Pentatonix "On My Way Home"

GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS PENTATONIX RELEASE ON MY WAY HOME DOCUMENTARY TODAY

AVAILABLE NOW EXCLUSIVELY VIA VIMEO ON DEMAND

Grammy Award winners and platinum-selling recording artists Pentatonix release their new documentary, On My Way Home, exclusively via Vimeo On Demand today.  The 90-minute documentary follows the group on their journey back home to Texas after they received their first platinum selling album with That’s Christmas To Me and won their very first Grammy.  With the expectations set higher than ever and the group riding a wave a success, PTX continued their domination on the road with their SOLD OUT North American On My Way Home Tour. Mixed with live performances, fans will get a behind the scenes look as the group perfects their tour, starts recording their first original album and shares their experiences of how their wildest dreams are coming true.

The documentary, which was produced by Scheme Engine (Where I'm From: JAY Z, One The Road: Macklemore, & Beyonce & JAY Z's "On The Run" Tour), is available for purchase now at Vimeo On Demand (smarturl.it/PTXvimeo).

Last night I attended the premiere screening and reception for the film on the Sony lot in Culver City, CA -

So I threw in a few pics that I took at the reception for your enjoyment. Have a great weekend!

Awwwwww:
Scott Hoying & Brittney

It's All About That Bass:
Avi Kaplan & Yours Truly

The Fun Shirt Club:
Me, Mitch Grassi & My Friend Brittney

Official Website: http://ptxofficial.com/

YouTube Page: http://youtube.com/Ptxofficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pentatonix

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PTXofficial

To purchase On My Way Home: smarturl.it/PTXvimeo 

Kevin "Renegade" Olusola

Cellist, beatboxer, producer, Grammy winner and one fifth of Pentatonix. That is how most of you know Kevin "KO" Olusola. 

Perhaps you didn't know he is also a Renegade. Yes, Kevin's first EP Renegade is out tomorrow, March 10th.  

Less than an hour after the EP surfaced on iTunes, The Renegade EP, which features Olusola’s world famous celloboxing (simultaneously playing cello and beatboxing), landed at #1 on the Classical Album Chart.  Simultaneously, his rendition of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” shot to #1 on the Classical Singles Chart, with a companion music video, which "KO" premiered on YouTube in conjunction with it. 

MS: Rumor has it you have a new EP coming out?

KO: Oh my god, I am ecstatic, I am beside myself! I can't believe it is real and it's happening. It's very exciting!

MS: What prompted you to do Renegade?

KO: I feel that I've gained a lot of skills now that I have been in Pentatonix a while for inspiration. I wanted to put something out that was a cohesive sound of all those experiences that I can elaborate on.

MS: So, how does it feel to be a Grammy Award Winner?

KO: It's amazing and surreal. When I say "Oh yeah we won a Grammy" that doesn't come out of most people's mouths. To know that I can say that is very humbling.

MS: Very few people have one, it's really cool. 

KO: Exactly!

Renegade!

MS: On your EP, this may or may not sound weird to you. Probably not, when you played Sam Smith's Stay With Me, I heard singing even though there wasn't any. 

KO: Wow! You understand it. That is the sound I am going for! The people who I have admired as instrumentalists are people like Santana. He was a singer first and his medium for that voice was his instrument. So that's why when people say that the cello is the instrument that is the closest to the human voice, I had to take it that step further. How do I actually reproduce this sound so people can actually hear a voice and say "Wow!" I tried to create a sound around it. I'm so happy you said that, that means a lot to me, Thank You.

MS: BTW I remember you playing Renegade at The Orpheum in Los Angeles, CA.

KO: Oh yeah, absolutely! 

MS: You always get a solo at a Pentatonix concert which is nice.

KO: Thank you, I appreciate it. It took me so long to put all of the elements together so when I was offered the solo I thought why not just go for it!

MS: Curious people want to know. What made you want to cover Heart Attack by Demi Lovato?

KO: It had an edgy quality to it...electronic, tech, hardcore, which I love! What attracted me to it was I did not think people could ever think the piece could be done with the cello and the beatboxing. So I took it and said: "Let me try it." 

