships that it buidts and the ability to achieve a lot of professional results as well as emotional ones. Also, seeing every person grow as a person and a musician.”
Do you have any advice based on your experience in Exit that you want to give to the DU community?
“Your college experience will be intensely improved if you have a community to lean on. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a music or acapella group, but just be a part of something. Don’t feel forced to join an organization or group of people where you feel pressured to be someone else to make friends. If it’s an on-campus organization, find one that will support you for the person that you are and express your individuality… that’s what Exit has done for me.”
How do you see Exit moving forward in the future?
“I think we just have to keep setting high goals for ourselves and the group to achieve, because last year, we accomplished more than we’ve ever accomplished in any other year, and we improved in so many areas, that the best thing to do would be continuing on that path. Increasing our presence on – campus and off – campus [and] growing our name are also important.”
Who are some of your vocal inspirations or favorite musicians?
“For sure, Beyonce. I think she has the most beautiful voice that has existed on Planet Earth, other than Etta James or Freddy Mercury. I love Sufjan Stevens, some other folk-alternative bands like Andrew Bird and Beirut. I like Spanish and classical music as well, and being in Exit has made me fall in love with Guilty Pop Pleasures like ‘Bang Bang’ by Ariana Grande, Jesse J and Nikki Minaj.”
What’s your upcoming show schedule this quarter?
“We are doing a ton of events for co-programming. Our schedule is still tentative. We will still do a lot of the events we did last year, and as always we will have a culminating fall concert sometime in week nine. You can like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/exit205, or look at our newly designed website by Amanda Kriss at http://www.exit205.com/.”
