Geoff Castellucci is the bass. He arranges about half the songs, including this one. He also does solo music on his own channel. Layne Stein is the beatboxer, he arranges about half the songs, and he also sings and plays the violin. Eli Jacobson is the rock tenor (the bald guy) and often takes more lead on songs that requires more of his rock timbre. He also programs the lighting in their videos, and if needed creates the backgrounds for greenscreen or LED walls. And he arranges a bit as well. Cesar de la Rosa is their baritenor (the latino guy) and their newest member. J.None is a former member who now sings bass for the Navy. J used to sing baritone for them, and still comes to sing with them from time to time. They do 95% of the job themselves. They arrange, record, mix, produce, costume, build video set, do the lighting, video edit, create album art, everything. All they get help with is mastering the audio, camera work since they can't be behind and in front of the camera at the same time, and makeup if they need advanced makeup. Everything is all them. Super talented and self taught ❤
I will continue to say that Geoff deserved a Grammy for this arrangement. Welcome to this rabbithole! We have carrots! Definitely check out Geoff's solo channel too, he is so amazing.
I really love this arrangement Geoff's drop to the low G and low E at the end of his solo line are bit showboaty for my taste. If he'd just stuck to the original melody in that small portion, I'd say this is a perfect arrangement. 9/10
@@Stan_S_StanmanGeoff doesn't showboat, he just gives us fans what we want. We look forward to his super low drops. The anticipation of when he will drop is part of it. Also I believe that sound you hear while Layne is playing the violin is an inhale sound that Layne often does out of nowhere in several songs. That is kind of his signature.
I haven't had this much fun with a first reaction in a long time! And don't worry about the pauses, by the time reactors get to their work, as a patron, I've watched it dozens of times. They have been one man short since 2020 when their high tenor left after 20 some years. Featured artists are drawn from a pool of friends mostly in Orlando. They frequently double their tracks in studio, the beatboxer may have a dozen or more lines. They did We Don't Talk About Bruno. Disney was so impressed that they were invited to a private show to do it. They had to change the arrangement somewhat to do it live. They can break your heart - Creep or I Can't Make You Love Me They can make you laugh your head off - Drunken Sailor or The Lion Sleeps Tonight They can knock your socks off - Hoist the Colours or Dragonborn Comes/Skyrim Subscribed in anticipation of more Voiceplay. New one coming in about a week
I cannot even tell you how much I enjoyed this. The absolute delight on your face as you listened was a treat! Welcome to the VoicePlay rabbit hole -- it's deep, but it's full of treasure. Subscribed and would love to see more VP on your channel.
When J None left the group to sing for the US Navy, they didn't replace him. They've been featuring guest singers, including J None, presumably until he can return full time. VP does everything from Disney to rock. They are different from Pentatonix, who are different from Home Free. That's what makes each acapella group so good.
A HUGE welcome to the Voiceplay lovers community!! They do all their own arrangements, video, costuming, sets, production, etc-totally independent. The only real outside work is done by Ed Boyer, who does their final sound mixing, just like he does for PTX and Home Free.
VoicePlay #TheatreKIdsOfACapella. Welcome to the rabbit hole. They are very theatrical and do 90% of everything you see and hear they do themselves. They are an independent band. Geoff (Jeff) Castellucci the base has a solo channel where he does Low bass covers with clones of himself singing all the parts. He has an amazing vocal range. In this video L to R we have Geoff Castellucci, bass, J. None, baritone, Eli (Ellie) Jacobson tenor, Cesar De La Rosa, baritone, and Layne Stein, baritone/beatboxes aka VioLayne. J. None was a member who joined the Navy in 2021. Now that he is stationed closer we hope to see more of him.
J.None is featuring, because he left VoicePlay, joined the Navy, and sings with for them. He comes back to do features when he is back in Florida. J.None is actually a bass-baritone naturally and sings bass for the Navy... even though he sings more like a baritenor when with VoicePlay.
From left to right you have: Geoff (Jeff) - Bassiest of basses. 5 octave range. Has his own channel. J.None - Baritone. Former member now in Armed Forces. Guests when he can. Has his own channel. Eli - Rhymes with Jelly. Rock God Tenor. Cesar - Tenor. Newest member. Absolute sweetheart. Layne - Beatboxer/Baritone. Arranges a lot. Prankster. AKA VioLayne AKA Carrot Lord
Welcome to the world of Voiceplay! That bass singer is Geoff Castellucci, and he not only really does hit those notes, he arranged this song. He also has his own channel (not acapella) where he sings all the parts. I recommend checking out Sound of Silence, but you really can't go wrong with anything that catches your eye. Have fun!
Oh gosh! Your fact throughout this. Loved seeing the joy, both in the song and the singers. Because I am primarily a metalhead, it took me a while to get totally into the mode these guys sing. But, the more I heard, the better I liked them and now i am a total fan.
The thing that is unique about voiceplay is they usually have a guest singer which is so fun. The also did a really great job on "Wayward Son"... also featuring J.None
J was still a permanent member at that time. Omar Cardona is technically the featured artist on that one. And that is one of my all-time faves. It was one of the first ones I ever saw and I was blown away that it was done a cappella!
They are incredible!!! That bass you enjoyed so much arranged this piece. He has his own channel as well and you seriously can’t go wrong with anything from VoicePlay or Geoff!! Extremely talented and creative individuals! Oh, and J None was the 2nd soloist ❤
individually they are all top notch and blend so well giving each a chance to shine, pause all you want it's your insight as much as the track that counts, nothing else matters😉
Heya! A bit of information for you. Voiceplay is one of the Big 3 acapella groups in the United States. (Pentatonix, and Home Free being the others). All 3 groups do lots of different genres and material, but their specialty wheelhouses would be Pentatonix tends to be dancy/pop, Home Free R&B/Country and Voiceplay are the "theater kids". Voiceplay tends to do rock/Disney/musicals/video game genres. Much of Voiceplay is done by themselves - Geoff (Bass) and Layne (Beatboxer) often do the arrangements. Layne also owns (Along with a former Voiceplay member) Pattycake Studios, which is used to do most of Yoiceplay backdrops for videos. Eli (pronounced El-lee(rock tenor, center of this video), and Geoff's wife Kathy is often the producer). Voiceplay is technically a 5 piece, but several years ago, another former member, Earl left the band. He was a high tenor, a big guy with muscles, you'll see him in their earlier catalog. J.None was also Voiceplay's Baritone for several years. He left the band to make ends meet during covid. Joined the Navy as a Bass singer. He comes back when he can to collaborate when he can, so he's still on quite a bit. I personally don't mind the 4 piece lineup, because they often substitute top-notch collaborations, many times a female soprano or high tenor, though it varies. Either way, the collaborations enrich their group, which I think adds to Voiceplay's versatility even more. I personally think they are the best acapella band out there, but Home Free and Pentatonix are also top-notch, albeit for different tastes. All 3 groups get along and appreciate each other's talents. Voiceplay is among my Big 3 - the others being Dimash and Nightwish. You can't go wrong with Voiceplay. Each and every video will delight you. And finally Geoff (Bass) has his own channel - he has a five-octave range, going from low bass to high baritone/low tenor - he does terrific stuff, he often harmonizes with himself). Oh! Finally! Although most of the work is done themselves, final mixing does go to the same guy who mixes Pentatonix and/or maybe Home Free, but don't quote me on that. Have fun!
Brain breakage is common when first discovering VoicePlay! I think you're going to love the journey, but with your background, it's going to blow your mind. There's no shortage of amazing material from them (I'd suggest 'favorites', but that list would be too long). J. None was a member of the group, but left to sing with the Navy. He comes back as often as he can to sing with the guys. As you work your way through their catalog, you'll see a few other former members (Earl - buff high tenor, Tony - baritone with gorgeous eyes), and they bring in other singers for collabs frequently. Have fun!
Well what a fun reaction, your face when Geoff hit those lows was a picture! FYI J None was second left, the colored guy! For the drums I think you might need to take a good look at Beatboxers! It’s a great cover and there’s plenty more where that came from! One of my favourites is The Dragon born comes from Skyrim, it’s very theatrical and uses some of the language in the original! A bientôt!
For real. I normally don't watch reactions this long, simply because a lot of reactors don't actually get into the music and it ends up a meandering mess. GINX is very engaging and actually has something to talk about, so I watched the entire thing.
Welcome to the wonderful world of VoicePlay. I have subscribed to be able to see you react to more VoicePlay and Geoff Castellucci videos. My favorite VoicePlay song is Valhalla Calling, but you can't go wrong with anything they have out. Check out: Seven Nation Army; Carry on Wayward Son; In The Air Tonight; Dream On; Hoist The Colors; Drunken Sailor; Creep; The Lion Sleeps Tonight; Hellfire; Whiskey in the Jar. I could go on and on. Geoff Castellucci (the bass) has his own channel, you need to check him out his versions of: Wicked Games; 16 Tons; Far Over the Misty Mountain Cold; I see Fire; Jack's Lament; Ain't No Sunshine; Sounds of Silence to name a few. Enjoy the rabbit hole.
Welcome to the ranks of the Voiceplayers, or Voicelayas, as some say. We are a dedicated group of fans. It was kind of obvious that you fell headfirst down this rabbit hole. I did the same with my first listen. Actually, Layne recreates that drum sound pretty accurately without tweaking. The beatboxers for Pentatonix and Home Free can do it as well. BTW, Layne has not used his violin in many songs, but we call him VioLayne anyway. Subbed.
