Color Bars Experience is an eleven-piece classical ensemble dedicated to reinterpreting Elliott Smith's final album through an orchestral lens. The project transforms electronic and indie arrangements into lush instrumental compositions, featuring strings (violin, cello), woodwinds (flute, bassoon), percussion, and guitar. The ensemble features vocalists Ken Stringfellow, Jason Lytle, and Troy Von Balthazar, who bring fresh interpretations to the material through their distinctive vocal approaches.
The project represents a unique crossover between indie rock and classical music, showcasing how contemporary songwriting translates across genre boundaries. By stripping down and rebuilding Smith's compositions with orchestral instrumentation, Color Bars Experience creates an intimate, chamber-music interpretation of modern songwriting—appealing to listeners interested in innovative arrangements and the intersection of classical and contemporary music.
