Who knew that one man, some loop pedals, political lyrics, hip-hop inspiration, and a violin could be so funny, engaging, and vibrant.
Returning for 2023, watch Mike Dennis captivating a sell-out crowd at TEDxCardiff 2017.
Mike Dennis is a classically-trained violinist whose boyhood love of Run DMC, Beastie Boys and Gangstarr led him to create a unique kind of string-heavy hip hop music he half-seriously refers to as Violinica.
“Violin in hand and a multitude of effects and loop pedals at his feet, he builds up to a string and percussion crescendo before opening his mouth and… wow! This guy doesn’t just spit rhymes, they just cascade out at a speed that is as ferocious as his lyrics.” – Wake The Deaf (Ben Gallivan)
Performing using Jess (violin), a loop pedal and a cajon, Mike builds up layers of dense harmony and embellishes with thoughtful, energetic rhymes drawing inspiration from daily British life and the perils and profits of love with a geeky fanaticism for rhythm-bending and syncopation.
You won’t have seen an artist like this before.
In his previous guise as half of Fidgital, Mike supported De La Soul, The Bays, J Live and Aesop Rock and toured mainland Europe extensively leaving crowds flabbergasted. In 2016, he released “Smiles & Cries” on his own label, D-Funk Records. The single, “Stuff” was picked up as Tom Robinsons 6music Recommends track in March 2016. It’s available now on iTunes.
“OH.MY.GOD… How have I not heard @Mikedennisyeah before last week’s FOTN submissions. CHECK THIS OUT folks: “Stuff” (Tom Robinson, 6Music)
“That sh*t you was doing…took me to different dimensions, man” (Vordal Mega of Cannibal Ox)
“How many brains do you have?!”
(Sensible J/Remi)