Rockstar Violinist Podcast

Patrick Contreras has branded his unique style of violin playing with influences of Blues, EDM, Rock and Hip Hop. He's opened for artists like BB King, Al Jarreau, Stanley Clarke and others, has been featured on WorldStarHipHop three times as ‘Talent Of The Week’ and has well over a million views on YouTube! Patrick’s latest project, which he calls “El Violin,” mixes the sound of violin with mariachi, rock, soul and hip-hop. He sat down with Matt to discuss his musical style and the new directions his violin playing is taking him. Learn more about Patrick at patrickcontreras.com and be sure to check out his YouTube channel! Rockstar Violinist is the Electric Violin Shop podcast, hosted by Matt Bell and featuring interviews with the most creative and noteworthy electric strings performing and recording artists. Electric Violin Shop is the world leader in amplified strings. Shop at www.electricviolinshop.com or contact us at info@electricviolinshop.com for advice.

Razzvio is an electric violinist and singer who reinvents familiar pop and rock arrangements from an entirely different angle. Through live looping, she blends powerhouse vocals with her unique violin designed to build songs with the sophistication of a string quartet. This episode is sponsored by Wood Violins, makers of the famous Viper electric violin and its patented self-supporting Chest Support System. Razz performs on a 6-string Viper, which allows her to sing and play at the same time and encompasses the range of a violin, viola, and cello! Learn more about Razz and book her for a show at www.razzvio.com. Shop the full line of Wood Violins at elecvioln.shop/2J8f9Lq. Photo credit: Manny Espinoza Music heard in this episode: • Intro: "Tide Is Rising" - Direct Divide • “Called Out” - BlowUpDollz • “Down the Road” - Take Powell • “Particles” - Razzvio • “Feeling Good - Live in Monterey” - Razz - fromYouTube • “Kick It” - Direct Divide • “Crossroads” - Razz - from YouTube • “Here Comes the Rain” - Razz

Derryck Gleaton, better known as DSharp, is an American violinist, DJ, singer and producer based in Los Angeles. Known for his trademark colorful violins, he writes his own music as well as performs cover versions of popular songs, focusing on hip hop, electronic dance music and classical pieces. DSharp has played in clubs around the world, where he has performed with Smokey Robinson, American DJ Kaskade, Dutch DJs Afrojack, Chuckie, Nicky Romero and R3hab, and Swedish DJ Sebastian Ingrosso. He has played with The Dave Matthews Tribute Band, and on four tracks of rapper Rick Ross's album ‘God Forgives, I Don’t.’ Follow @whoisdsharp on Instagram and at youtube.com/iamdsharp. Find upcoming dates at www.whoisdsharp.com. Rockstar Violinist is the Electric Violin Shop podcast, hosted by Matt Bell and featuring interviews with the most creative and noteworthy electric strings performing and recording artists. Electric Violin Shop is the world leader in amplified strings. Shop at www.electricviolinshop.com or con

Daniela Padrón is a Venezuelan-American violinist, nominated to the Latin Grammy (2013) as the violinist of the acclaimed Venezuelan world music band Gaêlica, in the Folk Music Category. Daniela released her first soloist album "Bach to Venezuela" in May 2016, where she adapts some of the most well known masterpieces of Johann Sebastian Bach into different Venezuelan Folk Rhythms including joropo, gaita, merengue among others. Daniela is a proud Conductor for one of the children orchestras of the Miami Music Project, an institution that uses music as a tool for social transformation. She also runs her private studio with local and international students in Miami, Florida. Along with her mother, the renowned Venezuelan pianist Olga López, she is in the recording process to release (in the second half of 2018) a duet album (violin-piano) that would feature Latin American academic composers. Learn more about Daniela at her website, www.danielapadron.com. 'Rockstar Violinist' is presented by Electric Violin

With a background in classical violin, Alex Depue developed an amazing ability to turn on a dime towards bluegrass fiddling, jazz, rock, and/or any improvisational style available to the instrument, resulting in surprisingly eclectic musical career. He won youth classical violin competitions, is a highly decorated fiddle champion, and for three years went toe-to-toe with rock guitar virtuoso Steve Vai in the latter's World Tour band! Follow Alex on Facebook and you'll be treated to virtuosic solo violin arrangements of pop and rock songs. Among his most popular videos are his arrangements of "Take On Me" by A-ha and "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" by Yes. Aside from extensive touring and teaching, Alex DePue spends his spare time as a record producer, and with his established OVNI Studio, he will record on any project, turning his addition to a track within 24 hours! You can learn more about Alex at www.alexdepue.com. This episode is sponsored by Glasser Bows, makers of the fantastic new Glasser Carbon Fiber A

