Interview with Joanna Goldsmith-Eteson (Roper’s 2002) from the Swingles

With their Dulwich Concert Series performance at Alleyn's fast approaching, we caught up with alumna Joanna Goldsmith-Eteson (Roper’s 2002), member of The Swingles a cappella group, to talk about her musical background and journey with The Swingles over the last 18 years. 

Where does your love of music stem from?  
My parents, whilst not musicians themselves, are huge music fans and I grew up listening to an extremely eclectic mix of genres and styles. As a child, the soundtrack in my house included Mahler, Depeche Mode, Ella Fitzgerald, The Beach Boys, David Bowie, Rodgers and Hammerstein, The Gypsy Kings, Rachmaninov, King Crimson, Bryan Ferry, Barbra Streisand, The Beatles, Tchaikovsky, you name it…

What drew you to becoming a singer?
If I’m being honest it was probably Disney movies, and classic musicals and using song to tell stories.

When did you first become aware of the Swingles?
As a teen I joined the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and ended up singing two or three of Ward Swingle’s arrangements. That was my first introduction but now that I know much more of the history of the group and how many tracks have been synced and sampled over the years, I realise that we’ve all been hearing them everywhere without realising!

What are the challenges of a cappella singing?
I would say that for any choir or a cappella ensemble, for young singers it can take a while to get used to not having something reliable to tune to (like a piano for example). There’s a lot of responsibility involved in keeping yourselves in tune without an accompaniment or staying in time without a drum kit or metronome. It can take a lot of practice to internalise those things and for them to become muscle memory.   

How long does it take for new members of the group to adapt to the Swingles sound?
It can really vary. We tend to hire people for whom this comes really naturally. In general we sing pretty quietly across the board and with a good amount of air in the sound which, when amplified, adds a certain warmth. Of course there are moments depending on the piece or arrangement where we add twang or belt but overall the ‘default’ Swingle sound that we revert to is a slightly softer, straighter sound.

What are the challenges of composing for the group? How much changes once you start rehearsing new pieces and arrangements? 
When an arrangement comes to the group it goes through all sorts of changes and in some cases keeps changing and growing over the years! You learn quite quickly to not be too precious when bringing something for the group to look at, as chances are it will be ripped apart and put back together, but in the best way! The benefit of writing for a group like this is that you are writing for specific voices and can play to each others’ strengths which can be a real luxury. 

What have been your highlights working with The Swingles?
We’ve been fortunate enough to work with the most incredible people including Marin Alsop, Kurt Elling, Jamie Cullum, New York Voices, The King’s Singers… We’ve also been to truly incredible places and had some proper ‘pinch-me’ moments. I’d say that driving snow-mobiles to the top of a glacier and swimming in the blue lagoon in Iceland was pretty great. Spending time in Rio and drinking caipirinhas on Ipanema and Copacabana beaches was fun. Driving to the Grand Canyon and watching the sunset over the rocks was another recent highlight!

What (aside from talent!) do you think it takes to succeed as a professional musician?  
It sounds obvious but musically speaking, practice! Also the more versatile you can be as a singer the better. A huge number of singers in London make money by doing session singing which can be really diverse and varied. The ability to switch styles and vocal timbres is really useful. On a personal level, be nice to people and be on time! You’re more likely to be hired if you are reliable and nice to work with.

What is your fondest or most striking memory of your time at Alleyn’s? 
I was really lucky that for some reason music and singing was really popular while I was at Alleyn’s. I believe it still is! At my previous school I would have been the only one doing music A level but at Alleyn’s I was in a class of around 14! It was fantastic to be able to be involved in a cappella groups, chamber choirs and choral societies and to cover so much vocal rep while I was there. 

Are there any stand-out concerts or performances you remember from your time at Alleyn’s?   
My absolute highlight would have to be my final recital where I had the opportunity to sing Rachmaninov's Vocalise with the Symphony Orchestra at St John’s Smith Square.

What an incredible woman, musician and source of inspiration you are, Joanna!

The Swingles’ hallmark spirit of innovation and playfulness shines through their signature Swingle sound - warm yet crystalline. Join us for an unforgettable live performance, where The Swingles transcend time, genre and vocal expectations, inviting you to witness their extraordinary musical legacy.

The Swingles are Joanna Goldsmith-Eteson (Roper's 2002) (UK), Mallika Bhagwat (India/UK), Katelyn Dietz (USA), Oliver Griffiths (UK), Owen Butcher (UK), Jamie Wright (UK), and Tom Hartley (UK).

Dulwich Concert Series: The Swingles

Location: The MCT at Alleyn's

Date: Mon 17 Jun 2024, 7:30pm

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