Each Measure Review: Ball in the House

FEATURE

I took a chance on Ball in the House.

It paid off.

Ball in the House released their latest single, “Take a Chance” in July of this year, but this isn’t their first rodeo. United around a shared passion for the uplifting power of music and a love of the soul and R&B genres, the Boston-based a Capella group formed in 1997. Their laundry list of accomplishments includes headlining for such high-profile acts as the Beach Boys, the Jonas Brothers, and the Temptations, headlining the 2016 China International Chorus Festival in Beijing, and winning both 2014 APCA Band of the Year and the 2016 Boston Harmony Sweepstakes.

For anyone not familiar with their work, “Take a Chance” is the perfect introduction to their highly inventive and musically-informed approach to their craft. If you’re looking for typical, run-of-the-mill a Capella pop music, you won’t find it here. Brought to life by the group’s highly refined vocal talents, the Ball in the House catalogue showcases a desire innovate the genre and explore new territory. Taking chances pretty well sums up Ball in the House’s artistic philosophy, as they’ve always been willing to break boundaries within their craft.

“Take a Chance” is no exception. The track was written by Ball in the House’s current bass vocalist, Kevin Cincotta-Guest, who also arranged and produced the recording. With a crisp, glittery atmosphere, the track somehow manages to blur the lines between timeless, nostalgic, and modern.

Cincotta-Guest took inspiration from the synth soundscapes of the 1980’s, which have recently made a notable comeback in the world of popular music. “Take a Chance” garners comparisons to the Weeknd’s hit “Blinding Lights” and Ed Sheeran’s “Overpass Graffiti” for its high-energy rhythms, catchy melody, and demanding vocal parts. The sonic pallet is so rich and the percussion is so compelling that it’s easy to forget they’re doing everything with their voices alone. That takes real talent.

From a technical perspective, all six members of Ball in the House are masters of their craft, but they also have passion. In addition to being a triumph of technical ability, “Take a Chance” is a genuinely poignant piece of music. Th artists describe it as “a heartfelt story of taking a leap of faith in love,” and from the very first chord, every voice is rich with emotion. Lead vocalist Tyler Nordin soars above as he sings, “Oh, I’m never lookin’ back, take a chance on me” in the intro, establishing a catchy, compelling hook that will be carried throughout the song.

The first verse introduces themes of desire and devotion, as the narrator pines for the affection of a lover who is not yet his. “How can I shine bright for her?” Nordin sings in a sweet, emotionally resonant moment of wondering how to become worthy of the life-changing romance he craves.

With the refrain, “You need to know what’s on my mind,” Ball in the House segues into the song’s first chorus, which is dripping with urgency and earnestness. As a lyricist, Kevin Cincotta-Guest is exceptionally good at creating the kind of drama that draws listeners in, and in the chorus, he really gets a chance to show off his talent for raising the emotional stakes and keeping them high. Nordin sings, “Oh, I just need you now / I am lost, don’t know where to go / Here me now / Oh, I’ll never look back, take a chance on me.” There are times in life when emotions run so strong that the only way to deal with them is to channel them into music. This is one of those times.

Delivered in Nordin’s soulful tenor, the chorus sounds like a truly impassioned plea. The line, “I am lost, don’t know where to go” is a familiar sentiment to anyone who has every felt delirious with emotion. There’s an overwhelming impression that for the narrator of this song, everything hinges upon this moment, and whether or not he earns the love of this girl will make or break him. This seems to be a real turning point, where he has to decide what to do with the powerful emotions inside of him. He’s willing to risk it all, and all he asks for in return is to be given a chance.

Tensions rise even higher in the second verse, where the narrator begins to wonder whether or not his efforts are even worth it. “I’m letting go of my notion of having you near… Is this just fantasy to stand in your world?” Nordin sings, portraying this bittersweet sense of doubt with forceful vigor. It’s exactly this element of uncertainly that elevates “Take a Chance” from being merely sentimental to being a truly great song. Conflict is what drives art, and it’s certainly present here. The hero of our story has challenges to overcome, and we can’t help but root for him.

Ball in the House make a final plea for their cause in the bridge, which successfully buildsmelodic tension before resolving into the final chorus. “I promise you, I’ll always be your guiding light,” the singer vows in a sincere expression of commitment.

At its heart, “Take a Chance” is a song about the nature of love and the sacrifice it entails. When we choose to love, we risk heartbreak, abandonment, and independence, but when it’s worth, it’s really worth it. The song asks us to take a chance, but the narrator is taking a big chance himself, offering to trade vulnerability for a lifetime of love and devotion. There are a lot of love songs out there, but only a few dare to confront this perspective, and “Take a Chance” is one of them.

Ball in the House ends “Take a Chance” on a repeated chorus, leaving us with a profound sense of catharsis and perhaps some newfound insight into what it means to love. It’s a stellar release, and one that deserves more than one listen.

So, what’s next for Ball in the House? They taking a big chance of their own. They’ve submitted “Take a Chance” for Grammy® consideration, and in light of all the success they’ve had so far, this kind of high-profile recognition might be long overdue for them. Help them out by giving “Take a Chance” a few listens on Spotify.

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