The Music You Don’t Expect From a String Duo
When most people hear “string duo,” they picture something very specific.
Something formal.
Something classical.
Something that belongs in a concert hall… or maybe a wedding ceremony.
Listen, we love classical music. We’re classically trained, we’ve played with orchestras, we’ve done the whole thing.
(And we’ll totally play your wedding if you’d like!)
But Wild Iris wasn’t created to be “pretty background music.”
Wild Iris exists for one reason:
The “WAIT… they’re playing THAT?!” moment.
You know the one.
Someone is chatting with a friend, sipping a drink, waiting for their table, checking into a hotel, or casually scrolling their phone… And then suddenly they stop and go:
“Wait… they’re playing THAT on strings?!”
And that’s the sweet spot we live for!
Because the truth is: people don’t always expect live music in a modern space. And they definitely don’t expect a violin and viola duo to be playing Britney Spears.
But when it happens?
The room shifts, people smile, and they linger.
They pay attention without even trying to.
What We Play
(AKA: Yes, we really do play that!)
Wild Iris sets are full of modern pop, throwbacks, movie music, and those songs that make people go, “Oh my gosh, I forgot how much I love this one.”
Some of our biggest crowd reactions come from songs like:
Come On Eileen (people lose their minds for this one!)
Shape of You by Ed Sheeran (this one is a blast for us and the audience)
Toxic by Britney Spears (it sounds legendary on strings)
We Found Love by Rihanna (just wait until your hear Claire’s live-loop backtrack!)
Billie Jean by Michael Jackson (this one is just so iconic)
Shake It Off (we’re in Nashville… we have to!)
And then there are the songs that are so unexpected they feel like a little inside joke between us and the audience… Like Ghostbusters.
It’s random. It’s hilarious. It’s a guaranteed “Wait, WHAT?!” moment every time.
Pop Music On Strings Just Hits Different
There’s something magical about hearing familiar music played on violin and viola.
A great pop melody becomes even more expressive. A beat you’re used to hearing with drums and bass suddenly feels cinematic. Songs you’ve heard a hundred times become something new.
And honestly? That’s the whole point.
We’re not trying to be loud. We’re not trying to steal the spotlight. We’re just bringing a fresh, modern kind of live music into spaces where the vibe matters.
One of our favorite compliments is when people don’t even realize it’s live.
When we were playing at Fable Lounge in Nashville (every other Friday for nearly two years), a couple walked by and did a full double-take. They told us they thought we were a recording and had no idea it was live strings.
That’s one of the best compliments we can get, because it means the music felt natural in the room. Like it belonged there.
Movie Music, TV Themes + A Little Nostalgia
We also love mixing in movie and TV favorites, because nothing creates instant connection like a theme song you recognize in the first three notes.
Some of our favorites include:
Concerning Hobbits from Lord of the Rings
The Throne Room from Star Wars
The Game of Thrones theme
The Friends theme song
There is truly nothing better than watching someone’s face light up when they realize what they’re hearing.
It’s like musical nostalgia in real time!
What You’d Actually Hear If You Saw Us Live
Our sets vary based on the space and the vibe, but if you caught Wild Iris live for a typical 2-hour performance, here’s a realistic peek at what you might hear.
(Yes, this is truly the kind of set we play!)
Sample Wild Iris Setlist
Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
Shut Up And Dance – Walk The Moon
Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
Toxic – Britney Spears
Bad Romance – Lady GaGa
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
We Found Love – Rihanna
Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
Royals – Lorde
Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
Crocodile Rock – Elton John
Accidentally In Love – Counting Crows
Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
Friends Theme Song
Game of Thrones Theme
Throne Room – Star Wars
Concerning Hobbits – Lord of the Rings
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer
Wildest Dreams – Taylor Swift
Super Mario Bros Theme
Thriller – Michael Jackson
Ghostbusters Theme
Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
We Take Requests + Tailor The Vibe
One of the best parts about what we do is how flexible it is.
The setlist we shared above is a great template, but our favorite thing to do is cater our sound to the room we’re in.
We can keep things light and upbeat, go more cinematic and emotional, or tailor a set around the energy of your space. We also take requests when it makes sense, because sometimes the best moments are the ones you don’t plan.
We have been asked to play everything from Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon to I’m Yours by Jason Mraz. Just about anything can be played on strings, and we’re always down to do our best to make it work.
We’ve found that audiences love to feel a part of the performance, and we love to engage with them too!
A moment we’ll never forget was when we were playing outside in Downtown Franklin in the middle of summer—like, 80 degrees, full sunshine—and a little girl walked up and asked if we could play Let It Go from Frozen.
Of course we said yes!
She danced through the whole song like it was her personal concert, and everyone around started smiling and watching too.
That’s the kind of magic we love: unexpected, joyful, and totally unplanned.
A String Duo, Reimagined
Wild Iris is for modern spaces that want something different.
Not Broadway energy.
Not classical concert vibes.
Not the same sound every other bar has.
Just live music with personality: unexpected, elevated, and fun!
If you’re looking for a sound that makes people stop, smile, and say, “Okay wait… this is really cool,” we’d love to play for you.
We’re currently booking duo performances in Nashville and beyond. Send us a message! We’d love to learn about your venue or event.