I certainly don't mind the pauses when the reactor has something to say that's worth listening to. So, as far as I'm concerned you're doing fine. The reactors I don't like are the ones who insist on talking or yelling over the music. Especially with Voiceplay who always have subtle things going on the background that can get lost in the external 'noise'. So, just keep doing what you're doing. I just subscribed.
Geoff is the bass with a 5+ octave range - A0 growl, B0 subharmonics, F1 full chest, B4 mix, Bb5 falsetto (this is Geoff's project - arrangement, staging, camera, video, premix audio), deliberately did the black stage, clothing as this was on Metallica's Black Album) - J None is beside him (used to be VP baritone+ currently serving in the US Navy, recently promoted to the priemier US Navy chorus in Washington DC), Eli (bald tenor in the center, rhymes with jelly, responsible for lighting, CG, green screens, backgrounds), will be added to the projects (did Creep last fall), Cesar (between Eli and Layne - sweet, clear voice - baritone/tenor), Layne (master beatboxer, baritone+, violinist - electric violin) is the other regular project manager although Eli will be put in the rotation shortly. The violin was because of the guitar solo in the original. Geoff and Layne go way back to middle school, had the acapella group at that time 4:2:Five (went from 4 singers to 5) in 1997. Earl was also an original member but left in 2021 for personal reasons. Eli came on in 2010 when the name was changed to VoicePlay. In 2014, they were on the Sing-Off competing against Home Free, and doing 2 tours of Sing-Off. Tony Wakim was the baritone in those days but really wanted to get into productions so he and Layne bought a studio (Pattycake Productions) where a lot of VoicePlay and Geoff's solos are done. Geoff's wife is the production manager for VP and Geoff. They have no contracts, do all the work themselves although the final mix is by Ed Boyer who does all the great acapella groups, and if makeup or prosthetics are required they usually hire in Rick Underwood. This means that their creativity is theirs, not a company. A couple I recommend is In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins) Layne's project, Creep (Radiohead) Eli's project, Hellfire (villain song from Hunchback of Notre Dame) Layne again, Valhalla Calling (Miracle of Sound) Geoff's, I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt) Cesar's choice, We're Good (Dua Lipe) Cesar's audition video, Drunken Sailor, their latest is The Lion Sleeps Tonight and is so much fun. They have over 800 videos to choose from. Chicago heard VoicePlay do this one, and invited them up to NJ last Nov 17-18 and played with them.
Welcome to the Voiceplay rabbit hole. In a way I envy your position of discovering this amazing group. Since you've expressed a bias towards bass vocals, check out Geoff's solo work, you won't be disappointed. His most recent, a cover of Wicked Game, can make one melt.
VP has a huge catalog of music - everything from Disney to Metallica. To see their goofy side (but still beautiful vocals) check out their recent cover of The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Welcome to the VoicePlay Rabbit Hole! These guys are fantastic. They will always find a different spin on a song. They trade off on who will be the lead on a song according to who they feel will be the most appropriate singer for the arrangement. Lately my favorite from them is Hellfire and Geoff is the lead. J joined the navy so he can only come back once jn a while to do songs with them. Eli( pronounced L.E.) is the bald tenor. Layne is the percussion and violin. Cesar is the one with the sweet voice. He can sing baritone and tenor. All the guys have wide ranges but Geoff has the widest. He can sing tenor down to subharmonic bass. I thoroughly enjoyed your reaction and look forward to seeing more VoicePlay and later maybe Geoff solo and J solos on your channel.😊
J None is in the military so he can only pop in as his time allows. But before he joined he was a permanent member and we all hope he gets to be full time again. They fund themselves through Patreon and do the own video, costumes, and audio. They have another person that does the final cut.
No worries about the pauses Gina....that was a wonderful reaction to my favorite A Cappella, love HF and PTX but the "theatre kids" are great. J.None sings for the US Navy and when he has time will appear with the VP gang. Geoff does the majority of the arranging, even does some for other A Cappella groups as well...very talented guy. He has his own channel and a lot of great songs on his own, and very creative as well. Thanks Gina...that was fun. ❤❤
The thing is, with VP when someone agrees to do an arrangement, they have full control and final decision on everything. They prioritize performance over ego. That means the arranger decides on the video, too - they are assumed to have the artistic vision. Having decided on the video - typically they also choose the shots and edit the results. Being listed as arranger means that they had the primary responsibility for EVERYTHING - even when they sought out or accepted help.
This was my first time watching your reaction channel. I just discovered you and now am a subscriber. Thank you young lady your going to enjoy all the rabbit holes this community is going to have you learn.
Welcome to voiceplay! Also, all aboard the geoff castellucci train! Voiceplay is amazing, and geoffs solo stuff is insane especially since you love bass voices..... get ready to be geoffquaked 😂😂💜💜😁
Geoff "was that an E1" Castellucci J. "Soul for days" None Eli "Rock God" Jacobson Cesar "Sassy Cinnamon Roll" De La Rosa VioLayne Stine You've gotten a lot of great info already, I really have to recommend Geoff's solo Sound of Silence. He does some just fascinating soud work in that one.
It is so much fun to watch a reaction for the first time of VoicePlay , it reminds us of our first time hearing their mastery and talents...individually and as a group they are awesome and they create magic , and all of their videos are worthwhile and amazing to watch over and over .
Welcome to the #Voiceplay family!! We love seeing first time reactor's brains explode on this one. VP's Valhalla Calling should be your next one. It also features J. None more prominently. As others have said, J returns to the group when his schedule with the Navy permits. Geoff arranged Nothing Else Matters and Layne arranged Valhalla Calling. Geoff and Layne mostly split the arrangement duties and Eli (pronounced ELLIE, not E-Lie) will jump in with his arrangements from time to time. ELi's recent arrangement of Creep is to die for!! Enjoy the ride. It's going to be fun for you and us!!
@@ginxreacts he has a five octave range. He briefly hit an a zero in their cover of enemy. But he’s done a B0 sustained in Valhalla calling he’s going to fall off the end of the piano one of these days!
VioLayne strikes again! 😂He can play and beatbox at the same time, for the record--they just thought it looked kind of funny, so they played the percussion pre-recorded for the solo section instead. They had also planned a vocal version of the solo, but Geoff asked Layne to try it on his violin (he's classically trained) and they liked that better. Eli, the guy in the middle, comes from a metal background; another video of theirs where he really gets his rock god mojo working is Hoist the Colours. J.None is a former member and frequent collaborator who recently released a solo song, 'Am I Here.' Cesar is featured prominently in their covers of Creep and The Lion Sleeps Tonight, the latter of which you shouldn't miss if you enjoy falsetto. And if bass is your thing, check out their versions of Oogie Boogie's song, Valhalla Calling and Geoff's own solo channel. Liked and subscribed, looking forward to more!
One thing about Geoff Castellucci's (the bass) voice that I really enjoy is that even when he's getting down in his range, you can still understand every word he sings. A lot of bass singers seem to get "muddy" with their words when they get down low, hard to understand, but Geoff never does. Geoff recently released Wicked Games on his solo channel, and he stays down in his low end for about 80-90% of the song, but you can still understand every word he says. I would heartily recommend it! EDIT: As far as the "production crew" goes, you can always look at the description box for any VoicePlay (or Geoff solo) video and they list everyone who worked on the video.
Yes, a capella basically meaning "chapel style" meaning unacompanied. The main difference with VoicePlay is that many of their videos are very theatrical. Also they are independent creators, with no recording company to answer to or please, they are free to try all manner of genres. And they do. And they have a lot of fun along the way. And yeah, Geoff the bass, gets to a lot of people. :) J.None (real name Jesse Nunn) is sitting next to Geoff. He has a wide range and a silky voice. He was a full member of VP until 2021 when he left to sing with the navy music section, and now returns when on leave, to join with his friends again. I think you'd enjoy Geoff's solo channel of low bass covers. :) He has arange of five octaves actually. Eli, who took the lead ,has fronted rock bands . Layne (aka Violayne) calls iwhat he does vocal percussion or beartboxing. To get a taste of what they can do off the cuff, can I suggest a loop thing they did for fun, of the Elvis song Return To Sender. Actually they do pretty much all of it themselves. It's all in the credits below the title.
They do most everything themselves.Arrangments, filming, editing, direction, lighting, sets, props, costumes. The only thing they don't do is mixing. Ed Boyer does that. If they need expert makeup it's Rick Underwood.
