Founded in 1984 by former Tufts students Joanne Cohen (LA ‘87), Craig Everett (LA ‘89) and David Wiley (LA ‘89), the Tufts Amalgamates were the university's first co-ed a cappella group. Although many a cappella groups on campus are often overshadowed by the Beelzebubs' success and popularity, the Amalgamates have been able to establish themselves as not only a premier a cappella group at Tufts, but also around the country.
When the group was formed, the founders chose the name "Amalgamates," which means, "combine or unite to form one organization or structure," to represent the group's co-ed nature.
Since their founding, the Amalgamates have recorded 12 albums. Their most recent, "Hands Off the Mannequin!" (2011), has been nominated for two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards for Best Mixed Collegiate Album and Best Mixed Collegiate Song for "Boy Lilikoi." They are now recording their unnamed 13th studio album, working with Plaid Productions, an a cappella recording studio founded by two Tufts alums, Alexander Green (LA '10), formerly of the Amalgamates, and Alexander Koutzoukis (LA '10) formerly of the Beelzebubs.
The Amalgamates have also traveled around the world to perform, going to places such as Spain, England, France, Jamaica, Germany, Florida and California.
Despite their success and their singing prowess, the Amalgamates are made up of more than just mellifluous voices; the people behind the songs make up the family that is the group.
Junior Foster Lockwood, president of the Amalgamates, was hooked on music early in life. He started singing in elementary school, although he said he "was never really any more talented than the average kid." He first became interested in singing when he heard the Acoustix, a famous a cappella group, and his interest was furthered by the groups Rockapella and Straight No Chaser. Lockwood finally began to sing a cappella in high school, and he said that he's known since then that he wanted to do the same once he got to college.
In contrast, sophomore Ryan Johnson, business manager for the Amalgamates, didn't start singing until high school.
"I personally began singing my sophomore year in high school in the Pomfret School Chorus," Johnson said. "After a few weeks I really began to enjoy singing and the versatility of the human voice, so in the following year, I decided to audition for the school's a cappella ensemble, the Griff Tones, and was accepted."
Many people aren't aware of how much of a commitment a group like the ‘Mates requires. According to Lockwood, they have a strict minimum time commitment of seven hours of rehearsal per week, with at least one gig every two weeks. While it can be stressful, many members think the opportunity is worth the investment.
"At times the commitment can be a bit strenuous, especially when you have many passions, but the commitment you make is well worth it when you finally hear a song that has ‘clicked' and all the members are on the same wavelength," Johnson said.
He went on to say that with the large commitment comes a large reward.
"We as a group are 28 years old, which is older than most co-ed a cappella groups, and with that there have been a number of ‘traditions' that we have developed, and stood the test of time," Johnson said. "While from the outside looking in it may seem like we only sing together, but in all actuality, we are all friends and we love hanging out with each other."
Lockwood added that his favorite part of being in the Amalgamates is watching new members develop within the group.
"Taking in ‘babies,' as we call them, is a tremendously important step we take once or twice a year at most, and they come in wide-eyed and mostly clueless," he said. "Then over their first semester they start forming the bonds that I treasure so dearly … our ‘babies' are definitely my favorite and arguably the most important part of the group."
The key difference that sets the Amalgamates apart from other a cappella groups at Tufts, such as the Jackson Jills and the Beelzebubs, is that they're co-ed.
"Our members appreciate the implicit chemistry that comes out of the combination, which some single sex groups may lack," Lockwood said.
Being co-ed also gives the Amalgamates an advantage: They are are able to harmonize in ways that other groups can't, further distinguishing them within the a cappella community.
Despite their talent and originality, Lockwood stressed that the most important characteristic of the Amalgamates is how much of a family they are.
"So much more is between us as members of this group than the shared respect for music … The current members, the alumni, and all future members share a bond that is akin to the way you might feel about your best friends you meet freshman year," Lockwood said. "A lot of group members have their social groups outside of the ‘Mates, but in the end we can all rely on each other and trust that if one of us needs some extra support, the group will be there for them."
