Cyclone Voice 2026!
Cyclone Voice is ISU's premier, annual singing competition that highlights the vocal talents of Iowa State students. This year’s event will be hosted by acclaimed pop-rock band Saint Motel!
Joyfully blurring genres, Saint Motel showcase an opulent sound complimentary to their ambitious scope. Streamed and viewed over half-a-billion times, the platinum-selling Los Angeles quartet magnify this vision with immersive live experiences and one unpredictable move after another.
Saint Motel initially broke out with their first full-length album Voyeur in 2012. After signing to Elektra Records, they dropped their 2014 My Type EP along with the RIAA Platinum-certified title track "My Type,” as well as the fan favorite Gold-certified "Cold Cold Man." They’ve toured with Imagine Dragons, Arctic Monkeys, Weezer, Twenty One Pilots, and Panic! At the Disco, to name a few, have lit up stages from Coachella and Lollapalooza to Bonnaroo and beyond, and have been seen on NBC's TODAY Show, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, CBS' The Late Late Show with James Corden, and more. Their latest album, Afterglow, was released this past October.
Prelims will take place on Tuesday, April 21 at 6PM in the Maintenance Shop. ISU student contestants will be required to sing one song in front of a panel of judges. The song must be a karaoke or instrumental track, with no background or pre-recorded vocals. Contestants may choose to play an MP3 file, their own instrument, or be accompanied by one person playing an instrument (must provide own instrument). Registration is open until Friday, April 17 at 11:59PM for ISU students interested in performing/competing.
Contestants chosen to move on at prelims will perform at Cyclone Voice on Saturday, May 2 at 7PM in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Cyclone Voice is FREE and open to all ISU students for participation, and FREE and open to everyone to watch the performances, including a performance by Saint Motel while the judges deliberate at Cyclone Voice itself on Saturday, May 2.
Before registering, please read the rules below.
Cyclone Voice Contestant Rules:
- Solo singers only - duos or backing vocals, etc. are not allowed.
- Must be appropriate material and suitable for all ages (the event is open to the public).
- Contestants may sing a capella, from a track, or with one simple instrument (keyboard, guitar, etc.). Contestants may accompany themselves or have an accompanist, but are responsible for their own instruments and cables, etc.
- MP3 tracks (if applicable) must be uploaded at: https://iastate.app.box.com/f/f5b16f770d4d4fe186d403c379651b1f. Contestants must name their files in the format "LastnameFirstname_SongTitle."
- Must be an active ISU student in good standing to perform. Contestants will need to scan their ISU student ID when checking in.
- Contestants will be assigned an individual time to perform at prelims, as well as at the main event, should they be selected to move on. They will additionally be assigned a time for sound check if advancing to Cyclone Voice on Saturday, May 2. This information will be emailed in advance.
- Contestants will be judged on music ability, use of backing music, and overall presentation. This includes singing ability, enthusiasm, stage presence, crowd response (at main event), and attire.
- Contestants must be respectful to those working the event, judges volunteering their time, and all other performers.
If you have questions, please email subse@iastate.edu