Love that you reacted to this group!!! You should definitely check out more of their stuff and also Geoff Castellucci which is the bass-guy. He just released a new cover of wicked game. And has so many other cool low voice stuff but also songs with his higher register. Love you! Love this group! Love this channel! All the love from Sweden!!!🇸🇪❤❤
Geoff Castellucci - VoicePlay’s gateway drug. 😏 He gets you hooked with that bass rumble and then you start falling in love with the rest of the boys. I’ve seen them live. Every time Geoff dropped down, my entire rib cage vibrated. They did Hellfire from Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. It’s the darkest villain song they’ve ever done. VoicePlay covered it and Geoff carried the bulk of it. You may enjoy hearing him show off. 😊. He also has a non-a capella solo channel. Also with the watching are their covers of Areosmith’s Dream On White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army Phil Collins ‘ In The Air Tonight The Tokens’ The Lion Sleeps Tonight Radiohead’s Creep Also Hoist The Covers from The Pirates of the Caribbean and the old folk song Drunken Sailor. They also did a cover of Valhalla Calling - very Geoff heavy. 😊 Back stages Trivia for you: They couldn’t successfully toss in the violin. Layne couldn’t snag it and the bow to save his life. So he threw it and they reversed the video. 😉 Also: you haven’t seen their video production yet. This one is very basic for them. And they are their own production team. They hire a pro for fancy make up effects, sometimes they hire a camera dude or two, and they have someone do the final sound mixing. They do everything else. Lighting, video design, video editing, arranging, costuming, ect.
Oh I absolutely LOVE the violin trivia, that is badass, I love that type of thing!! Thank you for such an awesome/informative and thoughtful comment! So excited to have been introduced to this rabbit hole!
Like the other big a cappella groups, VoicePlay uses Ed Boyer for their final mix engineer. Just from the fact that Pentatonix, Home Free and VoucePlay all trust him to do their final mix for them, I'd have to say he is the premiere a cappella mix engineer in the country currently.
They used to tour, but since Covid they mostly produce RUclips videos. They did do a couple of concerts in Atlantic City last November with Chicago. It will be streaming and out on DVD sometime by spring. Just look for Chicago And Friends! In the meantime, they have a large catalog on RUclips and you can’t go wrong with anything they put out. Their Hoist the Colours is known for breaking reactors, or you could try something light like We Don’t Talk About Bruno. (Disney liked that one so well the had Voiceplay sing it live for a special gathering at Disney). They do pretty much everything themselves (see their info on each video) except for the final vocal edits which are done by Ed Boyer.
Great first reaction to one of the top three a cappella groups out there today. Voice Play is considered the "theater kids". I'm sure there are people that know much more than I do about this group. Apparently, JNone was part of the group until he joined the US Navy band for a 6-year enlistment. They say that he joins the group at times while on leave. Cesar de la Rosa replaced him and is now part of the group permanently. The two original singers are Geoff (the bass) and vio-Layne (the beat-boxer percussionist). Eli (pronounced Elly), the bald gentleman in the middle is normally their high tenor. But, Eli, Cesar & JNone can all hit those high notes. Geoff, has a range of about five octaves; which he displays often on his solo channel. Those harmonies are exceptional. Both groups cover a wide range of genres; games, Disney, 80s music, etc. You'll enjoy much of what they do. Good luck with this rabbit hole. FYI: I only watch reactions from others on this platform of this group and Geoff's solo channel. That's how good I think they are.
As many others have commented. Welcome to the a capella group with the widest genre range. They are basically the production team as they are independent. Insanely talented - so worth going down this rabbit hole. 🌹🕊
Absolutely loved your reaction, and the fact that you have extensive training makes it even better. I have no musical training so learn a lot from reactors like you. As far as pauses go, do not worry. As long as you’re making contributions and you rewind a bit you’re adding value. VoicePlay produced their first album in 1997 under a different name. Since about 2010 when they rebranded as VoicePlay they had been a five member group. Original members were the bass singer, the current beat boxer (he had been the baritone) and Earl, their laser high tenor who is no longer with them. At that time (2010) they brought in Tony Wakim as baritone who was with them from 2010 to about 2017. Around that time they also were lucky enough to get Eli Jacobsen (the bald rock God). When Tony left to cofound PattyCake Productions with Layne, J joined the group. He remained with them until 2021 when he was recruited by the Navy to sing with them. (He was recently transferred to the East Coast and appears with them whenever he can get leave and it works out for the song.) In 2020, Earl left the group after 23 years. The following year J left for the Navy which left them two permanent members short. That’s when Cesar de la Rosa, the breathy bari-tenor came in. They are still one permanent member short and fill in that slot with a variety of guest artists, many of whom come back for multiple appearances. About three years ago they started putting in more extensive notes in the description. They now list everyone involved in the production and will often add additional notes. When Covid hit, they stopped touring and have not resumed the touring schedule. Recently they were asked by the iconic rock band Chicago to appear with them in concert and in a few months that should be coming out on video. As a patron I was able to see some of that footage of them appearing live. There are some older recordings of them appearing live, some TikToks where they will record without any production, and earlier they used to do what they called ACA Top 10’s which were very short medleys of 10 themed songs and those were produced live
VoicePlay brings so much extra to every performance. They're completely independent and do everything from arrangement, production, lighting, costuming, sets on their own. Final mixing is usually sent to Ed Boyer who is a master at this.
Since you enjoy bass singers you should really check out Geoff Castellucci's solo channel. VoicePlay has a wide range of genres they've covered to choose from and you really can't go wrong with whatever you choose.
You are my new favourite reactor, such a joy to see you combining such obvious listening pleasure with deep insights into what the group are doing. I love the authenticity of your reaction.
This was a great first reaction! There is nothing we Voiceplayers like more than watching someone react to Voiceplay for the first time and yours were great. I appreciated that when you stopped you went back a fair amount so you didn't miss anything. They pack so much into their videos it is easy to miss stuff. They cover such a wide breadth of musical genre's it is impossible to pin them down, and realistically, why would we want to? For their Disney side I highly recommend their cover of We Don't Talk About Bruno, Hellfire, and Moana medley. They have all worked at Disney or Universal at one time or another so you can feel the love. Their cover of Tennessee Whisky is my favorite of all time. Their Hoist the Colors is everything you want from a song from a Pirates of the Caribean movie. For Geoff's solo work I love his cover of Jack's Lament from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Aint No Sunshine, or his Dwarf Duology: Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold and I See Fire. He does all his own arranging, video, editing, costuming, and production with his wife Kathy. Eli assists with the lighting on many of his videos. Can't wait to see more.
I’m so glad I found your channel. I’ve been following Voiceplay for several years now, but it was fun to hear your reaction from a production perspective. And your reactions were great, too. It’s fun watching someone else discover something you already love. :) You’ve got a new subscriber, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
I'm back. You were talking about hearing them live. Sadly, that is unlikely. They rebranded as Voiceplay in 2012 and began producing videos primarily for advertising for their tours. They toured extensively until Covid shut the world down. They could no longer tour so they ramped up their video production. They are now supported almost exclusively through Patreon. Geoff, Layne, and Eli (as of November last year) are dads. They love the life they are leading. In the past three years they've done a few private corporate gigs. The only public show they've done was also in November when they performed with Chicago in the Chicago and Friends performances. I understand that it was this number that got them the invitation. Geoff, however, says it was because they couldn't afford Pentatonix. The concerts will be streamed at some later date.
Voiceplay is not only amazing to follow because of their incredible vocal talent and arrangement skills, but also for their complete independence over artistic control. Pentatonix are the kings of Christmas albums and acapella pop. Voiceplay are the kings of Halloween, video games, and Broadway/Disney covers. Homefree generally rule acapella country, duwop rock n roll, and R&B.
I think of Geoff’s subharmonics as dragon purrs. SO rumbly. Layne is a beatboxing BEAST, and then we also get VioLayne. He’s now played violin in three of their songs-may not be “true” acapella but we do not care. Also, their mixer, Ed Boyer, is like the fifth member of the group. He contributes SO much to the sound. I’m sure someone else said this but J.None was a fulltime member of the group until he was recruited to sing for the Navy. When he finishes with them we all hope he’ll come back fulltime because he adds a lot to the group. I’m glad you like Voiceplay! Looking forward to more reactions! ETA: Pro tip with reacting to these guys-always wait until you see the Patreons rolling-sometimes there are add-ons at the end that are worth hearing.
Oh! And I'll recommend you try their "Seven Nation Army". Bass does the bass line and it. is. amazing. Also it shows you a little of their theatrical side with a post-apoc spin on the costumes and scenery.
What a joy to watch you react to VP for the first time and this particular video. Yeah, VioLayne sneaks in from time to time and it's definitely a treat.
As for production, they do it all themselves. Layne Stein (vocal percusion, Violayne) is part owner, with a former VoicePlay member, of the studio where they shoot. FYI, Geoff can sing in 5 octaves. Go to his solo channel and just pick one at random.
Welcome to VoicePlay! I could tell how much you enjoyed this, and it's fun to hear your professional side of things. Looking forward to more from you reacting to VP and Geoff.
It's always so much fun to watch somebody react to Voiceplay for the first time... but I guess you know that because you said at the start of your video that you got hooked on reaction videos and decided to do some of your own. That experience of watching somebody find so much joy, the same joy you felt when you first watched it, whatever it was, is just infectious. You were impressed with Geoff's bass notes? Wait until you experience his full range. :-) Thanks for posting this. I thoroughly enjoyed your joy. ~Dan
Geoff and Layne have some live stuff on their tick tocks where you can hear what they sounds like without the added effects. It's funny you mentioned boy bands. They actually have an older video called Boy Bands in 5 Minutes. And if you like the base, you should definitely check out some of his solo work. They are all crazy talented welcome to the theater kids of Acapella
Keep on pausing, keep on emoting, keep on telling us about the audio engineering side of things! There are a lot of excellent modern acapella groups out there, but the big three are Pentatonix, Home Free, and VoicePlay - probably in that order in terms of fanbase size. I consider myself a fan of VP & HF (nothing against PTX, I just don't often find myself drawn to their songs). In terms of next steps with VP, if you see something that intrigues you, just go for it! (With one exception: save _Daddy_ _Sang_ _Bass_ until you know them a bit better.) If you have no idea, and given your fondness for the bass, maybe try _Valhalla_ _Calling_ or _Oogie_ _Boogie's_ _Song._ Enjoy!
