Two Star Symphony Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 9th 2010 11:35PM by Benjamin Williams
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Two Star Symphony is Houston's most unusual string ensemble performing all original music. Since its inception in 2002, the group has played many venues, from small bars to vast auditoriums, collaborated with local theaters and traveled to both coasts to perform. Their aim is to create new and diverse music that speaks to the collective conscious of a broad audience, with their music evoking starkly sketched imagery. On the verge of their first ever appearance on the SXSW stages, we sat down with the band's cellist Margaret to discuss their unique style.

How did the band come into existence?

In 2002, I became roommates with our violinist Debra. She had just started playing and we wrote a few songs for an open mic at this ice cream shop called Oscars. We originally started out as a band that wanted to play in exchange for ice cream. We were just a two-piece at the time, and we wanted our songs to be fuller so we added Jo Bird [who plays viola] and kept adding people.

How did you come up with your band name?

There's a lyric in a Mary Timony song that says, "dancing in my iron shoes to a two star symphony." I thought that was the perfect name. People always ask if it's based on the 5 star rating system -- nope, a Mary Timony song.

How would you describe your band's sound?

Cinematic, the perfect soundtrack for a Halloween party.

What are your musical influences?

Dr. Dre is an influence. I really like his production and music. Danny Elfman is always an influence. He's a great writer and his music stays in your head. There are many others. Jo likes metal.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Katy Perry.

Whats your biggest vice?

My personal vice is assorted fruit jellies from Trader Joe's. I can't speak for the rest of Two Star. I bet there are some pretty interesting vices in this band.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

A man heard us playing on the street in NYC and hired us to play a Halloween party at his work. We showed up at the address, and it turns out to be a very large advertising firm and he was the senior president. It was pretty cool.

Beatles or Stones?

Damn, that's a hard one. I'll go with the Beatles.

What is it like to be in a group as large as yours? What are the pros and cons?

It's great because you can have a lot of diversity in your sound and in the kind of music you want to write. For me, one of the pro's is getting to work with such talented people. We got to write a few film scores, and it's much easier to have eight people's input. The only con that I can think of is trying to coordinate 8 schedules for practice.

If it wasn't for music, what would you be doing today instead?

If money wasn't an issue, I would garden.

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