“Val Vigoda is a compact bundle of talent. She plays a strapped-on electric violin like a demon. She sings with a voice that pushes the walls into expanded dimensions. She acts with great charm.” This is how drama critic David Finkle opens his HuffPost review of our guest’s rock musical ’Ernest Shackleton Loves Me.’ An electric violinist, singer, writer, former Army lieutenant, and founding member of the band GrooveLily, Val has toured the world with Cyndi Lauper, Joe Jackson and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and is now launching her solo live-looping multimedia project, Just Getting Good. In this episode, sponsored by Wood Violins, Val and Matt—both Viper players—sat down to discuss her projects, her unique theatrical approach to the electric violin, and her proficiency as a singer/player and complex live looper. Learn more about Val's current and past projects at https://www.valvigoda.com/ Special thanks to Wood Violins, makers of the Viper, for their sponsorship of this episode. Visit https://www.elec

As a solo cellist Jenn Cornell delivers a progressive groove oriented experience through intricately spun looped compositions. You may have heard her music before--she was half of the genre-bending fusion duo Montana Skies, whose music was featured on the Travel Channel and NPR. These days Jenn records in her Atlanta studio and can be seen performing at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport! Jenn's playing is equal parts music and performance art, as she emotes a true joy for life where rhythm and movement become a dance of instrument and body. Learn more about Jenn at www.jenncello.com/. If you enjoyed this interview, please subscribe to Rockstar Violinist on your favorite listening platform, and be sure to check out www.electricviolinshop.com for great products and information.

Since establishing himself as a world-class jazz violinist, Christian Howes has also become an in-demand composer, producer and educator. He has played Lincoln Center, been a professor at Berklee School of Music and has served as a cultural ambassador at the invitation of the U.S. State Department. He is the founder of the annual Creative Strings Workshop, which began in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio and is now branching out into multiple locations. He travels the globe to educate music students about how to become creative with their music as well as teaches aspiring professionals how to earn a living doing what they love through his Music Biz Mastermind courses. Tracks heard in this podcast: Intro: Just a Closer Walk - American Spirit Album 16:18 - Amazing - American Spirit Album 24:00 - America - American Spirit Album 28:40 - Invasion of the Forest - Heartfelt Album 35:17 - Christian Howes and Les Paul - YouTube Video 44:38 - American Spirit - Americaan Spirit Album 1:06:04 - Postlude - Live in the Studi

**Note: This version of the interview with Earl Maneein contains bleeped words. If you are not sensitive to language feel free to seek out the uncensored version of the interview on our SoundCloud page.** While a versatile violinist comfortable in styles ranging from classical to bluegrass, jazz, rock Earl Maneein pursues his artistic voice in what he refers to extreme music! Earl is both inventive, having pioneered highly specific bow techniques for playing drop tuned metal on his custom extended range Jordan electric violin, and highly creative, composing songs and pieces in many genres, including rock, metal, string quartet and even a violin concerto, which was premiered by Rachel Barton Pine! Earl's current projects include the experimental grindcore/metal duo Black Heart Sutra, and his new music/hardcore crossover string quartet SEVEN)SUNS, (sevensunsmusic.com) whose album, "For The Hearts Still Beating" was released on Party Smasher Inc. in June of 2017. The latest Black Heart Sutra album, "Zersetzun

Sarah Charness, known on Instagram as @sarahpinkviolin, has done everything with her custom Pink 6-string Viper from playing the halftime of NBA games to performing with huge acts including Trans Siberian Orchestra, The Chainsmokers, the Jonas Brothers, and Sigala. Her vibrant, physically thrilling live performances bring to life her musical blend of of classical, pop and electronic dance music (EDM). Find Sarah on Instagram or visit www.sarahcharness.com. You can customize and order a Wood Violins Viper in pink or any number of other colors at www.electricviolinshop.com.

