Electric String Quartet

Formed with the purpose of bridging the gap between ambient instrumentals and popular music, Electric String Quartet (ESQ) has been engaging listeners emotionally and connectively around Minnesota. The quartet of musicians resembles that of an ambient pop band with the exception of a vocalist. Instead, an electric violin creates catchy, recognizable melodies over beautiful soundscapes and driving rock grooves. From the combination of composers like Hans Zimmer, the expansive production of Hammock, and the energy of MuteMath, ESQ has created an instrumental experience unlike any other. Their first work, The Vertical Horizon, is a conceptual album about Alzheimer’s. It represents what it feels like to lose your memory, moving from beautiful pop-rock ballads to darker rock tones and confusing cacophony from beginning to end, with the end goal to raise awareness of the disease. With this record, they have created a number of partnerships, including the Hilgos Foundation (an Alzheimer's organization based in Chicago) and the Cedar Cultural Center, whom had given ESQ a grant to record a live DVD of the album. The DVD will be released in September and will represent an audible and visual view of going through Alzheimer's and talk about the concept of the album alongside the disease of dementia itself. Electric String Quartet is a pop instrumental band reminding us how powerful music can be and reshaping how it is viewed and listened to. A four-piece pop instrumental band, using cinematic soundscapes to support beautiful melodies on violin.