Review By Kimberly Raschka Sailor
December 29, 2021
Ordering Information
How Do You Sleep? streams everywhere.
A cappella fans know that this is the track: the one that earned Faux Paz the 2021 ICCA Finals crown. I'm sure you've heard it tens of thousands of times (adding up the play counts), and you've already memorized the choreo from YouTube; I can't add much more to your happiness because Faux Paz took care of it for all of us.
Questions first. Was How Do You Sleep? the origin story for soloist Sarah Gray and arranger Isaiah Carter, who have since followed up on Love Lies? And also: are there really just nine vocalists in Faux Paz making all of this joyful noise? I stand amazed. Statements next. How Do You Sleep? features dazzling Cirque du Soleil-esque vocals that leap around all the octaves; if there's a note to land on, leads Gray and Dylan Nguyen soar by with a wave. While the gentler first half of this arrangement draws the listener in close, it's really the pounding second half that leaves one breathless. Add in the nimble and utterly plush bass anchoring the tricks on top, and it's just done. The kids have gone and done it.
This one won't go anywhere, and something tells me Faux Paz is still on the upswing.