Pausing because you enjoy or want to hear again or heard something that resonates that should always be applauded. Those of us with an interest have seen the original but we want to see what you hear. VP mix genres so well. They have full reign over anything they do. Their cover of hall of the mountain king had everything from opera to swing to dub step. It is a deep hole you are getting into but it’s a fun one.
This was such a joy to watch. It's incredible to see someone's first exposure to VoicePlay and with a song they love as much as you obviously love this one. And then the cover is this one where you're introduced to the extraterrestrial life form also known as Violayne. You can hardly go wrong with them, but personal favorites are Hoist the Colors, Seven Nation Army, Dragonborn Comes (especially if you're a Skyrim fan), I can't make you love me. Can't wait for the next one, especially if you could give us more tidbits from a technical point of view. There are a lot of vocal analyses of their covers, but yours is a unique perspective 😁
They did a Fantastic job with this song. With a song LIKE this, you have to do the best you can. And they definitely did. A your reactions, made thisn a GREAT Post. Muchly appreciated.
J-None was a original member of the group but went into the military and has been back off and on from the Service to join them in songs . Geoff is the Low Bass singer so good !
Hi Luv, this reaction and analysis is delightful. The pure joy you felt, with that magnetic smile, made my day and raised my biorhythms 😊. I like your perspective being from the production end. VoicePlay’s arrangements are so nuanced and layered with so much going on you need to listen a few times to catch it all. Geoff(Jeff, the bass) has his own channel, his version of Shenandoah is just gorgeous. Keep smiling. Stay safe and stay well. 😎✌🏻🤟🏻🖖🏻
Captivating -- what a wonderful word, Gina! Welcome to the rabbit hole! Your reaction was so terrific. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you discover this group and all they're capable of. I see that Hulda Draco has already directed you to Geoff's solo channel, so I will just second her on that, and point out that on his channel he also has videos of himself reading out loud -- poetry and prose such as "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe. ASMR to die for! I recently joined their patreon because I heard they had behind the scenes videos available there, and I was not disappointed. As a techie it might be worth it to you to check that out as well -- it's fun watching them sort out the production of their videos.
Geoff Castellucci (the bass), is insanely talented and has a 5 octave range. He has his own channel and just released a stunning cover of "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak. Would love to see you react to it!
Don’t worry about pausing. Most of know where to find original video to listen to anytime we want without interruptions. We are here for your first time reaction since we can’t watch this for the first time again want that experience from you. Of course with your skillset as an audio engineer we also enjoy your technical analysis. 😎
Layne Stein, the beatboxer is a classically trained violin player, if my info is correct, he is also lovingly called "Violayne" whenever he brings out the violin. It's so nice to see a first time reactor being dragged into the rabbit hole, welcome. You should definately listen to a couple of Geoff's solo songs, given the fact that you like the low notes. Far over the Misty Mountains Cold is a good point to start, imo. I hope to see you react to more of either VPs or Geoffs work in the future.
I would say that 99% of what Voiceplay does is a capella. Only a couple of videos I recall seeing has them utilizing the violin, and I think that Caesar had a bell/chain on him when they were doing Hoist the Colors. Left - Geoff (Jeff) Castelucci , Left Middle - J None , Middle Eli (Ellie like jelly) Jacobson , Middle Right - Caesar de la Rosa , Right - Layne Stein. Geoff Castelucci - Bass, baritone, soprano, alto, just YES. He can cause a Geoffquake in the Earth's mantle and in the sky lol. J None was a permanent member until he joined the Navy, and still remains as a guest singer until he's done with that career choice. He also joins in the antics of fun (watch the Little Mermaid and pay attention to what he does with Geoff towards the end). Kind of the VP Nomad if you will. Eli Jacobson - Experience with most music styles and a good background in rock music (listen to his grit and height). Should be a backup singer for Celine Dion range lol. Caesar de la Rosa - Voice is like butter. His sound just blends everywhere. Newest member at this time, and is nothing short of amazing. Layne Stein - Drums, Vocal Percussionist, Beatboxer, Singer, Producer, Violinist (nickname Violayne), etc lol. I've yet to find his limit with all of his skills and abilities. Well, welcome to the "VP rabbit hole" lol. So many of us as fans really have the growing habit of watching reactors view their videos and we never stop appreciating the music. So many people typically recognize Geoff's astounding 5 octave range, or Layne's extreme beatboxing skills, but they are ALL extremely talented. I've never heard another group quite like this because of how much they all play off of one another. Layne and Geoff especially try to make each other laugh during the making of their music videos, mainly the more cartoony/playful songs; i.e. We Don't Talk About Bruno, Moana, or The Little Mermaid. The guest singers are equally as great and gives them another avenue than their own to shine. You've come across a group that is truly wonderful in all aspects of a well balanced crew. I actually started with Home Free and fell in love with that group pretty quickly. Then I ventured over to Voiceplay, and was astounded immediately. I haven't actually started with Pentatonix yet but keep hearing wonderful things. Pentatonix - More of the mainstream/holiday crew Home Free - Country (good ole boys crew) VoicePlay - Theater Kids of A Capella Really enjoyed your reaction! This was yet another fun way to pass some time while working.
J-None sings baritone. He also sings bass (that's what the Navy has him doing). He also sings tenor. He also raps. The technical term for Geoff's vocal type is "basso profondo". Layne's instrument is a violin. Viola is traditionally slightly larger (has to be, if it's acoustic) and plays in a somewhat lower range than the violin. Roughly speaking, violin, viola, cello, and bass stringed instruments correspond approximately to the soprano, alto, baritone, and bass vocal ranges, respectively. More or less. Mary Spender has an excellent discussion of the viola as an instrument, and how it differs from the violin, and why it is less popular, on her channel.
You can't go wrong with anything they do. Skyrim(video game) is freaking amazing, Valhalla Calling, Seven Nation Army, Creep, This is Halloween and Oogie Boogie song (Nightmare before Christmas), Dream On are ones that I watch over and over just to see the first reactions.
Both Layne Stein (percussion) and Geoff (bass) have been interviewed on the Charismatic Voice and they discuss their process. Like Ren, VoicePlay is unique and always surprising.
So fun to watch this masterpiece with you. Looking forward to our journey together. VP is amazing and huge variety of music. Check out Geoff's solo pieces.
This rabbit hole is almost as deep as Geoff's voice. If you like deep bass voices, you should listen/react to his solo stuff, it's amazing, and often very entertaining. And when it comes to his voice, you've seen nothing yet.
If you'd like a different example of Jay None's ability, Friends On The Other Side Ft Jay None would be a good place to start. It's very good musically and Jay gets to show off a bit... it's a fun piece and I swear, it's like the part was written for Jay,
I always giggle when reactors pick this song as their first VoicePlay song to react to. It's not called the Reactor Breaker for nothing. 😂 That being said, welcome to the VoicePlay Rabbit Hole! It's nice down here and filled will awesome people who are always welcoming to newcomers. We also make a mean carrot cake. 🥕🍰
Welcome to the voiceplay rabbit hole; enjoy your stay. I recommend “Black Hole Sun” as they definitely take it to a new place, From a production aspect, you REALLY need to check out JACOB COLLIER… who, by the way, PRODUCES HIS OWN as well as being the arranger, video producer and a multi-instrumentalist as well as multi-grammy winner. For acapella enrichment, try JC’s version of “Moon River”, truly a magnum opus.
Geoff Castellucci is the bass. He arranges about half the songs, including this one. He also does solo music on his own channel.
Layne Stein is the beatboxer, he arranges about half the songs, and he also sings and plays the violin.
Eli Jacobson is the rock tenor (the bald guy) and often takes more lead on songs that requires more of his rock timbre. He also programs the lighting in their videos, and if needed creates the backgrounds for greenscreen or LED walls. And he arranges a bit as well.
Cesar de la Rosa is their baritenor (the latino guy) and their newest member.
J.None is a former member who now sings bass for the Navy. J used to sing baritone for them, and still comes to sing with them from time to time.
They do 95% of the job themselves. They arrange, record, mix, produce, costume, build video set, do the lighting, video edit, create album art, everything. All they get help with is mastering the audio, camera work since they can't be behind and in front of the camera at the same time, and makeup if they need advanced makeup. Everything is all them. Super talented and self taught ❤
If you hear it from the Voiceplay superfan herself, you know it’s gospel
@@solbringer2483 I was going to say the same thing
simply explained look into the infos under the video in 98% of the videos they list who is doing what
@@solbringer2483 We would be lost without Huldra - 😁
I will continue to say that Geoff deserved a Grammy for this arrangement. Welcome to this rabbithole! We have carrots! Definitely check out Geoff's solo channel too, he is so amazing.
