“Ezinma has become one of the most talked-about classical musicians of her generation,” writes Mark Savage in Thursday’s (5/20) BBC News. “She fell in love with the violin as a toddler…. Years of grueling practice followed, taking her from Nebraska to New York’s prestigious New School. There … she became ‘obsessed’ with the idea of fusing an orchestral sound with the heavy beats of trap, a subgenre of hip-hop. Before long, she was hired by Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Mac Miller to add strings to their music. That led to an appearance at Beyoncé’s historic Coachella set. But her solo career really took off when she filmed herself playing along to Future’s ‘Mask Off,’ showing off bold sautillé and flying spicatto…. The video went viral and landed Ezinma a deal with Decca Records, who recently released her debut EP, Classical Bae, which puts a new spin on Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Bach’s G Major Prelude … then re-contextualises them with stuttering hi-hats and foundation-shaking sub bass…. She also hopes it’ll open up the classical world to black musicians…. ‘Growing up, it would have meant so much for me to hear this type of music, and see somebody like me playing it,’ she says.”
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