                                                           "Stay With Me"

MS: You have created an original music category: Celloboxing.

KO: No one else is Celloboxing, sure why not, let's do it. (laughs)

MS: You've also played Carnegie Hall as well.

KO: Oh yeah. I did it on two different occasions one was my senior year in High School as a cellist, a solo. Then I did it in my first year of college on saxophone. Two different experiences at Carnegie Hall. I feel very honored that I have had that opportunity.

MS: How does it feel to be on the classical music charts? 

KO: It's so weird to contemplate that people are actually going out and buying the music that I'm creating. I'm overwhelmed.

MS: You're like Lindsey Stirling she is a Rock Star on the violin, you are a Rock Star on the cello.

KO: Oh thank you! I appreciate that! When you think about it now this alternative sound is popularized and now has wide mass appeal. Lindsey is amazing, she really paved the way for it an created it, in how she presented what she did. There are so many ways to be heard now, it's amazing!

MS: How did you discover your inner Beatboxer?

KO: It wasn't anything that I thought of. I just kind of did it when I was young. It was this song by Musiq Soulchild called Juslisten and it had this hook at the very beginning of the song, that inspired me, that's when I started Beatboxing a lot more. 

Go Celloboxing with Kevin at: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KO1Music
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kolusola
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kolusola
Order The Renegade EP on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/RenegadeEP   

Pentatonix Get A Platinum Christmas Gift

On A Roll: Pentatonix
Photo: Jiro Schneider 

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR GRAMMY NOMINATED

 PENTATONIX!

THAT’S CHRISTMAS TO ME SCANS OVER 1 MILLION ALBUMS IN THE US

Merry Christmas PTX! A platinum Christmas gift & a Grammy nomination, wow! That's way better than a lump of coal in your stocking...!

SURPASSES BEYONCE’S BEYONCE TO BECOME THE 4^TH BEST SELLING ALBUM OF 2014

#1 ON BILLBOARD’S HOLIDAY ALBUM CHART FOR 9 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS

#1 BEST SELLING CD AND MP3 ALBUM OF 2014 ON AMAZON

NOMINATED FOR 2014 GRAMMY AWARD FOR BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTAL OR A CAPPELLA – “DAFT PUNK”

Celebrate With The Gang at: http://ptxmas.ptxofficial.com/

Happy Halloween Everyone, Time For Treats

It's here, my favorite Holiday of the year, give me an H-a-l-l-o-w-e-e-n, what's that spell? Halloween, Yay! This year I have decided to celebrate All Hallows Eve by having familiar faces pop by and chime in on the Season of the Witch...

Including myself. I love horror movies and my contribution to this column on the most holy of days will be images from my favorite horror movie of all time: John Carpenter's Halloween.

Michael Myers scared the crap out of me, I used to see his white emotionless face appear in the dark for a few years after I first saw the movie! Eeeeeeeeeeeek! So let's get this Dead Man's Party started, shall we? Treat time people!

"I'd re-animate Vlad the impaler. He could show Isis how a pro does it".- Stuart Gordon Writer/Director "Re-Animator" & "Re-Animator The Musical"

"I love sweet tarts which are probably too old fashioned for kids today. It's got this chalky taste that's closer to children's aspirin (which I also love) than candy. I like the candy that everyone hates like candy corn, butterscotch, sweet tarts. And I hate bobbing for apples. That seems dangerous and not delicious." - Margaret Cho Comedian/Writer/Actress

"My favorite thing about Halloween was trading the candy I got from trick or treating for things I actually wanted, because I didn't like candy." - Avi Kaplan Pentatonix

Jamie Lee Curtis Will Cut You!

"We started celebrating Halloween in September haha. We go to the library & get all Halloween stories & start watching Halloween movies. This year were setting up a Halloween tree & making all our own costumes. It's visually festive. We're obsessed!!" -  James Durbin Singer/Songwriter/American Idol Finalist 

"Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday!!  I grew up doing theatre, so it's basically the one time of the year you can be overly theatrical and dress up and the better you do it the cooler you are, haha.  I also just love scary movies and going to themed events like haunted houses, theme parks, parties, etc.  It's all just super fun and scary!" - Kirstin Maldonado Pentatonix

"Um...free chocolate...all you have to do is get dressed up for fun. Yea...I'm all in!" - Raine Brown Actress/Producer/Scream Queen

"My favorite thing about Halloween is getting a group together and going to haunted houses. I looooove being scared with my best friends!"  - Scott Hoying Pentatonix

Everybody Run! It's Michael Myers!