We also have VioLayne. Lol. ✌️❤️🥕🎻
Geoff’s new one is as haunting and hypnotic as their cover of Creep in my opinion. Why is it the most beautiful songs are frequently sad?😞
More 🥕… 😂
I really love this arrangement
Geoff's drop to the low G and low E at the end of his solo line are bit showboaty for my taste. If he'd just stuck to the original melody in that small portion, I'd say this is a perfect arrangement. 9/10
@@Stan_S_StanmanGeoff doesn't showboat, he just gives us fans what we want. We look forward to his super low drops. The anticipation of when he will drop is part of it. Also I believe that sound you hear while Layne is playing the violin is an inhale sound that Layne often does out of nowhere in several songs. That is kind of his signature.
I haven't had this much fun with a first reaction in a long time! And don't worry about the pauses, by the time reactors get to their work, as a patron, I've watched it dozens of times.
They have been one man short since 2020 when their high tenor left after 20 some years. Featured artists are drawn from a pool of friends mostly in Orlando.
They frequently double their tracks in studio, the beatboxer may have a dozen or more lines. They did We Don't Talk About Bruno. Disney was so impressed that they were invited to a private show to do it. They had to change the arrangement somewhat to do it live.
They can break your heart - Creep or I Can't Make You Love Me
They can make you laugh your head off - Drunken Sailor or The Lion Sleeps Tonight
They can knock your socks off - Hoist the Colours or Dragonborn Comes/Skyrim
Subscribed in anticipation of more Voiceplay. New one coming in about a week
Thank you!! ☺️
I cannot even tell you how much I enjoyed this. The absolute delight on your face as you listened was a treat! Welcome to the VoicePlay rabbit hole -- it's deep, but it's full of treasure. Subscribed and would love to see more VP on your channel.
When J None left the group to sing for the US Navy, they didn't replace him. They've been featuring guest singers, including J None, presumably until he can return full time. VP does everything from Disney to rock. They are different from Pentatonix, who are different from Home Free. That's what makes each acapella group so good.
A HUGE welcome to the Voiceplay lovers community!! They do all their own arrangements, video, costuming, sets, production, etc-totally independent. The only real outside work is done by Ed Boyer, who does their final sound mixing, just like he does for PTX and Home Free.
VoicePlay #TheatreKIdsOfACapella. Welcome to the rabbit hole. They are very theatrical and do 90% of everything you see and hear they do themselves. They are an independent band. Geoff (Jeff) Castellucci the base has a solo channel where he does Low bass covers with clones of himself singing all the parts. He has an amazing vocal range. In this video L to R we have Geoff Castellucci, bass, J. None, baritone, Eli (Ellie) Jacobson tenor, Cesar De La Rosa, baritone, and Layne Stein, baritone/beatboxes aka VioLayne. J. None was a member who joined the Navy in 2021. Now that he is stationed closer we hope to see more of him.
J.None is featuring, because he left VoicePlay, joined the Navy, and sings with for them. He comes back to do features when he is back in Florida. J.None is actually a bass-baritone naturally and sings bass for the Navy... even though he sings more like a baritenor when with VoicePlay.
From left to right you have:
Geoff (Jeff) - Bassiest of basses. 5 octave range. Has his own channel.
J.None - Baritone. Former member now in Armed Forces. Guests when he can. Has his own channel.
Eli - Rhymes with Jelly. Rock God Tenor.
Cesar - Tenor. Newest member. Absolute sweetheart.
Layne - Beatboxer/Baritone. Arranges a lot. Prankster. AKA VioLayne AKA Carrot Lord
Bassiest and also tenoriest of basses. He really sounds like a tenor higher in his range.
Welcome to the world of Voiceplay! That bass singer is Geoff Castellucci, and he not only really does hit those notes, he arranged this song. He also has his own channel (not acapella) where he sings all the parts. I recommend checking out Sound of Silence, but you really can't go wrong with anything that catches your eye. Have fun!
Oh gosh! Your fact throughout this. Loved seeing the joy, both in the song and the singers. Because I am primarily a metalhead, it took me a while to get totally into the mode these guys sing. But, the more I heard, the better I liked them and now i am a total fan.
The thing that is unique about voiceplay is they usually have a guest singer which is so fun. The also did a really great job on "Wayward Son"... also featuring J.None
J was still a permanent member at that time. Omar Cardona is technically the featured artist on that one. And that is one of my all-time faves. It was one of the first ones I ever saw and I was blown away that it was done a cappella!
They are incredible!!! That bass you enjoyed so much arranged this piece. He has his own channel as well and you seriously can’t go wrong with anything from VoicePlay or Geoff!! Extremely talented and creative individuals! Oh, and J None was the 2nd soloist ❤
individually they are all top notch and blend so well giving each a chance to shine, pause all you want it's your insight as much as the track that counts, nothing else matters😉
Heya! A bit of information for you. Voiceplay is one of the Big 3 acapella groups in the United States. (Pentatonix, and Home Free being the others). All 3 groups do lots of different genres and material, but their specialty wheelhouses would be Pentatonix tends to be dancy/pop, Home Free R&B/Country and Voiceplay are the "theater kids". Voiceplay tends to do rock/Disney/musicals/video game genres. Much of Voiceplay is done by themselves - Geoff (Bass) and Layne (Beatboxer) often do the arrangements. Layne also owns (Along with a former Voiceplay member) Pattycake Studios, which is used to do most of Yoiceplay backdrops for videos. Eli (pronounced El-lee(rock tenor, center of this video), and Geoff's wife Kathy is often the producer). Voiceplay is technically a 5 piece, but several years ago, another former member, Earl left the band. He was a high tenor, a big guy with muscles, you'll see him in their earlier catalog. J.None was also Voiceplay's Baritone for several years. He left the band to make ends meet during covid. Joined the Navy as a Bass singer. He comes back when he can to collaborate when he can, so he's still on quite a bit. I personally don't mind the 4 piece lineup, because they often substitute top-notch collaborations, many times a female soprano or high tenor, though it varies. Either way, the collaborations enrich their group, which I think adds to Voiceplay's versatility even more. I personally think they are the best acapella band out there, but Home Free and Pentatonix are also top-notch, albeit for different tastes. All 3 groups get along and appreciate each other's talents. Voiceplay is among my Big 3 - the others being Dimash and Nightwish. You can't go wrong with Voiceplay. Each and every video will delight you. And finally Geoff (Bass) has his own channel - he has a five-octave range, going from low bass to high baritone/low tenor - he does terrific stuff, he often harmonizes with himself). Oh! Finally! Although most of the work is done themselves, final mixing does go to the same guy who mixes Pentatonix and/or maybe Home Free, but don't quote me on that.
Have fun!
Brain breakage is common when first discovering VoicePlay!
I think you're going to love the journey, but with your background, it's going to blow your mind. There's no shortage of amazing material from them (I'd suggest 'favorites', but that list would be too long).
J. None was a member of the group, but left to sing with the Navy. He comes back as often as he can to sing with the guys.
As you work your way through their catalog, you'll see a few other former members (Earl - buff high tenor, Tony - baritone with gorgeous eyes), and they bring in other singers for collabs frequently.
Have fun!
Well what a fun reaction, your face when Geoff hit those lows was a picture! FYI J None was second left, the colored guy!
For the drums I think you might need to take a good look at Beatboxers!
It’s a great cover and there’s plenty more where that came from! One of my favourites is The Dragon born comes from Skyrim, it’s very theatrical and uses some of the language in the original!
A bientôt!
Please, don’t stop interrupting, keep sharing your joy :)
For real. I normally don't watch reactions this long, simply because a lot of reactors don't actually get into the music and it ends up a meandering mess. GINX is very engaging and actually has something to talk about, so I watched the entire thing.
They DID do a medley "Boy Bands in Five MInutes"
Welcome to the wonderful world of VoicePlay. I have subscribed to be able to see you react to more VoicePlay and Geoff Castellucci videos.
My favorite VoicePlay song is Valhalla Calling, but you can't go wrong with anything they have out. Check out: Seven Nation Army; Carry on Wayward Son; In The Air Tonight; Dream On; Hoist The Colors; Drunken Sailor; Creep; The Lion Sleeps Tonight; Hellfire; Whiskey in the Jar. I could go on and on.
Geoff Castellucci (the bass) has his own channel, you need to check him out his versions of: Wicked Games; 16 Tons; Far Over the Misty Mountain Cold; I see Fire; Jack's Lament; Ain't No Sunshine; Sounds of Silence to name a few.
Enjoy the rabbit hole.
Welcome to the ranks of the Voiceplayers, or Voicelayas, as some say. We are a dedicated group of fans. It was kind of obvious that you fell headfirst down this rabbit hole.
I did the same with my first listen.
Actually, Layne recreates that drum sound pretty accurately without tweaking.
The beatboxers for Pentatonix and Home Free can do it as well.
BTW, Layne has not used his violin in many songs, but we call him VioLayne anyway.
Subbed.
Subbed hoping to see more of the pure joy you showed reacting to my favorite music group.
I certainly don't mind the pauses when the reactor has something to say that's worth listening to. So, as far as I'm concerned you're doing fine. The reactors I don't like are the ones who insist on talking or yelling over the music. Especially with Voiceplay who always have subtle things going on the background that can get lost in the external 'noise'. So, just keep doing what you're doing. I just subscribed.
