The VOX Experiment: Turning classical music on its head with a boom!

PUBLISHED April 17th, 2013 11:51 pm | UPDATED January 21st, 2016 07:17 am

Think classical music is boring, stuffy and tedious? Well if you put yourself in that school of thought, pay attention! Because classical music as we know it, is currently being turned on its head, right here in Singapore and being fused with pop/rock influences to delicious effect. Introducing The VOX Experiment – four classically-trained musicians, who are on a mission to energise classical music by reinterpreting pop/rock with classical instruments.

Expect bold interpretations of rock classics, such as Guns N’ Roses, Sweet Child o’ Mine and The Rolling Stones, Paint It Black, as well as more recent hits by Adele, Muse and Kings of Leon with sounds that are fueled by adrenaline, energy and raw emotion from this string quartet.

Wondering what that might sound like? Check out a snippet of Rolling with Mozart (Adele x Mozart geddit?) here.

We catch up with Lester Kong (1st Violinist), Justine Loh (2nd Violinist), Melissa Liew (Violist) and Huiwen Tow (Cellist) in the run up to their upcoming concert at the Esplanade on 27th April, to ask what it takes to defy the stereotype that classical and pop/rock genres do not co-exist.

You’re Singapore’s first pop/rock band on strings – how did the idea come about?

Lester: We thought of bringing something new to the music scene and to play something closer to our era. We believe that as long as it’s good music, it shouldn’t be restricted to a certain kind of instrument.

Justine: There was a lot of hype back in the day with Vanessa Mae and Nigel Kennedy doing classical crossovers – adding rock beats into classical pieces – so we thought, why not bring classical into pop? So we brought with us our classical instruments in playing pop songs.

Melissa: If you think about it, it’s just something that makes a lot of sense.  Classical instruments like violins have been used in popular music throughout the years – I remember songs by the Corrs having lots of lovely little interludes for the sister who played the violin. However, instead of just being relegated to filler melodies and pulling long notes, we thought it would be great to showcase what a classical instrument is actually capable of.

Huiwen: From a mix of angst and the massive desire and drive to do something different!

Describe your music…

Lester: It’s everything, from energy driven to out of this world!

Justine: Fresh! and fun! it’s something you can dance/sing/go crazy along to!

Melissa: I think you can feel our passion from the way we play. I’d like to think that if you close your eyes you can see a potent energy-laden ball of fire.

Huiwen: Raw emotion fuelled with f*@kloads of adrenaline.

Which are your all-time favourite combinations? And how did they come about – was it a genius lightbulb moment?

Lester: Most of the time, it’s spur of moment. You kind of have a lot of ideas that just pop up once you get your pen and manuscript together. But definitely there are some that it just takes longer to get the inspiration.

Justine: Trial and error, really. Lester, I must say, is the genius behind all this.

Melissa: I think Lester came up with an awesome combination with Smoke on the Water and the Beethoven Symphony. Both are iconic pieces with a real sense of gravitas and emotion, and that makes them fit really well together.

Huiwen: Ave Maria x Chasing Cars, Smoke On The Water x Beethoven Symphony No. 5. Love, love, love the simplicity of Ave Maria x Chasing Cars. Love how we managed to bring together two very different songs to re-create something entirely new. Love the rahhh-ness of Smoke On The Water x Beethoven Symphony No.5. When we play that, I feel like my cello transforms into a massive monster with a lot of eye liner.

Are there pieces that you really wanted to arrange classically that really didn’t work out?

Lester: Definitely! What sounds possible in your head at first might not work once you fuse them together. Just like a Chef trying out new recipes. One (at times) can be a bit too imaginative and adventurous. But till you tasted your work, who would have thought that was ever possible?

Huiwen: Of course. One of the mash-ups we wanted to create was “With or Without You” by U2 with Bach’s “Suite No.1” – a prelude which theoretically worked in our head but couldn’t be executed… or at least not in time for this concert

What you’re doing makes classical seem ‘cool’, do you hope that this kind of fusion will introduce a whole new audience to the concept of classical musical in a more accessible way?

Lester: I would really hope that we can reach out to more people and change people’s mindset that classical instruments are just as cool, and hopefully more youths and teens will make it their choice for a really cool instrument to pick up other than the usual.

Justine: I just hope it changes people’s preconceptions and stereotypes. I hope it educates people to be more open minded, to know that things do not always fall into fixed categories, and it’s ok to be creative.

Melissa: Yes I think it’s important for people to realise that they shouldn’t put music into tidy little categories (although admittedly that’d make things harder for anyone selling CDs).

Huiwen: Yes, most definitely. I think most people are too quick to discount classical music and musicians and we are hoping that The Vox Experiment will encourage them to give it a chance.

What about those who say that your fusion blend has no place in the classical world?

Lester: When you try something new, there will always be doubts and questions. But I guess it’s really hard to ignore pop music totally and if it’s enjoyable, why not?

Justine: People should not place their thoughts and ideas into boxes. There is no right or wrong. Just be brave and explore and create. It’s a really big amazing universe out there once your imagination runs.

Melissa: I would encourage them to be more open minded and to catch up with the times! Music is ever evolving. Classical music itself has changed so much over the years, from the Baroque era of the 17th century to the Romantic era of the 19th century, and the Contemporary classical music we have today.

What do you hope audiences will take away from seeing Vox?

Lester: Nothing is impossible. Classical musicians rocks!

Melissa: A real sense of excitement about our music and a deep desire to hear more from us.

Huiwen: F*@k yeah! I should expand my playlists beyond “indie” bands.

Catch The VOX Experiment at the Esplanade Recital Studio on Saturday 27th April 2013. Tickets cost $27 and are available through SISTIC here. To keep up to date with their latest happenings check out their website here.