Din and Tonics performing for the second time inside Susie’s.
For the second consecutive year, Harvard’s Din & Tonics brought their acapella act to Susie’s last Friday night. The set featured vocal arrangements of classics like “Shaboom” and “McDonald’s Girl,” alongside comedy bits and crowd interactions that drew as much of a reaction as the singing itself. For several across campus, the night brought not just a new experience, but also a collective sense of awe.
Jane Hlavaty ’28 expressed particular excitement for the group’s return. Having been one of the students who first pushed to bring the group to campus the previous year, she found their second performance to be an especially rewarding experience.
“Last year they hosted the event, and me and a friend from history class, Sammy Gong [’28], decided that we really liked the group and were trying to see if they could come to Andover. So we reached out to our history teacher, Mr. [Christopher] Capano, who was the head of student activities, and asked him if he could invite them over. He did, and it was really, really fun. I just wanted to experience that again this year,” said Hlavaty.
Hlavaty further commented that the event’s most memorable qualities was the atmosphere the group created in Susies. Rather than feeling distant or overly staged, the performance felt relaxed and genuine, animated by the group’s rapport with one another and their willingness to interact with the audience.
“I think it was really cozy, honestly. They were very interactive with the crowd, and the crowd really loved them. We were hyping them up, and they had a lot of jokes that the crowd enjoyed. It was just a very comfortable, cozy space. I feel like we were all just there to appreciate the music and enjoy the spirit of a cappella, which is more about taking life easy and appreciating everything around you,” said Hlavaty.
The sense of ease in their performance, however, did not compromise the group’s musical execution. Elisa Feygin ’28, a singer in various a capella groups on campus, noted that the Din & Tonics maintained a level of vocal precision throughout the performance that was difficult to find fault with.
“I just loved the way that they interacted with each other while they performed. I loved how interactive they were with us, as well, because it just felt so conversational and informal, and it was just like a really cool thing to watch…The blend was perfect. All the soloists were so good, and I loved the way one person didn’t overpower the rest. It was just very balanced and professional and polished, and I really liked it,” said Feygin.
Gabbie Kawooya ’27 echoed Feygin’s remarks, pointing in particular to the group’s synchronization and vocal consistency. Even in a casual setting, the performance still reflected a high degree of rehearsal and cohesion.
“They always have such amazing synchronization. They always sound so together. Their harmonies are always on point, and they’re incredible. I think they were amazing in all the songs that they chose. It’s clear they’ve worked a lot on everything,” said Kawooya.
Prior to the performance, the Din & Tonics also held a meet and greet, giving students the opportunity to speak with members of the group on a more personal level. For Kawooya, the conversation moved from questions about the group’s rehearsal process to what life at Harvard looks like.
“I got to meet a couple of them and talk to them, and they were really nice. I talked to them with my friend, and they told us a lot about the rehearsal schedules and what their day-to-day lives are like at Harvard. They’re really easy to talk to. I know I talked to one of the girls named Shannon, who I think is graduating this year, and she was really, really sweet, and she was really fun to talk to,” said Kawooya.
For Feygin, this performance was memorable not only for its musical quality, but also in prompting her to reflect on her own journey as a singer. Watching the Din & Tonics perform offered a fuller sense of what an a capella could achieve, both musically and in the sense of connection it created with the crowd.
“Watching them and seeing the potential for what an a cappella group could be was really encouraging and made me want to kind of connect more without formal performances. They sang ‘Lonesome Road,’ which is a piece that our chorus performed last term…we were all gripping each other up front, because we were all so excited to hear the Din & Tonics performance, and they [performed the song] so beautifully. They had great dynamics. Everything was amazing about it,” said Feygin.
In Hlavaty’s view, the performance ultimately reaffirmed what had drawn her to the Din & Tonics in the first place.
“I think the biggest thing is the spirit of the Din. They’re very appreciative of life. Their songs are very upbeat, even the more mellow ones. It’s like they notice the little things in life and appreciate the time spent around people,” said Hlavaty.