Geoff is the bass with a 5+ octave range - A0 growl, B0 subharmonics, F1 full chest, B4 mix, Bb5 falsetto (this is Geoff's project - arrangement, staging, camera, video, premix audio), deliberately did the black stage, clothing as this was on Metallica's Black Album) - J None is beside him (used to be VP baritone+ currently serving in the US Navy, recently promoted to the priemier US Navy chorus in Washington DC), Eli (bald tenor in the center, rhymes with jelly, responsible for lighting, CG, green screens, backgrounds), will be added to the projects (did Creep last fall), Cesar (between Eli and Layne - sweet, clear voice - baritone/tenor), Layne (master beatboxer, baritone+, violinist - electric violin) is the other regular project manager although Eli will be put in the rotation shortly. The violin was because of the guitar solo in the original. Geoff and Layne go way back to middle school, had the acapella group at that time 4:2:Five (went from 4 singers to 5) in 1997. Earl was also an original member but left in 2021 for personal reasons. Eli came on in 2010 when the name was changed to VoicePlay. In 2014, they were on the Sing-Off competing against Home Free, and doing 2 tours of Sing-Off. Tony Wakim was the baritone in those days but really wanted to get into productions so he and Layne bought a studio (Pattycake Productions) where a lot of VoicePlay and Geoff's solos are done. Geoff's wife is the production manager for VP and Geoff. They have no contracts, do all the work themselves although the final mix is by Ed Boyer who does all the great acapella groups, and if makeup or prosthetics are required they usually hire in Rick Underwood. This means that their creativity is theirs, not a company. A couple I recommend is In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins) Layne's project, Creep (Radiohead) Eli's project, Hellfire (villain song from Hunchback of Notre Dame) Layne again, Valhalla Calling (Miracle of Sound) Geoff's, I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt) Cesar's choice, We're Good (Dua Lipe) Cesar's audition video, Drunken Sailor, their latest is The Lion Sleeps Tonight and is so much fun. They have over 800 videos to choose from. Chicago heard VoicePlay do this one, and invited them up to NJ last Nov 17-18 and played with them.
Welcome to the Voiceplay rabbit hole. In a way I envy your position of discovering this amazing group. Since you've expressed a bias towards bass vocals, check out Geoff's solo work, you won't be disappointed. His most recent, a cover of Wicked Game, can make one melt.
VP has a huge catalog of music - everything from Disney to Metallica. To see their goofy side (but still beautiful vocals) check out their recent cover of The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Your finding the best. Voiceplay and Geoff are definitely a rabbit hole worth exploring.
Welcome to the VoicePlay Rabbit Hole!
These guys are fantastic.
They will always find a different spin on a song. They trade off on who will be the lead on a song according to who they feel will be the most appropriate singer for the arrangement.
Lately my favorite from them is Hellfire and Geoff is the lead.
J joined the navy so he can only come back once jn a while to do songs with them.
Eli( pronounced L.E.) is the bald tenor.
Layne is the percussion and violin.
Cesar is the one with the sweet voice. He can sing baritone and tenor.
All the guys have wide ranges but Geoff has the widest. He can sing tenor down to subharmonic bass.
I thoroughly enjoyed your reaction and look forward to seeing more VoicePlay and later maybe Geoff solo and J solos on your channel.😊
J None is in the military so he can only pop in as his time allows. But before he joined he was a permanent member and we all hope he gets to be full time again. They fund themselves through Patreon and do the own video, costumes, and audio. They have another person that does the final cut.
No worries about the pauses Gina....that was a wonderful reaction to my favorite A Cappella, love HF and PTX but the "theatre kids" are great. J.None sings for the US Navy and when he has time will appear with the VP gang. Geoff does the majority of the arranging, even does some for other A Cappella groups as well...very talented guy. He has his own channel and a lot of great songs on his own, and very creative as well. Thanks Gina...that was fun. ❤❤
The thing is, with VP when someone agrees to do an arrangement, they have full control and final decision on everything. They prioritize performance over ego. That means the arranger decides on the video, too - they are assumed to have the artistic vision. Having decided on the video - typically they also choose the shots and edit the results. Being listed as arranger means that they had the primary responsibility for EVERYTHING - even when they sought out or accepted help.
When every singer in the band has a 5 octave range, labels like tenor, baritone and bass tend to lose their meaning.
lol…I’m learning😅🤭…and all about it
I love VoicePlay!! and enjoyed your reaction a lot! I’m looking forward to more VoicePlay reactions😊
This was my first time watching your reaction channel. I just discovered you and now am a subscriber. Thank you young lady your going to enjoy all the rabbit holes this community is going to have you learn.
Thank you! ☺️
Welcome to voiceplay! Also, all aboard the geoff castellucci train! Voiceplay is amazing, and geoffs solo stuff is insane especially since you love bass voices..... get ready to be geoffquaked 😂😂💜💜😁
Geoff "was that an E1" Castellucci
J. "Soul for days" None
Eli "Rock God" Jacobson
Cesar "Sassy Cinnamon Roll" De La Rosa
VioLayne Stine
You've gotten a lot of great info already, I really have to recommend Geoff's solo Sound of Silence. He does some just fascinating soud work in that one.
It is so much fun to watch a reaction for the first time of VoicePlay , it reminds us of our first time hearing their mastery and talents...individually and as a group they are awesome and they create magic , and all of their videos are worthwhile and amazing to watch over and over .
Welcome to the #Voiceplay family!! We love seeing first time reactor's brains explode on this one. VP's Valhalla Calling should be your next one. It also features J. None more prominently. As others have said, J returns to the group when his schedule with the Navy permits. Geoff arranged Nothing Else Matters and Layne arranged Valhalla Calling. Geoff and Layne mostly split the arrangement duties and Eli (pronounced ELLIE, not E-Lie) will jump in with his arrangements from time to time. ELi's recent arrangement of Creep is to die for!! Enjoy the ride. It's going to be fun for you and us!!
It's always nice how happy you are about unexpected changes!
🤭
The bass singer is Geoff Castellucci, and he can go way deeper ten you heard now.
Like your reactions!!
👀
@@ginxreacts he has a five octave range. He briefly hit an a zero in their cover of enemy. But he’s done a B0 sustained in Valhalla calling he’s going to fall off the end of the piano one of these days!
VioLayne strikes again! 😂He can play and beatbox at the same time, for the record--they just thought it looked kind of funny, so they played the percussion pre-recorded for the solo section instead. They had also planned a vocal version of the solo, but Geoff asked Layne to try it on his violin (he's classically trained) and they liked that better. Eli, the guy in the middle, comes from a metal background; another video of theirs where he really gets his rock god mojo working is Hoist the Colours. J.None is a former member and frequent collaborator who recently released a solo song, 'Am I Here.' Cesar is featured prominently in their covers of Creep and The Lion Sleeps Tonight, the latter of which you shouldn't miss if you enjoy falsetto. And if bass is your thing, check out their versions of Oogie Boogie's song, Valhalla Calling and Geoff's own solo channel. Liked and subscribed, looking forward to more!
One thing about Geoff Castellucci's (the bass) voice that I really enjoy is that even when he's getting down in his range, you can still understand every word he sings. A lot of bass singers seem to get "muddy" with their words when they get down low, hard to understand, but Geoff never does.
Geoff recently released Wicked Games on his solo channel, and he stays down in his low end for about 80-90% of the song, but you can still understand every word he says. I would heartily recommend it!
EDIT: As far as the "production crew" goes, you can always look at the description box for any VoicePlay (or Geoff solo) video and they list everyone who worked on the video.
Yes, a capella basically meaning "chapel style" meaning unacompanied. The main difference with VoicePlay is that many of their videos are very theatrical. Also they are independent creators, with no recording company to answer to or please, they are free to try all manner of genres. And they do. And they have a lot of fun along the way. And yeah, Geoff the bass, gets to a lot of people. :) J.None (real name Jesse Nunn) is sitting next to Geoff. He has a wide range and a silky voice. He was a full member of VP until 2021 when he left to sing with the navy music section, and now returns when on leave, to join with his friends again. I think you'd enjoy Geoff's solo channel of low bass covers. :) He has arange of five octaves actually. Eli, who took the lead ,has fronted rock bands . Layne (aka Violayne) calls iwhat he does vocal percussion or beartboxing. To get a taste of what they can do off the cuff, can I suggest a loop thing they did for fun, of the Elvis song Return To Sender. Actually they do pretty much all of it themselves. It's all in the credits below the title.
They do most everything themselves.Arrangments, filming, editing, direction, lighting, sets, props, costumes. The only thing they don't do is mixing. Ed Boyer does that. If they need expert makeup it's Rick Underwood.
Love that you reacted to this group!!! You should definitely check out more of their stuff and also Geoff Castellucci which is the bass-guy. He just released a new cover of wicked game. And has so many other cool low voice stuff but also songs with his higher register. Love you! Love this group! Love this channel! All the love from Sweden!!!🇸🇪❤❤
Geoff Castellucci - VoicePlay’s gateway drug. 😏 He gets you hooked with that bass rumble and then you start falling in love with the rest of the boys.
I’ve seen them live. Every time Geoff dropped down, my entire rib cage vibrated.
They did Hellfire from Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. It’s the darkest villain song they’ve ever done. VoicePlay covered it and Geoff carried the bulk of it. You may enjoy hearing him show off. 😊. He also has a non-a capella solo channel.
