Harvard Veritones Turn House of the Rising Sun Into an Incredible A Cappella Cover

The room fills with music before the first line arrives, and the Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones set a dark, dramatic tone for “House of the Rising Sun.” The surprise is how a song associated with The Animals becomes a full vocal performance, with layered group voices carrying every rise, fall, and haunting refrain.

At the Veritones’ Spring 2024 Jam, Will Marsh ’24 takes the solo as the group builds the arrangement around him. The opening New Orleans image lands with real weight, then the performance moves through the narrator’s regret, his tailor mother, gambling father, and the warning not to spend a life in the house of the rising sun. Music Pulse readers who love a big song stripped down to voices will hear why this one hits so hard.

Viewers Can’t Stop Talking About the Beatboxer

The comments quickly turn their attention to the vocal percussion holding the entire performance together. One viewer jokes, “Oh, so what does your son do?” before answering, “He beatboxes for Harvard :-)” Another gives him perhaps the perfect compliment: “Props to the beatboxer for being a literal metronome.”

Others notice just how much is happening beyond the lead vocal. One commenter points out that the man on the left appears to be casually conducting the entire group while singing at the same time, adding, “credits to this guy.”

The vocal range also leaves listeners stunned, with one viewer simply writing, “This dudes got crazy range.” It is a good reminder that while “House of the Rising Sun” may begin with one recognizable melody, this version works because every voice has a role to play.

The Voices Behind the Arrangement

Will Marsh ’24 and Jaiden Edelman ’24 arrange this version for the group, turning the song into an a cappella piece built around a solo voice, ensemble phrases, and vocal percussion. Brady Billingsley ’26 music directs the performance.

Mel Daneke handles audio mixing, Bill Hare is credited with audio mastering, and Damla Yesil ’26 edits the video. The full performance was announced by the group in a Veritones Instagram post that also identifies Marsh as the soloist.

Fans looking for another side of the group can also hear Harvard Veritones’ a cappella cover of “Tennessee Whiskey”, a live performance with a very different feel. The group also has a separate release listing for “House of the Rising Sun (Live from Sanders Theatre)”, released June 6, 2025.

A Haunting A Cappella Take on a Familiar Song

The Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones give “House of the Rising Sun” its power through voices alone. Will Marsh’s solo carries the story, while the group’s layered responses, vocal percussion, and final return to New Orleans make this Spring 2024 Jam performance an incredible listen.

For more from the group, visit the Harvard Veritones website, follow @veritones on Instagram, or find the Veritones on Spotify.