Don't Start Now: Choral SoundTrax CD

Alan Billingsley's arrangement captures the infectious nu-disco energy of the original without losing the song's emotional core about independence and self-affirmation. The optional alto solo gives you flexibility to feature a confident soloist or keep the focus on the full choir, and the percolating funk bass and synth-driven harmonic language keep singers engaged with genuinely contemporary pop writing. This is the kind of repertoire that reminds choirs why they love singing in the first place.

A Friday night on a dance floor mixed with genuine emotional clarity. The percolating funk bassline and cowbell hook create immediate momentum, but the song's message about moving forward after heartbreak gives it unexpected depth. You'll hear hints of 1970s disco history filtered through 2020s production sensibility, creating something that feels both retro and urgently current.

Directors programming contemporary pop for choirs who want a GRAMMY-nominated track with real substance beneath the dance floor appeal. High school through community and professional choirs will find this accessible yet musically rewarding, especially ensembles comfortable with a modern harmonic language and synth-driven sonorities.

• Nail the groove pocket before worrying about perfect blend. The funk bassline and cowbell are your pulse; lock into that rhythm, and the harmonic complexity will land naturally.
• Keep the alto solo (if you program it) conversational and unforced. The song celebrates ease and confidence, not vocal gymnastics.
• Let the synth chords breathe. These aren't sustained whole notes; they're punchy and articulate, so shape your vowels accordingly.
• Use dynamics to mirror the original's energy shifts. The dynamic string bursts in the arrangement need crisp cutoffs and clear starts to feel like the production.

This works beautifully as a closer for a contemporary pop concert or as the energetic centerpiece of a program that mixes classical and modern repertoire. It also pairs well with other feel-good pop selections in a springtime or end-of-year concert where the theme celebrates resilience and forward motion.

• Singing pop-influenced harmony with synth-based chord structures
• Maintaining groove and pocket in a funk-driven arrangement
• Balancing rhythmic precision with vocal blend in contemporary idiom
• Solo performance confidence in a contemporary pop context
• Articulation and dynamic control in electronic/produced music styles