Also with the watching are their covers of
Areosmith’s Dream On
White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army
Phil Collins ‘ In The Air Tonight
The Tokens’ The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Radiohead’s Creep
Also Hoist The Covers from The Pirates of the Caribbean and the old folk song Drunken Sailor.
They also did a cover of Valhalla Calling - very Geoff heavy. 😊
Back stages Trivia for you: They couldn’t successfully toss in the violin. Layne couldn’t snag it and the bow to save his life. So he threw it and they reversed the video. 😉
Also: you haven’t seen their video production yet. This one is very basic for them.
And they are their own production team. They hire a pro for fancy make up effects, sometimes they hire a camera dude or two, and they have someone do the final sound mixing.
They do everything else. Lighting, video design, video editing, arranging, costuming, ect.
Oh I absolutely LOVE the violin trivia, that is badass, I love that type of thing!! Thank you for such an awesome/informative and thoughtful comment! So excited to have been introduced to this rabbit hole!
Like the other big a cappella groups, VoicePlay uses Ed Boyer for their final mix engineer. Just from the fact that Pentatonix, Home Free and VoucePlay all trust him to do their final mix for them, I'd have to say he is the premiere a cappella mix engineer in the country currently.
They used to tour, but since Covid they mostly produce RUclips videos. They did do a couple of concerts in Atlantic City last November with Chicago. It will be streaming and out on DVD sometime by spring. Just look for Chicago And Friends!
In the meantime, they have a large catalog on RUclips and you can’t go wrong with anything they put out. Their Hoist the Colours is known for breaking reactors, or you could try something light like We Don’t Talk About Bruno. (Disney liked that one so well the had Voiceplay sing it live for a special gathering at Disney).
They do pretty much everything themselves (see their info on each video) except for the final vocal edits which are done by Ed Boyer.
Great first reaction to one of the top three a cappella groups out there today. Voice Play is considered the "theater kids". I'm sure there are people that know much more than I do about this group. Apparently, JNone was part of the group until he joined the US Navy band for a 6-year enlistment. They say that he joins the group at times while on leave. Cesar de la Rosa replaced him and is now part of the group permanently. The two original singers are Geoff (the bass) and vio-Layne (the beat-boxer percussionist). Eli (pronounced Elly), the bald gentleman in the middle is normally their high tenor. But, Eli, Cesar & JNone can all hit those high notes. Geoff, has a range of about five octaves; which he displays often on his solo channel. Those harmonies are exceptional. Both groups cover a wide range of genres; games, Disney, 80s music, etc. You'll enjoy much of what they do. Good luck with this rabbit hole. FYI: I only watch reactions from others on this platform of this group and Geoff's solo channel. That's how good I think they are.
As many others have commented. Welcome to the a capella group with the widest genre range. They are basically the production team as they are independent.
Insanely talented - so worth going down this rabbit hole. 🌹🕊
Absolutely loved your reaction, and the fact that you have extensive training makes it even better. I have no musical training so learn a lot from reactors like you. As far as pauses go, do not worry. As long as you’re making contributions and you rewind a bit you’re adding value.
VoicePlay produced their first album in 1997 under a different name. Since about 2010 when they rebranded as VoicePlay they had been a five member group. Original members were the bass singer, the current beat boxer (he had been the baritone) and Earl, their laser high tenor who is no longer with them.
At that time (2010) they brought in Tony Wakim as baritone who was with them from 2010 to about 2017. Around that time they also were lucky enough to get Eli Jacobsen (the bald rock God). When Tony left to cofound PattyCake Productions with Layne, J joined the group. He remained with them until 2021 when he was recruited by the Navy to sing with them. (He was recently transferred to the East Coast and appears with them whenever he can get leave and it works out for the song.)
In 2020, Earl left the group after 23 years. The following year J left for the Navy which left them two permanent members short. That’s when Cesar de la Rosa, the breathy bari-tenor came in. They are still one permanent member short and fill in that slot with a variety of guest artists, many of whom come back for multiple appearances.
About three years ago they started putting in more extensive notes in the description. They now list everyone involved in the production and will often add additional notes.
When Covid hit, they stopped touring and have not resumed the touring schedule. Recently they were asked by the iconic rock band Chicago to appear with them in concert and in a few months that should be coming out on video. As a patron I was able to see some of that footage of them appearing live.
There are some older recordings of them appearing live, some TikToks where they will record without any production, and earlier they used to do what they called ACA Top 10’s which were very short medleys of 10 themed songs and those were produced live
VoicePlay brings so much extra to every performance. They're completely independent and do everything from arrangement, production, lighting, costuming, sets on their own. Final mixing is usually sent to Ed Boyer who is a master at this.
Since you enjoy bass singers you should really check out Geoff Castellucci's solo channel. VoicePlay has a wide range of genres they've covered to choose from and you really can't go wrong with whatever you choose.
So great to see you enjoying our VoicePlay so much! They are truly incredible.
I remember gasping the first time I saw that violin fly in. And the notes the guys are hitting right at that moment!
You are my new favourite reactor, such a joy to see you combining such obvious listening pleasure with deep insights into what the group are doing. I love the authenticity of your reaction.
Thank you so much ☺️
This was a great first reaction! There is nothing we Voiceplayers like more than watching someone react to Voiceplay for the first time and yours were great. I appreciated that when you stopped you went back a fair amount so you didn't miss anything. They pack so much into their videos it is easy to miss stuff. They cover such a wide breadth of musical genre's it is impossible to pin them down, and realistically, why would we want to? For their Disney side I highly recommend their cover of We Don't Talk About Bruno, Hellfire, and Moana medley. They have all worked at Disney or Universal at one time or another so you can feel the love. Their cover of Tennessee Whisky is my favorite of all time. Their Hoist the Colors is everything you want from a song from a Pirates of the Caribean movie. For Geoff's solo work I love his cover of Jack's Lament from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Aint No Sunshine, or his Dwarf Duology: Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold and I See Fire. He does all his own arranging, video, editing, costuming, and production with his wife Kathy. Eli assists with the lighting on many of his videos. Can't wait to see more.
I’m so glad I found your channel. I’ve been following Voiceplay for several years now, but it was fun to hear your reaction from a production perspective. And your reactions were great, too. It’s fun watching someone else discover something you already love. :) You’ve got a new subscriber, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
I'm back. You were talking about hearing them live. Sadly, that is unlikely. They rebranded as Voiceplay in 2012 and began producing videos primarily for advertising for their tours. They toured extensively until Covid shut the world down. They could no longer tour so they ramped up their video production. They are now supported almost exclusively through Patreon. Geoff, Layne, and Eli (as of November last year) are dads. They love the life they are leading. In the past three years they've done a few private corporate gigs. The only public show they've done was also in November when they performed with Chicago in the Chicago and Friends performances. I understand that it was this number that got them the invitation. Geoff, however, says it was because they couldn't afford Pentatonix.
The concerts will be streamed at some later date.
You see it! Good, now you know that there is more to explore.
VoicePlay knows how to sing together, and when they do, they help each other to shine.
Voiceplay is not only amazing to follow because of their incredible vocal talent and arrangement skills, but also for their complete independence over artistic control.
Pentatonix are the kings of Christmas albums and acapella pop. Voiceplay are the kings of Halloween, video games, and Broadway/Disney covers. Homefree generally rule acapella country, duwop rock n roll, and R&B.
I think of Geoff’s subharmonics as dragon purrs. SO rumbly.
Layne is a beatboxing BEAST, and then we also get VioLayne. He’s now played violin in three of their songs-may not be “true” acapella but we do not care.
Also, their mixer, Ed Boyer, is like the fifth member of the group. He contributes SO much to the sound.
I’m sure someone else said this but J.None was a fulltime member of the group until he was recruited to sing for the Navy. When he finishes with them we all hope he’ll come back fulltime because he adds a lot to the group.
I’m glad you like Voiceplay! Looking forward to more reactions!
ETA: Pro tip with reacting to these guys-always wait until you see the Patreons rolling-sometimes there are add-ons at the end that are worth hearing.
Oh! And I'll recommend you try their "Seven Nation Army". Bass does the bass line and it. is. amazing. Also it shows you a little of their theatrical side with a post-apoc spin on the costumes and scenery.
What a joy to watch you react to VP for the first time and this particular video. Yeah, VioLayne sneaks in from time to time and it's definitely a treat.
As for production, they do it all themselves. Layne Stein (vocal percusion, Violayne) is part owner, with a former VoicePlay member, of the studio where they shoot. FYI, Geoff can sing in 5 octaves. Go to his solo channel and just pick one at random.
Welcome to VoicePlay! I could tell how much you enjoyed this, and it's fun to hear your professional side of things. Looking forward to more from you reacting to VP and Geoff.
It's always so much fun to watch somebody react to Voiceplay for the first time... but I guess you know that because you said at the start of your video that you got hooked on reaction videos and decided to do some of your own. That experience of watching somebody find so much joy, the same joy you felt when you first watched it, whatever it was, is just infectious.
You were impressed with Geoff's bass notes? Wait until you experience his full range. :-)
Thanks for posting this. I thoroughly enjoyed your joy.
