Main Squeeze: More than the Music

By Tessa Maddaloni

Photo courtesy of Main Squeeze

In 2003, a group of exclusive female a capella hopefuls started Main Squeeze. Today, the group has grown into a gender inclusive soprano/alto close knit a cappella group.

Displaying an intentional effort to include every type of music in their performances, Main Squeeze highlights smaller artists, artists of color, and artists in the LBGTQ+ community branching into many genres, including R&B, indie, folk, and pop country. Adding to their inclusiveness, they also display as much of their talent as possible, favoring trios and duets instead of just solos, which gives more members an opportunity to perform.

Every song is suggested by the members, creating a collaborative environment where even the newest voices can be heard. One song, however, is played as the last song at every invitational and is dubbed their ‘traditional song’: “Baby” by the Dave Matthews Band. Every new member learns it, and when it is performed, any alumni in the audience are welcomed on stage to sing it with the group, connecting the past and present members together.

Main Squeeze has multiple events on campus, including their Invitationals every semester, where they perform about seven songs they learned that semester, and Afterhours, a bonding experience for all the groups on campus giving them the opportunity to share the work they put in for each other. Every fall they attend Empowher, a fundraiser that includes multiple a cappella groups, and donates the proceeds to Vera House, a local organization raising money and awareness for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Feb. 24 is Main Squeeze’s next performance, titled “CozyCapella,” where all groups attend and sing their songs in pajamas. To prepare for these events, they rehearse two days a week from 9-11pm, along with sectional rehearsals on weekends where they break into their voice parts to work on specific cuts of the songs.

Main Squeeze recently had a bake sale to fundraise for their program, run by president Gaby Weinstein, helped by Lauren Brennan, Kendall Blincoe, and other members of Squeeze. They raised $124 that will be put into new merchandise, possibly a retreat for their group, and money for traveling to gigs. This was their first fundraiser outside of a performance, as they usually do raffles and sell merchandise while performing. All of the members agree that this bake sale was beneficial in more ways than just money. While their bank account has grown, so has their bond as an a cappella group. It gives them an opportunity to get out of the rehearsal space, and spend real time as people and friends, not just singers.

After their bake sale, I had the opportunity to speak with some members of Main Squeeze before a rehearsal of theirs. Gaby Weinstein, 21, senior at Syracuse University and president of Main Squeeze, has been involved since her freshman year, dubbing herself “vintage.” Her favorite memory comes from a moment of introspection during their tour of different high schools in Long Island, NYC, and Scranton, PA two years ago. She felt inspired by everyone throughout the tour, explaining how one night she realized how lucky they were to have something so special and how impactful it has been on her life and college career.

Lauren Brennan, 21, public relations director, also recounted her favorite memory of the group. She said that right before the university closed for COVID-19 in 2020, the different a cappella groups met in the Crouse auditorium, desperate to perform the songs they had worked so hard perfecting. After their performances, they gathered and talked about their experiences with their groups, the common theme being how loved and supported they always felt.

“This isn’t just a singing group,” said Brennan, “these are genuine friends that I will have for a long time.”

While Kendall Blincoe, 19, has only joined Squeeze this year, she has had just as memorable a time with the group as Weinstein and Brennan. She explained the group’s recent opportunity to record songs at SubCat Studios, including an arrangement of “Don’t Blame Me” by Taylor Swift. While the singing itself was an amazing experience, Blincoe said her favorite part was that they had all been COVID-19 tested, so they were able to take off their masks while singing.

“It makes the music matter so much more when you’re able to see other people’s emotions while singing,” she said.

Kellen Tasber, 24, is a graduate student who joined the group this past fall and has many positive memories. Their most satisfactory moment with the group was right after they had finished performing their fall invitational. They turned to each other in excitement of finishing their show, full of pride, and grateful for all of their hard work finally paying off.

“We just have an approach to music that is not only unique, but also genuine,” said Tasber. “We genuinely care about the music we are making, and about the people making the music.”

Spending time together outside of rehearsal in activities like the tours Weinstein attended is important to the group, as it makes their experience more cohesive and enjoyable. Stand-out moments like Tasber’s allow their hard work to be showcased.

Members inspire and push each other to work as hard as possible, while maintaining an encouraging group dynamic filled with appreciation for the music and for each other. Main Squeeze is more than just a music group. It’s a family.

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