The Dallas String Quartet is nearing its 20th year as an organized outfit and has a lot of triumphs in its rearview mirror since first forming in 2007. Founder, composer, and violinist Ion Zanca’s vision for a fusion of contemporary pop and classical music doesn’t seem, on initial impression, as an ideal marriage of bedfellows, but they’ve shown a fearlessness and willingness to experiment that’s born rather miraculous musical fruit. They’ve covered a wildly eclectic range of artists spanning the gamut from Taylor Swift to Guns and Roses and their latest single “Vampire” re-invents Oliva Rodrigo’s “Vampire” with spectacular results.

URL: https://www.dallasstringquartet.com/

The Dallas String Quartet apes much of Rodrigo’s arrangement while recasting it in a string format. The resulting classical feel transforms the song’s character. In Rodrigo’s vision of the song, it’s a sleek and energetic track, even during the slower passages, but the Quartet’s interpretation gives it an elegiac spin different from the original. The faithfulness to the original is, nonetheless, one of the cover’s strengths.

It further illustrates the elastic nature of the song’s quality. It isn’t every pop song that would work recast in such a way and testify to the superior choices that Zanca and his cohorts make when choosing their material. It’s nearly as long as the original, so the Quartet is never glossing over the track in the interests of time considerations.

They generate impressive momentum throughout their arrangement and the lack of vocals doesn’t prove to be any impediment to enjoying the tune. There are no instrumental breaks like we’d hear from the typical pop or rock track; they maintain an intense focus on conveying the song’s melody and it gives listeners a condensed attack that you can’t deny.

It’s one of the Quartet’s most successful covers yet. Such covers would perhaps sound gimmicky in the hands of a lesser unit, but the Dallas String Quartet treats Rodrigo’s song as a serious and substantive musical work. The production emphasizes the song’s strengths and achieves an even-handed instrumental separation that makes their single an even more enjoyable musical experience.

In their quiet, classy, and low-key fashion, the Dallas String Quartet is building an impressive musical legacy. They are, moreover, making the case for modern pop music holding a real spot as musical compositions of substance rather than disposable fare that doesn’t merit more than passing attention. Ion Zanca’s unique idea has done more than bear tasty musical fruit; it has carved out its unique niche in the musical world that is increasingly unassailable with each new release and every passing year.

If you are dismissive of modern pop artists such as Rodrigo, give the Dallas String Quartet’s “Vampire” a chance and you may find yourself swayed. This act, frequently billed as “Bon Jovi meets Bach”, is more than a novelty act. They are first-rate ambassadors of music that have broad-based appeal rather than playing to a niche audience. Their cover is the latest sterling addition to a first-class discography worthy of the finest acts around today. 

Garth Thomas