For a group of 14 women, this is the week they call hell week, but it is not because of classes. These women are a part of an all-female a capella group preparing for their last show of the semester.
Ladies First has been preparing for its show at the end of the week.
“We were the first female a capella group here at IU,” said IU junior Elise Castro, business director for Ladies First. “We have a legacy”.
Ladies First is set to perform 8 p.m. Friday at Willkie Auditorium. Guest Awkward Silence Comedy, a character-based improvisational group at IU, will open the show at 7:45 p.m.. The show will feature music from genres such as classic rock and pop and more modern pop.
The group was started in 1999 with the assistance of IU men’s a capella group Straight No Chaser. Prior to its creation there had been men’s and co-ed a capella groups, but there had been none comprising only women. Since then, Ladies First has released multiple albums and sung at Super Bowl XLVI.
Right now, though, the focus of the group is on its upcoming show.
With a few days left it was time to work hard, music director for Ladies First Hannah Naddy said as she led a rehearsal Monday for the group. The group had planned multiple rehearsals before the show to get them ready.
As a third-year member of the group, Naddy said she has seen just how far the group has come since last year. The singers learned 27 songs before this practice which she said was a feat itself in a capella.
Even with her choir background, she said she was surprised how difficult a cappella is to her, with the women having to emulate the sounds of instruments with their voices.
Castro explained the women made a cappella look easy and cool, which made her want to join. Once part of the group, she explained how she learned more about what set Ladies First apart.
She said the cool thing about Ladies First is it does not have set parts in what tone members sing and the music is a good mix to please students and older audience members.
Though the women of Ladies First came from different majors, ranging from arts management to business marketing, they find common ground in performance.
“We are so close,” Naddy said. “It’s become such a close-knit group of girls.”
Naddy said the group has gotten very close this year and the members hang out a lot outside of practice more so than past years. Current members have recently gotten matching lotus tattoos to commemorate their friendship and how close they have gotten through their music.
“We’re friends who just happen to really love to sing,” Castro said.
While the group has increased their marketing from past years and improved their organization, Castro and Naddy said they do not think the group is done growing. Naddy said she sees the group going upwards after this semester.
“There’s a lot to look forward to from this group in the coming future,” Castro said.
While the spring semester is coming to an end, Ladies First still has more planned for later dates. The group will be releasing its next album, titled “Lady Zoo,” in fall 2017.
“At the end of the day, music is what brings us together,” Naddy said. “It’s our friendship that makes the legacy of Ladies First.”
