Electro-Violin continues to grow
Stephen Neil's violin playing is sharp and quick. His composition is intelligent and obviously comes from training. And what's more, his application of a digital drum track to his violin playing takes the piece to an entirely new level.
So, what's not to like?
Well, simply the fact that he sounds far too similar to groundbreaking violinist Lindsey Stirling, who blew away the online community years back with her fusion of dubstep and classical violin. If Neil wants to utilize his significant talents, he will need to find some way to distinguish his sound from her's. I think it's possible...there are slight elements of a swaying fiddle in this piece that I rarely hear in Stirling's music. Perhaps his sound should steer toward a more Appalachian or folk influence? Or possibly just experimenting heavily with his beat production until he discovers an electronic backdrop that feels entirely different from her? Whatever he chooses to do, I strongly encourage him to do so, as his musical skills are undeniable... and this sort of 21-century fusion music is a genre that definitely makes me excited.