Charming, euphonious sounds pervaded the North Area of campus on Friday as family, fans and friends gathered around the Fine Arts Terrace on Lake Mary Nell to celebrate the release of “Coming Into Focus,” a new CD recorded by Sweet Signatures.

Sweet Signatures is an all-female a capella group, meaning that the ladies emulate the sounds of instruments with their own voices, adding vocal percussion or beatboxing to create a desired sound.

“This CD is the culmination of so much hard work and a lot of love,” senior Holly Hansen said. “It’s really fantastic to know that even after we leave Elon, we can look back and say, look at what we did. I hope that the community loves ‘Coming Into Focus’ as much as we do.”

A simple toot of the harmonica sent the group into a spirited, high-energy performance of five songs from the album, including the audience favorite “Take Me or Leave Me” from the Broadway musical “Rent,” a profession of unconditional love in Aslyn’s “Wally,” and the soaring, robust rendition of alternative rock group Evanescence’s “Call Me When You’re Sober.”

“I think we are especially excited because we are so proud of the album,” senior Michelle Hammerbacher said. “The final stage of the process has finally arrived, and we can’t wait to share it. It really represents who we are as a group. We’ve come a long way since our last album.”

Shortly following the public concert, the Sweet Signatures put on an invitation-only performance in Holt Chapel for close friends and family. Exuding a more intimate feel, the women performed without a microphone, instead allowing the power of their own voices to resonate with the audience.

This time allowing the audience to hear the track list in its entirety, the group, donned black and hot pink outfits, invited back three alumni members to join in performing songs from an album that took more than a year to complete.

“We have put our time, our talents and our hearts into this project,” president Kim Poe said. “I think I speak for the group when I say that we are very proud of what we have accomplished.”

Pausing briefly during the program, the women took time to collectively thank those seated in the pews for having encouraged their passion and talent for music. Each woman looked into the eyes of those who saw the gift of song and who had helped her—whether consciously or not—to find her own voice.

The group ended the show on a lighter note, exhibiting the more humorous side to their personalities, with a performance of “SexyBack,” a pop rendition including such well known songs as Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack,” Chamillionaire’s “Ridin’ Dirty” and the Pussycat Dolls’ “Buttons.”

“Being in the group is such a great opportunity,” sophomore Eryn Gradwell said. “Not only are these girls great to sing with, but they are like sisters to me.”

The ladies of Sweet Signatures hope that the release of their CD will open up doors to future opportunities for them both on and off campus in future years.

“We are hoping to gain more popularity on campus through our new CD,” Gradwell said. “Hopefully we, along with the other two a cappella groups at Elon can break the stereotype of a cappella sounding only like a barbershop quartet.”

Reporter: My Nguyen - 10/03/07