"I LOVE Halloween.  It's my favorite holiday between the costumes and the ghost stories.  I dress up every year and I find that somehow whatever my costume it sort of takes over me and becomes a part of my spirit that defines each year... I like making my costumes myself too; not sewing them or anything but combining the parts in a way that's unique and not just buying something ready made.  Oh and here in LA I insist on going on the Haunted Hayride in Griffith Park!" - Naama Kates Singer/Songwriter/Actress "Souled"

"To be honest, I usually stay in and watch a movie or hang out with friends at their home lol. But maybe I’ll try something fun this year this Halloween!" - Kevin “K.O.” Olusola Cellist, Beatboxer - Pentatonix

"Love me a handful of candy corn, a sparkly magical costume and a bunch of great friends! Kids at my door cutie pies in costumes, party time! That's what I love about Halloween!" - EG Daily Singer/Songwriter/Actress 

"I grew up doing theatre, like Kirstie, so playing dress-up has always been fun for me! I love the decorating aspect of Halloween, too. The kitschier the better!" - Mitchell C. Grassi Pentatonix

"The DRAMA!! lol!" - Aiden Leslie Singer/Songwriter

Look Behind You Babysitter!

"My favorite part of Halloween is the 364 days before when my 5 year old twins try on costumes in preparation".- Cindy Alexander Singer/Songwriter

"I love to go to the Day of the Dead festival at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. It's a wonderful taste of loving Mexican culture," - Sir JET Gender Bending Pop Singer

"The look on a kid's face when they walk in with SO much candy."- Debby Holiday Singer/Songwriter

"I love the spirit of Halloween! Dressing up, eating candies and having a great time with your family and friends" - Grace Valerie Singer/Songwriter

"My favorite thing about Halloween is probably Elvira’s boobs. I mean, they are life giving. A close second is making sure to watch Michael Jackson’s, “Thriller”, from start to finish - and dancing that amazing choreography full out because you know, it’s “thriller, thriller night, and no one’s gonna save you from the beast about to strike.” - Matthew Duffy Singer/Dancer/Perfomer 

We Know It's You Michael

"My favorite thing about Halloween is that my birthday is a few days after." - Monique Parent Actress/Scream Queen
"I'm not Wednesday Addams, but I've always been a night owl with a flair for the macabre. Halloween is the one time I can feel truly at home. Add in some chocolate...perfection!" - M.E. Franco Author, The Dion Series
"Dancing to Necroditty! And remember boys and girls...Lloyd is still out there!" - The Drews, Americana With Twisted Roots Band

"I'll be at Comikaze the whole day on Halloween at our booth 161 Hollywood Sci-Fi Museum" - Huston Huddleston Hollywood Sci-Fi Museum Head Honcho
Get your spook on at: http://www.halloween-website.com/

Pentatonix Does Number 3

Here Comes Number 3!
Photo: Esther Kaplan

PENTATONIX SET TO RELEASE PTX VOL. 3 ON SEPTEMBER 23^rd

DIGITAL & PHYSICAL PRE-ORDERS TO LAUNCH AUGUST 12^TH

LEAD VIDEO TO PREMIERE VIA YOUTUBE THIS TUESDAY, AUGUST 12^TH AS 

GROUP’S CHANNEL ECLIPSES 6 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS AND A HALF-BILLION VIEWS

NEW PTX HOLIDAY ALBUM – THAT’S CHRISTMAS TO ME – TO BE RELEASED OCTOBER 21^ST

That's correct all you PTXers, Pentatonix is squeezing out their 3rd CD for all of their rabid fans, feel the anticipation. Oh, with another Holiday album to be released shortly after.

