Salon Stage: Vitamin String Quartet blends chamber music with pop in an exclusive set

The ever-evolving quartet performs covers by The Weeknd, Radiohead and Zedd

Published August 20, 2017 8:30AM (EDT)

Vitamin String Quartet stopped by Salon in New York City to play an exclusive set for Salon Stage. The artists meshed chamber musicianship with pop rhythms as they performed covers of The Weeknd's "Starboy,” Radiohead's "True Love Waits” and Zedd's "Stay.” Afterwards, the musicians shared a few words about what music means to them and its power to heal and unify.

Violinist Amanda Lo on her relationship to music:

Music is language to me. I'm not great with words, so for me, it's a way to communicate with other people.

Violinist Earl Maneein on why he keeps playing:

What keeps me picking up my instrument is rage. There's a lot of crazy stuff going on in the world, and that's my need to express it, it goes through me. I also remember feeling very down, in a low place, at a certain point in my life, and music really helping me get through stuff. I don't necessarily walk around pissed all the time, but if I can help somebody else going through that, channel it through that way, with the music that I play, then I feel like I've done something good.

Cello player Derek Stein on music's power:

When I'm playing I emote. In a better way than when I speak, in a better way than when I react, I show people what I feel, how I feel.

Viola player Thomas Lea on his biggest motivation:

My biggest motivation to play is connection. We need to make the world more unified and I feel that that's my voice. I'm not a speaker. I feel like it's the art form that really transcends all other art forms and connects people on every part of the globe. It's a beautiful thing, it brings love to people and we can all connect through music.

Watch our video of them playing Zedd's "Stay."


By Rachel Leah

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Entertainment Music Original Video Salon Stage String Quartet Vitamin String Quartet