Amanda Hartmann--Mezzo
Emilee Lales--Mezzo/Alto
Holly Bowen--Soprano
Ian Fields--Bari/Music Director
Jennifer Walus--Mezzo
John Magaña--Bass/Radio Voice
Lauren Lindner--Mezzo
Lisa Akey--Alto/Business/Arranger
Matt Belcher--Tenor/AMD
Matthew Finder--Bari
Zarin Stone--VP/Bari
Influences
Parents, alcohol, police figures, gifted children and cookies
InVox began in November of 2004 singing in a basement and calling themselves Underground Sound. Over the next three years, the group would see itself grow into one of Chicago's premier a cappella forces. With hip arrangements of songs in every genre and a growing original repertoire, InVox has entertained at venues small and large, counting Six Flags Great America, Chicago's Navy Pier and Millennium Park, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, the University of Illinois, and Red Moon Theater Chicago among its past performance spots. From February to May of 2007, the group recorded their eponymous debut album, Invoxication the EP, with Bill Messner of Masterwerkz Studios and released it in early 2008 to a crowd of hundreds at Chicago's Apollo Theater. InVox is proud to be spreading their passion for music throughout its hometown and beyond, and the group plans to release its first full length CD sometime in 2008. Until then...
Get ready to be Invoxicated!
The Vox!
Holly Bowen--"Pips"
Holly's first word as a baby was "calculator." Her second, third and fifty-first words were qwerty, mama, and squeek. Scientists later came to realize that Holly was capable of inhuman mathological prowess and that she could sing incredibly high to boot! After singing with "Take Note" from Clemson University she moved to Chicago where she sings soprano for Invox and she can take apart and build computers all day long.
Jenn Walus--"Mamacita"
Jenn was born in Mexico and Virginia. I don't know...???...you figure it out. She also is mother to the most cutest, adorableist, sweetest, coolest, White Soxiest baby in the continuous 48 states. Jenn graduated from Dartmouth and sang with the "Dartmouth Rockapellas." That is also where she met the lead singer of Machine Gun Kelly and now we consistently battle with the band for time with her. Jenn sings soprano and mezzo with Invox...not at the same time though.
Lauren Lindner--"Dirty Jerz"
Lauren is another double "L" and sometimes that gets really confusing when the director yells at the mezzo section. Lauren is from Joisey...(the rest of the group thinks she's talking about New Jersey)...and came all the way to the windy city to attend Northwestern University. Whilst there she sang with "Significant Others" and rocked the house. Now she sings mezzo with Invox and rocks the apartment she lives in.
Emilee Lales--"Lee3"
How do you replace an alto/mezzo named Emily?...simple...you find a mezzo/alto named Emilee and viola! Anywho Emilee sang in some group at U Chicago of which I don't know the name...but I'll ask at her first rehearsal. Some fantastic facts about Emilee--1) She is almost related to someone else in the group. 2) She works with someone else in the group. 3) She used to sing with someone else in the group. 4) Those 3 aforementioned people are not the same person. 4)She thinks the hooked-on-phonics way of spelling her name makes her cooler.
Amanda Hartmann
Bio coming soon!
Lisa Akey--"Akey Pants"
Lisa wears many hats in Invox but since she got her new haircut we don't see much of them anymore. Lisa is also a Chicago food guru and keeps an excellent blog about it at Third Coast Toast. Lisa is another Northwestern alumni but sang with the "-x-factors." While singing mezzo and alto she served as their business manager and brought her talent to Invox as well as some mad arranging skills!
Matt Belcher--"Wiley Burp"
Sometimes it's tough having 2 Matts in our little group, especially when they both have verbs for last names. But...we have found the solution! Use those last names to come up with interesting nicknames! I know what you're thinking...the plan is genius. I know...I know. Burp is also an excellent photographer, check out his website! "MDBImagery"
Ian Fields--"Swayze"
Ian has more character in his sunglasses than the Chinese symbol for peace! Ian names El Paso, TX as his hometown and came to Chicago to attend Loyola University. He sang with "Loyolacappella" in undergrad and hopes one day to become a successful pediatrician. Ian holds down half of the bari section for Invox and is in control of most of our choreo. Be aware that his dance moves are the best in the land and still thinks Kelly Clarkson is the shiz. (Step off bitches!)
Matt Finder--"Keeper"
Matt is a loyal Hoosier and tells us every week how they are 1 in the Big Ten in b-ball and how "Straight No Chaser" is the best acappella group in the world. It's all ok since Matt solidly holds down the other half of our bari section. Matt loves Seinfeld, bowling and sells air for 103.5 KISS FM. We're not sure how much he sells it for or if it's going on sale anytime soon. Inflation is our enemy now.
John Magaña--"txtadct"
John is the lowest of the low basses in the world...I'm talking Barry Off-White here and he is probably one of the sweetest guys you'll ever meet. And that has nothing to do with that fact that he's a baker at Sweet Mandy B's! John sometimes brings cupcakes and other goodies to rehearsal and we all seem to never remember how rehearsal ends?...must be good cupcakes!
Hey InVox, I just wanted to let you know that we really appreciated you coming out to Plainfield to play for our jazz concert. You sounds amazing, and I've been listening to your c.d. every night since. (: Thanks again.