~Dan
Geoff and Layne have some live stuff on their tick tocks where you can hear what they sounds like without the added effects. It's funny you mentioned boy bands. They actually have an older video called Boy Bands in 5 Minutes. And if you like the base, you should definitely check out some of his solo work. They are all crazy talented welcome to the theater kids of Acapella
Your reaction felt very real and refreshing. Your tone, pacing, facial expressions, gestures, commentary…just a delight to experience. Thank you!
Thank you! ☺️
Keep on pausing, keep on emoting, keep on telling us about the audio engineering side of things! There are a lot of excellent modern acapella groups out there, but the big three are Pentatonix, Home Free, and VoicePlay - probably in that order in terms of fanbase size. I consider myself a fan of VP & HF (nothing against PTX, I just don't often find myself drawn to their songs). In terms of next steps with VP, if you see something that intrigues you, just go for it! (With one exception: save _Daddy_ _Sang_ _Bass_ until you know them a bit better.) If you have no idea, and given your fondness for the bass, maybe try _Valhalla_ _Calling_ or _Oogie_ _Boogie's_ _Song._ Enjoy!
Oh I forgot voiceplays my mother Tod me and Valhalla calling OMG yeeeeessss
Pausing because you enjoy or want to hear again or heard something that resonates that should always be applauded. Those of us with an interest have seen the original but we want to see what you hear. VP mix genres so well. They have full reign over anything they do. Their cover of hall of the mountain king had everything from opera to swing to dub step. It is a deep hole you are getting into but it’s a fun one.
This was such a joy to watch. It's incredible to see someone's first exposure to VoicePlay and with a song they love as much as you obviously love this one. And then the cover is this one where you're introduced to the extraterrestrial life form also known as Violayne.
You can hardly go wrong with them, but personal favorites are Hoist the Colors, Seven Nation Army, Dragonborn Comes (especially if you're a Skyrim fan), I can't make you love me.
Can't wait for the next one, especially if you could give us more tidbits from a technical point of view. There are a lot of vocal analyses of their covers, but yours is a unique perspective 😁
Looks like Ginx just fell down the VPlay Rabbithole.
They did a Fantastic job with this song. With a song LIKE this, you have to do the best you can. And they definitely did. A your reactions, made thisn a GREAT Post. Muchly appreciated.
J-None was a original member of the group but went into the military and has been back off and on from the Service to join them in songs . Geoff is the Low Bass singer so good !
Just a great reaction!!! Thank you very much.
There was a guitar piece at the end where Geoff talked to Layne the beatboxer and said, lets may it a violin solo. And so was born VioLayne 🙂
Hi Luv, this reaction and analysis is delightful. The pure joy you felt, with that magnetic smile, made my day and raised my biorhythms 😊. I like your perspective being from the production end. VoicePlay’s arrangements are so nuanced and layered with so much going on you need to listen a few times to catch it all. Geoff(Jeff, the bass) has his own channel, his version of Shenandoah is just gorgeous. Keep smiling. Stay safe and stay well. 😎✌🏻🤟🏻🖖🏻
Captivating -- what a wonderful word, Gina! Welcome to the rabbit hole! Your reaction was so terrific. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you discover this group and all they're capable of. I see that Hulda Draco has already directed you to Geoff's solo channel, so I will just second her on that, and point out that on his channel he also has videos of himself reading out loud -- poetry and prose such as "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe. ASMR to die for!
I recently joined their patreon because I heard they had behind the scenes videos available there, and I was not disappointed. As a techie it might be worth it to you to check that out as well -- it's fun watching them sort out the production of their videos.
Layne is the beatboxer with a 5 octave range,known as the human drumset. When he plays they call it the Layneolin.
Terrific reaction! Thank you.❤❤❤❤
Geoff Castellucci (the bass), is insanely talented and has a 5 octave range. He has his own channel and just released a stunning cover of "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak. Would love to see you react to it!
Don’t worry about pausing. Most of know where to find original video to listen to anytime we want without interruptions.
We are here for your first time reaction since we can’t watch this for the first time again want that experience from you. Of course with your skillset as an audio engineer we also enjoy your technical analysis. 😎
Layne Stein, the beatboxer is a classically trained violin player, if my info is correct, he is also lovingly called "Violayne" whenever he brings out the violin.
It's so nice to see a first time reactor being dragged into the rabbit hole, welcome.
You should definately listen to a couple of Geoff's solo songs, given the fact that you like the low notes. Far over the Misty Mountains Cold is a good point to start, imo.
I hope to see you react to more of either VPs or Geoffs work in the future.
I would say that 99% of what Voiceplay does is a capella. Only a couple of videos I recall seeing has them utilizing the violin, and I think that Caesar had a bell/chain on him when they were doing Hoist the Colors.
Left - Geoff (Jeff) Castelucci , Left Middle - J None , Middle Eli (Ellie like jelly) Jacobson , Middle Right - Caesar de la Rosa , Right - Layne Stein.
Geoff Castelucci - Bass, baritone, soprano, alto, just YES. He can cause a Geoffquake in the Earth's mantle and in the sky lol.
J None was a permanent member until he joined the Navy, and still remains as a guest singer until he's done with that career choice. He also joins in the antics of fun (watch the Little Mermaid and pay attention to what he does with Geoff towards the end). Kind of the VP Nomad if you will.
Eli Jacobson - Experience with most music styles and a good background in rock music (listen to his grit and height). Should be a backup singer for Celine Dion range lol.
Caesar de la Rosa - Voice is like butter. His sound just blends everywhere. Newest member at this time, and is nothing short of amazing.
Layne Stein - Drums, Vocal Percussionist, Beatboxer, Singer, Producer, Violinist (nickname Violayne), etc lol. I've yet to find his limit with all of his skills and abilities.
Well, welcome to the "VP rabbit hole" lol. So many of us as fans really have the growing habit of watching reactors view their videos and we never stop appreciating the music. So many people typically recognize Geoff's astounding 5 octave range, or Layne's extreme beatboxing skills, but they are ALL extremely talented. I've never heard another group quite like this because of how much they all play off of one another. Layne and Geoff especially try to make each other laugh during the making of their music videos, mainly the more cartoony/playful songs; i.e. We Don't Talk About Bruno, Moana, or The Little Mermaid. The guest singers are equally as great and gives them another avenue than their own to shine. You've come across a group that is truly wonderful in all aspects of a well balanced crew. I actually started with Home Free and fell in love with that group pretty quickly. Then I ventured over to Voiceplay, and was astounded immediately. I haven't actually started with Pentatonix yet but keep hearing wonderful things.
Pentatonix - More of the mainstream/holiday crew
Home Free - Country (good ole boys crew)
VoicePlay - Theater Kids of A Capella
Really enjoyed your reaction! This was yet another fun way to pass some time while working.
J-None sings baritone. He also sings bass (that's what the Navy has him doing). He also sings tenor. He also raps.
The technical term for Geoff's vocal type is "basso profondo".
Layne's instrument is a violin. Viola is traditionally slightly larger (has to be, if it's acoustic) and plays in a somewhat lower range than the violin. Roughly speaking, violin, viola, cello, and bass stringed instruments correspond approximately to the soprano, alto, baritone, and bass vocal ranges, respectively. More or less. Mary Spender has an excellent discussion of the viola as an instrument, and how it differs from the violin, and why it is less popular, on her channel.
J None left the group to join the Navy, and comes back when he gets time off from his Navy gig.
You can't go wrong with anything they do. Skyrim(video game) is freaking amazing, Valhalla Calling, Seven Nation Army, Creep, This is Halloween and Oogie Boogie song (Nightmare before Christmas), Dream On are ones that I watch over and over just to see the first reactions.
J None recently released a solo video that's worth viewing.
Both Layne Stein (percussion) and Geoff (bass) have been interviewed on the Charismatic Voice and they discuss their process. Like Ren, VoicePlay is unique and always surprising.
Oh you need to check out velllaholla calling by voice play you will love the base in that one
So fun to watch this masterpiece with you. Looking forward to our journey together. VP is amazing and huge variety of music. Check out Geoff's solo pieces.
Welcome to the rabbithole of Voiceplay. Recommend the "Wicked-Medley"
J None returns for Valhalla Calling with Voiceplay
One for the algo!
☺️
This rabbit hole is almost as deep as Geoff's voice. If you like deep bass voices, you should listen/react to his solo stuff, it's amazing, and often very entertaining. And when it comes to his voice, you've seen nothing yet.
Try voiceplays in the air tonight and creep cover. Then try Geoff’s cover of far over the Misty mountains cold
If you'd like a different example of Jay None's ability, Friends On The Other Side Ft Jay None would be a good place to start. It's very good musically and Jay gets to show off a bit... it's a fun piece and I swear, it's like the part was written for Jay,
I always giggle when reactors pick this song as their first VoicePlay song to react to. It's not called the Reactor Breaker for nothing. 😂
That being said, welcome to the VoicePlay Rabbit Hole! It's nice down here and filled will awesome people who are always welcoming to newcomers. We also make a mean carrot cake. 🥕🍰
Welcome to the voiceplay rabbit hole; enjoy your stay. I recommend “Black Hole Sun” as they definitely take it to a new place,
From a production aspect, you REALLY need to check out JACOB COLLIER… who, by the way, PRODUCES HIS OWN as well as being the arranger, video producer and a multi-instrumentalist as well as multi-grammy winner.
For acapella enrichment, try JC’s version of “Moon River”, truly a magnum opus.