Yollay - All-American Awaaz 2019: Voices of Champions

UMD Anokha
Music
Anokha is UMD's very own South-Asian/American fusion a cappella Group! Since its inception in 2001, Anokha has gained recognition both on- and off-campus. Meaning "unique" in Sanskrit, Anokha strives to spread South Asian culture through its music. Anokha was founded in 2001 in the tradition of other South-Asian/American fusion a cappella groups like Penn Masala. In 2005, Anokha held its first Spring Show, which became an annual tradition where Anokha performs all of the new songs it learned that year. Anokha released its first single, Dheere Jalna/My Immortal, in 2011, and its first album, Unleashed, in 2014.

Astha A Cappella
Music
Astha A Cappella is Saint Louis Universitys premier co-ed, fusion a cappella group. Established in 2006, the group was started by six students who came together to sing Indian fusion music, hang out, and jam. They had faith (astha) in music and Astha A Cappella was born. In three short years, Astha has grown from jam-sessions to complex compositions, from six music-lovers to fourteen talented singers from a variety of backgrounds, all with an interest in singing a diverse mixture of melodies that combines Western and Eastern musical influences.

Dhamakapella
Music
Dhamakapella is an award-winning coed South Asian fusion a cappella group based in Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in the spring of 2005 by students Mayank Prasad, Raksha Soore, and Manoj Nair, Dhamakapellas music has been influenced from both Eastern and Western elements, and mixes contemporary Western songs with popular Eastern music. Within the last two years, Dhamakapella has placed and been ranked in three distinct competitions, and released its debut album, Pehli Nazar: First Look.Dhamakapella was formed in 2005 by student Mayank Prasad at Case Western Reserve University. With help from students, Raksha Soore and Manoj Nair, Mayank organized and established the first university-recognized coed a cappella group, which would feature genres from both Western and Eastern cultures.

Dhunki
Music
In Hindi, Dhunki means spellbound. The name also contains the Hindi word Dhun, which means tune or melody. This Hindi name symbolizes this groups focus on the areas of South Asian music and culture. Our goal is to spread our culture throughout the community by the means of a unique style of music in which Eastern and Western themes collide in intricately arranged mashups.

Hum A Cappella
Music
Hum A Cappella was founded in 2001 and is the South Asian a cappella group at the University of Texas at Austin. Hum blends cultures and puts a unique spin on both Hindi and English songs. From its six-member inception, Hum has evolved into a group of highly dynamic vocalists who arrange all of their songs by themselves. We have competed at a variety of local and national competitions including ICCA, Jhalak, Taal, Nasha, Texas Revue, Gathe Raho in Iowa, and Anahat in California. We also perform at weddings and charity events. Hum released its debut album "One Try" in 2002, and we are currently working on producing our sixth album. Our team comes from a variety of musical backgrounds, and our collaboration and appreciation for a cappella music keeps us constantly moving forward.

Swaram A Cappella
Music
Swaram is the premier South Asian coed Acappella group at Texas A&M University. The Group was founded in the fall of 2007, and was officially recognized by Texas A&M on November 17, 2008. Swaram fuses both Indian & Western musical styles through just voices.

Umiami Tufaan
Music
University of Miami has its very own Fusion A Capella group! The name, if you havent heard by now, is UMiami Tufaan.Initially, Tufaan was founded on Hindi-American music but has quickly evolved into a rich culturally diverse performance group incorporating people and types of music from around the world. We have competed on campus and at national competitions, our last one held in San Francisco, California! Recently, we competed at UMs own U Factor competition and took 1st place! We take our music very seriously but have lots of fun doing so.

All-American Awaaz 2019: Voices of Champions