A side note to the sole female PTX member, Kirstie Maldonado - keep the blonde grrrrrrrl, it really compliments your features!

Vocal sensations Pentatonix are set to release their 3rd EP – PTX Vol. 3 – on September 23^rd via RCA Records.  This third installment of the group’s wildly successful EP series continues to mix global pop and indie hits with original tracks, showcasing the quintet’s eclectic taste and otherworldly talent.  The album will also include a surprise featured guest, as well as a song performed entirely in French.

PTX fans will get their first taste of the album's track list this Tuesday, August 12^th, as their iTunes and Amazon pre-order goes live with the first of 2 planned instant grat tracks, both coinciding with video releases via the PTX YouTube channel.  A teaser for both the upcoming video and album launch went live on YouTube alongside this release: (view video here).

Having recently eclipsed 6 million subscribers and 520 million cumulative views, the PTXOfficial is currently the 13th most subscribed-to music channel on YouTube, having surpassed the subscriber totals of both Avicii and Beyoncé. 

In addition to PTX Vol. 3, Pentatonix will also release a brand new holiday album – That’s Christmas To Me – on October 21^st.  The album is named for an original holiday song penned by the group, and includes a combination of classic holiday tracks, modern favorites and a one-of-a-kind holiday mash-up. 

Earlier this week, Pentatonix was featured as part of MTV’s campaign for Paramount Pictures’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, where they wrote an original Turtles-inspired track to accompany a series of promotional videos that premiered on MTV and live on the PTX YouTube channel (view the video here).  In 2015, Pentatonix will also appear in Universal Pictures’ Pitch Perfect 2, where they will play a Canadian a cappella group and rivals to the Barden Bellas.

Pentatonix consists of lead vocalists Scott Hoying (22), Kirstie Maldonado (22) and Mitch Grassi (22), vocal bass Avi Kaplan (25) and beatboxer Kevin “K.O.” Olusola (25). Since their debut in 2011, the quintet has released 3 EP’s (PTX Volume 1, PTXmas and PTX Volume 2) selling over 500,000 copies combined. 

Their most recent album – PTX Vol. 2 – debuted at #10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and featured a 7-song Daft Punk medley (the track’s video has, to date, been viewed more than 85 million times). PTX Volume 2 follows PTX Volume 1 and PTXmas. Both albums originally debuted on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart and re-entered the chart in December 2013, with the deluxe version of PTXmas leading the charge.  With the addition of new tracks “Little Drummer Boy” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” PTXmas has sold more than 200,000 copies and reached #1 on Billboard’s Digital Albums Chart. The video for “Little Drummer Boy” was a worldwide hit, racking up nearly 35 million views while the song landed at #13 on the Billboard Top 100 Singles Chart as well as #1 on Billboard’s Holiday 100 and Holiday Digital Songs Chart.

Official Website: http://ptxofficial.com/
YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/user/ptxofficial?feature=results_main%20
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pentatonix
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PTXofficial

Pentatonix Are: Pitch Perfect 2

PTX: Their Pitch Is Perfect, 2

I guess the first Pitch Perfect was a hit, well that's cool because Entertain Me favorites, Pentatonix aka PTX are now in the sequel! Alright all you PTX fans raise your lighters in the dark! Oh and it's called Pitch Perfect 2, the best surprise is no surprise. 

Pentatonix, in case you have been living under a rock are the five-person ensemble that rose to fame after winning the third season of NBC’s The Sing-Off, will play a rival group to the Barden Bellas, the collegiate acappella singers at the center of the sequel, hitting theaters in 2015

Tell me more, tell me more, like do you have a falsetto? “We’re wearing some pretty interesting things,” teases PTX's Scott Hoying. “You can definitely tell it’s the five of us, but what we’re wearing and who we’re portraying is definitely not Pentatonix.” 

Pitch Perfect 2 finds the original Bellas—Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, and others—returning for another year at Barden University, where they’re ushering a new crew of members into the national-winning group. Expect the five members of Pentatonix to offer threatening competition to the Bellas’ well-oiled machine.

