If you weren’t in the lower level of the BCC this Monday night, you missed the performance of Black Violin, a pioneering duo sponsered by FUSA.
At first, many were questioning what would actually transpire. The audience was impressed as soon as their bows strung across their violins and some were so into performance that people started dancing.
The Florida duo is certainly an interesting pair.
The 23-year-olds, Wil B and Kev Marcus, played violin over backtracks by artists including Sean Paul, Gnarls Barkley, Beyonce, Nelly Furtado, Lupe Fiasco, The Fugees, Biggie Smalls and Justin Timberlake. They also rap, sing along with the tracks or beat box, which makes for an enthralling show.
These young men are certainly talented. Marcus has been playing violin for 16 years and Wil B has been playing for 13 years.
“The violin was chosen for me by my mother, and I got into it and liked it,” Marcus said. “Fifteen years later, I can’t be mad at it.”
“My story is a little different,” said Will B. “When I was going into eighth grade, I wanted to play saxophone but they put me in the wrong class. It was fate, really.”
They both attended the Dillard High School of Performing Arts where they concentrated on classical music.
Marcus said, “We played straight-classical music for the most part, but we were always playing hip-hop on the side.”
Their new album will be coming out this summer. It is their first album, but they have made many mix tapes which Marcus commented that “Black Violin” is known for.” They debuted a track from their upcoming album at their Fairfield concert.
“Our foundation is classical and we would be very hard to mimic because we’ve been playing for 15 years,” said Marcus. “With this experience, we’re paving the way for something.”
Marcus said, “I barely tell people on the streets that I play violin because 50 percent of the people I met have played violin at one point or another. The only difference between us and them is that we just kept going. We didn’t plan to be hip-hop violinists or pioneers. It just happened.”
Student reactions to the performance were all positive.
“It was amazing. As a future member of the FUSA concert committee, I was really impressed,” Katie Waters ’09 said. “I hope that we have more events like this next year.”
“I have been busy doing diversity events this semester,” Jacqueline Mylroi ’09 said, “This event is an example of what should be coming to perform on campus.”
Black Violin said the show went great as well. “We love F.U.”
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