Chamber music, but make it 2021
Vitamin String Quartet shoots to global fame through baroque-inspired covers of modern pop songs.
Vitamin String Quartet is an LA-based collective of classical musicians who create cutting-edge string renditions of modern and classic rock songs.
Vitamin String Quartet, or rather now better known as ‘VSQ’, has released 300+ albums, has garnered multiple billboard chartings, and has appeared on a number of TV shows.
Despite years of success however, Netflix’s period-drama-turned-young-adult-raunchfest, Bridgerton, has been credited for bringing VSQ fully into the spotlight.
“Bridgerton has brought me into this world and I’m f**king staying”
VSQ Youtube commenter
You’d have been forgiven for shouting at the TV “Is that … Ariana Grande’s Thank U Next they’re playing??!?!!” whilst watching the 19th century debutantes swirl around the ball room, but VSQ’s pop covers worked flawlessly with the genre-breaking hit show.
An entirely self-indulgent watch, not really confined to a specific year or time, outrageously colourful and dramatic, a wonderfully diverse cast, and not-so-subtle feminist undertones throughout. Baroque Ariana was the perfect musical match.
VSQ’s cover of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” as heard in Netflix’s “Bridgerton”
VSQ isn’t a single string quartet, but a series of projects developed and produced by CMH Label Group, an independent record company based in Los Angeles. Each project features a different roster of producers, arrangers, and musicians.
The revolving door model of VSQ has, clearly, proven to be highly successful, illustrated by their vast discography and range of output, beginning in 1999.
Not only suitable for Bridgerton ball rooms, VSQ’s army of records are perfect WFH companions; charming, interesting, inventive, lyric-free, and endless.
In their most recent release ‘Hits of 2020’ they apparently ‘absolutely had to do our own take on controversial banger, “WAP”’ … right, well, I think we’ll leave it there then. Enjoy.