The gang won’t get any dialogue, “Let’s be honest, it’s probably for the best,” laughs Scott Hoying, but they did get some major screentime—and some off-camera facetime with the gals who play their competition. “I will say, all the Barden Bellas are hot,” states fellow PTX'er Kevin Olusola. “So I was pretty happy.”

PP2 on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2848292/

PTX on the N.E.T: http://ptxofficial.com/

Pentatonix Gets Down !

PTX: We're Here To Get Down
Photo: Esther Kaplan

We all know the PTX gang as an amazing acapella cover group. However up until now, have only done an official video for one original song "Run To You" a moving piece of music that I LOVED when I saw them in concert in March.

Time to catch the "Boogie Fever" as Pentatonix has done what I would call a song, dance floor and dance re-mix ready, get down!

"Love Again" does what the best dance anthems do, it features beats that make you want to shake your booty and it is accessible to any DJ to remix and make you want to shout on the dance floor, give it up!!!

Give it a listen and try to stay sitting in front of your computer the whole time, I guarantee you will get up and get down in Funky Town.

                                                                 "Love Again"

Whip It With PTX at:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmv1CLT6ZcFdTJMHxaR9XeA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pentatonix
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PTXofficial
                       

Pentatonix Go Major On You...

PTX, Nuff Said
Photo: Esther Kaplan

Congrats to my friends Pentatonix for hitting it with a major label, you guys deserve it!

RCA Records is excited to announce the signing of vocal sensations and internet phenoms Pentatonix.  Since their debut in 2011, the quintet has released 3 albums (PTX Volume 1, PTXmas and PTX Volume 2) selling over 500,000 copies combined.  Online, the Pentatonix YouTube channel boasts well over 445 million views with more than 5.6 million subscribers, is the #61 most subscribed-to channel and #16 most subscribed-to music channel. The group recently sold out their 32-date North American tour and is currently on a sold out European tour, which concludes May 18^th in Dublin, Ireland.  

 

“We are thrilled to have Pentatonix join RCA,” says RCA President & COO Tom Corson.  “Their musicality and special vocal abilities have enabled them to create innovative original songs as well as re-create some of today’s biggest hits. Pentatonix is unique to our business and we look forward to working with them as we take their talents to new and exciting heights everywhere in the world.”

 

"We're really excited to start this new chapter of our career with RCA,” says the group. “We feel like we've found a home where we can truly develop our artistry with the best in the industry."

 

Pentatonix consists of lead vocalists Scott Hoying (22), Kirstie Maldonado (21) and Mitch Grassi (21), vocal bass Avi Kaplan (25) and beatboxer Kevin “K.O.” Olusola (25). Their most recent album PTX Volume 2 debuted at #10 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and features 3 original songs and 5 covers including a 7-song Daft Punk medley for which the video has garnered over 65 million views.  PTX Volume 2 follows PTX Volume 1 and PTXmas. Both albums originally debuted on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart and re-entered the chart in December 2013, with the deluxe version of PTXmas leading the charge. With the addition of new tracks “Little Drummer Boy” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” PTXmas has sold more than 200,000 copies and reached #1 on Billboard’s Digital Albums Chart. The video for “Little Drummer Boy” was a worldwide hit, racking up over 30 million views while the song landed at #13 on the Billboard Top 100 Singles Chart as well as #1 on Billboard’s Holiday 100 and Holiday Digital Songs Chart.

 

Official Website: http://ptxofficial.com/

YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/user/ptxofficial?feature=results_main%20

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pentatonix

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PTXofficial

 

Penatatonix Rules The Orpheum In Los Angeles, CA

 

Last night I caught the amazing Pentatonix as they took The Orpheum stage in Los Angeles,CA! They were frickin' awesome!

Would you expect anything less from the fabulous five?

So, yours truly got to go to the meet and greet backstage post Orpheum show and I captured the excitement and fun for all of you...

Look, It's Beat Boxer & Cello Player Kevin Olusola!

Avi Kaplan Saying Hi To A Fan

Scott Hoying I Presume

Me & Kirstie Maldonado

My Friend & PTX Publicist Ken Phillips

Mitch Grassi With His Cool Lion Print Shirt

Go PTX! http://ptxofficial.com/