Ned Steinberger, inventor of the headless Steinberger basses and guitars that became quite famous in the 1980s, founded his current company NS Design in 1990 with a primary focus on bowed instruments – the violin, viola, cello and double bass. Ned explains, “Bowed electric instruments have been made since the mid-thirties. Unfortunately, most of these instruments are the victims of the misplaced idea that an electric instrument should sound exactly like its acoustic predecessor. I want to take it a step further, I want to see what these instruments can do when they are set free.” We hope you enjoy Matt Bell's conversation with this instrument design genius and trailblazer in the bowed strings field. Follow our podcast on SoundCloud or subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or Google Play music. The full line of NS Design instruments is available at electricviolinshop.com.

Joe Deninzon has been hailed by critics as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin,” because of his innovative style on seven-string Viper electric violin. Joe has worked with Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Snow, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Robert Bonfiglio, Les Paul, and as a soloist with the NY City Ballet and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Joe is the lead singer and violinist for the progressive rock band, Stratospheerius is also a member of the Sweet Plantain String Quartet, which combines Latin Jazz with hip-hop and Classical music, and has toured throughout Europe and the U.S. As an educator, Joe has taught rock violin at Mark O’Connor’s String Camp and Mark Wood’s Rock Orchestra Camp. Track list: (Intro)Take Your Medicine - Joe Deninzon and Stratospheerius - Guilty of Innocence Album • Excerpts from Dream Diary, Concerto for Electric Violin - Joe Deninzon • The Simpsons - Joe Deninzon and Stratospheerius - Live Wires Album •Chunga Changa - Joe Deninzon and Stratospheerius

In this episode of the Rockstar Violinist podcast Shana interviews our first rock star VIOLIST, and truly one of the most prolific musicians we've had the pleasure of sitting down with. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson is a multi-instrumentalist, arranger, composer, music director, producer, DJ, and educator based in his hometown of Los Angeles, California. Miguel writes and records and produces his own music but has appeared as an arranger, session player and featured soloist on so many records with so many famous artists that we could not begin to list them all here. (Visit http://miguelatwoodferguson.com/ to learn more.) Miguel is a musical philosopher and a great interview. Sit back and enjoy his conversation with Electric Violin Shop's Shana Tucker. Musical excerpts heard in this episode are (in order): "The Lung" - Hiatus Kaiyote (string arrangement by MiguelAtwood-Ferguson) "Mezame" - Miguel Atwood-Ferguson "Twelve O'Clock Shadow" - FLAKO feat. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson "Reminisce" - Miguel Atwood Ferguson

Ezinma (eh-zee-mah) first picked up the violin when she was three-years old. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska to a Guyanese father and a German-American mother, her’s mixed cultural and ethnic background influenced her musical upbringing and helped mold her into the versatile artist she is today. Ezinma’s style cannot be limited to one genre. Her music is a blend of virtuosic melodies and orchestral soundscapes with hard hitting beats. This fusion, this juxtaposition of seemingly unrelated worlds, allows her to connect with diverse audiences and communicate her passion in a way that is uniquely her own. Ezinma has collaborated with jazz, R&B, pop, hip-hop and electronic artists such as Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Mac Miller, and Clean Bandit. Notes: Intro music: Give It Up Produced by Velocity Music 2:00 Early beginnings 7:00 Social media beginnings 8:20 First viral video 10:50 - Mask Off Challenge by Ezinma - from her Instagram page 11:50 - Beyonce calls 15:10 - Stevie Wonder show 17:00 - Gig life in NYC 23:00 - Des

Artyom Manukyan is an Armenian born cellist, bassist and producer. At the age of 8 he started taking cello lessons and in 2005 graduated from Yerevan State Conservatory. During those years he also studied abroad in Russia, Germany and Greece. He won numerous Armenian and European classical competitions. Inspired by Avishai Cohen and Marc Johnson, he started to study electric bass and jazz cello. Artyom moved to Los Angeles and worked as a session musician, appearing on Bobby Brown, DMC, Beto Cuevas and Frank Zappa Tribute albums, independent films, and the TV serial Hannibal. He has aslo recorded and toured with numerous jazz musicians and with Latin super star and Grammy winning artist Draco Rosa. Music heard in this episode is from Artyom's album 'Citizen' and include the tracks: - Cityzen - Sailor Song - Mas Dub A big thanks to our sponsor CodaBow, pioneers of carbon fiber bows serving a worldwide network of professional artists and teachers. Visit codabow.com to learn more, or visit electricviolinshop

