#a.squared

a.squared - Shake It Off

OPB: Taylor Swift

a.squared - MYLV

OPB: Justin Timberlake ft T.I

On Wednesday December 17th, NBC will be airing a one-off 2 hour holiday special event which will serve as "Season 5" of The Sing-Off! For those who don't know what The Sing-Off is... It's the show that launched Pentatonix into SUPERSSTARDOM! (They Won Season 3)

Along with the format change this season, longtime head judge Ben Folds will be replaced by Fall Out Boy frontman, Patrick Stump joining previous judges Jewel, Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockman and host Nick Lachey.

Let's take a look at the groups competing for that $50,000 prize and the title of Sing-Off champion!

1. The Exchange

From: Los Angeles, CA/Myrtle Beach, SC

Members: Christopher Diaz, Aaron Sperber, Jamal Moore, Alfredo Austin, Richard Steighner

The Exchange is an a cappella supergroup consisting of people you may have seen on The Sing-Off before. Jamal and Aaron were a part of Season 3's "YellowJackets while Vocal Percussionist Richard laid down the beats for Urban Method (Also that season). Christopher Diaz worked as an arranger and vocal producer on Season 3 and also used to co-host the podcast "Mouth Off" alongside Dave Brown. And Alfredo Austin has been in a cappella music for quite some time performing with groups such as Overboard. The Exchange even opened for The Backstreet Boys on the European Leg of their "In A World Like This" tour

Find Them At:

Website: www.exchangevocal.com Twitter: @exchangevocal Facebook: www.facebook.com/exchangevocal YouTube: www.youtube.com/exchangevocal

Fun Fact: Our VERY first interview was with Christopher Diaz

http://popappella.tumblr.com/post/51568418410/long-awaited-my-exclusive-interview-with

2. Melodores

From: Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)

Members: Ted Moock, Augie Phillips, Nikhil Ramaprasad, Cameron David, Dan McNeill, Austin Lyons, William Woodard, Jamal Marcelin, James McHugh, Jonathan Amaro-Barron, Justin Riele, Hollis Cuffie

A collegiate a cappella powerhouse, The Melodores made 3 consecutive ICCA appearances in 2010-2012 even making it all the way to the Finals in 2011 at Lincoln Center in New York City and placing 3rd, after only making it to the contest via Wildcard! They also competed at SoJam in 2012 and member Ted Moock will be seen as one of the new Treble Makers in Pitch Perfect 2!

Find Them At: 

Website: www.melodores.com Twitter: @melodores Facebook: www.facebook.com/vanderbiltmelodores YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/VanderbiltMelodores

3. a.squared

From: New Haven, CT

Members: Nemal Eames-Scott, Paul Holmes, DJ Stanfill, Jacob Reske, Jackson Thea

Getting their start as students at Yale University, this quintet prides themself on making electronica music strictly vocal. Since The Sing-Off is allowing instruments this year... I can almost promise you that you'll see this group using loop pedals!

Find Them At:

Twitter: @thisisAsquared Facebook: www.facebook.com/thisisasquared YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/thisisasquared

4. Traces

From: New York, NY

Members: Keesha Gumbs, Tamika Gumbs, Gbianka Kotee, Selame Scarlett, Cindy Velarus

Although primarily a gospel group, the ladies of Traces have influences that range from Pop, Jazz, Blues, R&B, Rock you name it... Having performed at SingStrong Chicago and various other events, some acafans are familiar with these ladies and I'm sure they're ready to show America what they're made of

Find Them At:

Website: www.traces5.com Twitter: @traces5 Facebook: www.facebook.com/traces5

5. SanFran6

From: San Francisco, CA

Members: Jess Walsh, Danny Cavero, Del Lazaro, Kevin Redrico, Jaron Liclican, Cherilyn Mae Acorda

We don't really know much about this group, other than they're from the Bay Area (DUH!) Presumably formed for the competition

Find Them At:

Twitter: @sf6official Facebook: www.facebook.com/sanfran6 YouTube: www.youtube.com/sanfran6

6. Timothy's Gift

From: Nashville, TN

Members: Melissa Greene, Brianne Angerole, Emily Angerole, Anna Register, Abby Lane Hinton, Lauren Wedertz

Timothy's Gift is an innovative non-profit organization that focuses on bringing #HOPE back into prison systems all over America. The women of this ministry usually perform as part of a praise band, but they've decided to give vocal harmony a try, and we couldn't be more thrilled!

Find Them At:

Website: http://www.timothysgift.com/ Twitter: @timothysgift Facebook: www.facebook.com/timothysgift

a.squared is a new group @Yale that remixes live a cappella. We loop our voices, sample them, and add effects to make some wild sounds. Everything you hear in this video is made with the human voice and processed in Ableton Live in real time. Here's a cover of Bon Iver's "Holocene."