A self-admitted “proud nerd” and avid gamer, Taylor Davis' unique arrangements of many of gaming, anime and film’s most iconic soundtracks have been viewed over 250 million times by her delighted audience of over 1.6 million YouTube subscribers. Taylor’s amazing journey has included her personally mastering a wide range of audio and video technologies to produce her art, the establishment of her own independent music label, Highwind Records. A frequent live performer, Taylor has headlined tours in the U.S. and Europe, and has appeared at numerous anime and game themed conventions, industry events and colleges. Intro Music: "He's a Pirate" Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Theme • 1:54 - How Taylor got started playing music • 3:40 - How she got started on YouTube • 4:45 - How she got started on other social media • 10:30 - Patreon and sheet music • 16:20 - "Starfire" Original song • 17:34 - Touring • 20:20 - Internet bullying and trolls • 23:33 - A typical day/week in Taylor's life • 27:40 - Sex sells? • 30:3

Amanda Marks, also known as Violin Girl, is a professional electric violinist, vocalist, and recording artist who has graced the stages of music festivals, clubs, and venues nationally and overseas. She takes tracks, often being mixed by DJs, and improvises over them on the electric violin, thus infusing electronic music with live instrumentation and lots of love. Amanda's performance experience runs the gamut from transformational festivals like Burning Man, Lucidity Festival, Envision Festival, and Northern Nights Music Festival; international appearances in Amsterdam, Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico, and Canada; and high-profile venues like the Mixmag Lab Los Angeles, Public Works, Couture, King King, and 1015 Folsom. She currently holds residencies at Drai's Beach Club in Las Vegas and Spin Nightclub in San Diego. Tracks in this episode: Intro and Outro: Jamba Master - MSVG First break - Holding Back - MSVG Second break - Blue Dust

Texas-raised, Nashville-based Ross Holmes has lent his talents to country stars, pop icons and bluegrass standouts. Just a partial list of artists Ross has toured and/or recorded with includes Bruce Hornsby, Mumford & Sons, Ricky Skaggs & The Del McCoury Band! In addition to playing for other established acts he's also formed genre-shattering bands of his own including the adventuresome instrumental trio ChessBoxer. This conversation with Ross covers a lot of ground, but perhaps most importantly it get's to the heart of the amazingly intersectional moment that is cross-genre string playing in 2017. Tracks heard in this episode: Intro: Wish I Could Say I Was Drinking - Cadillac Sky; Bacon - Chessboxer First Break: Musical post on Instagram.com/Rossholmesfiddle Second Break: Insomniac Blues for Matthew - Cadillac Sky Third Break: Musical post on Instagram.com/Rossholmesfiddle Alamo Song: We Fall A Sacrifice - Ross Holmes Outro: Calon Lan - Chessboxer For tour and other info, please visit http://rossholmes.

When the members of Black Violin first learned to play their signature instruments--Wil Baptiste at the viola 14 years old and Kev Marcus the violin at the tender age of 9--neither could have foreseen that it would become their livelihood, though it was already becoming their passion. With influences ranging from Shostakovich and Bach to Nas and Jay-Z, Black Violin breaks all the rules, blending the classical with the modern to create something rare-a sound that nobody has ever heard, but that everybody wants to feel. In this interview: Intro Music: “Stereotypes” from the album “Stereotypes” 0:45 - Sponsor shoutout - D’Addario and Codabow 1:45 - How they got started playing 9:00 - How they got known before the age of social media 9:45 - The “Showtime at the Apollo” story 11:00 - Shows with Alicia Keys, Linking Park, P. Diddy, Kanye, Jay-Z 12:12 - Writing original music 13:20 - Kev talks gear and tone 19:45 - Wil talks gear and tone 23:00 - Discussion on improv 24:40 - Live improv - from Portland, Oregon.

Queen Kyla Vera is the violinist for Metalachi, the world's first and only heavy metal mariachi band! Based in Southern California the band has toured extensively throughout the Southwest and now performs even further afield as their (rabid) following grows. Kyla has lots of interesting and funny stories about tour life, interacting with audiences and the crazy things that happen on stage. She also talks about how she overcame shyness and stage fright to become a show stopping, crowd-engaging performing in what is a truly outrageous act. To our delight it turns out that Kyla is also a bit of a gear head and talks about her ever-evolving effects chain and her custom prototype Joe Domjan (Wood Violins) 5-string semi-hollow body electric violin (15:18). Visit http://metalachi.com/ for tour info and social media links. A big thanks to our sponsors D'Addario, a manufacturer of the finest in strings for violin, viola, cello, and upright bass, and CodaBow, pioneers of carbon fiber bows serving a worldwide netwo