Born from the quiet hum of quarantine and catapulted into the spotlight of international acclaim, the Quarantined Quartet has redefined what it means to connect through music. With over 1,600 consecutive daily Instagram performances, this family of four—Elysa, Jason, Joseph, and Noah Hochman—transformed their living room concerts into a musical movement, amassing over one million followers. Their unique fusion of Spanish classical, flamenco, and world music struck a universal chord, landing them on top TV shows like Good Morning America and The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Now, with their debut album Strumming the Earth officially released, the Quarantined Quartet invites listeners on a journey that transcends borders and generations. We sat down with them to discuss their creative process, how family dynamics shape their sound, and their plans to bring this global celebration of music to new stages and ears around the world.
Pinch of Sol: The title “Strumming the Earth” evokes a sense of connection to the world. How does the album reflect the themes of unity and global influences that you’ve embraced in your music?
Quarantined Quartet: Thank you! Our music is purely instrumental, which makes it universal—it can connect with anyone, anywhere in the world. The nylon-string guitar, one of the most beloved instruments globally, adds to this universality. Our influences come from all over the world: Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Asia. We’ve taken these diverse melodic traditions and woven them into our own sound, creating something that feels global yet deeply personal.
Pinch of Sol: Can you describe the creative process behind one of your original compositions from the album Strumming the Earth? Was there a particular story or emotion that drove that piece?
Quarantined Quartet: There are nine original songs on the album, and each one tells its own story. Many were written collaboratively as a quartet. For example, “Infinity” was written by Joseph, and we all built our parts around his melody. “Shifting Woods” was created by Noah, and again, we each added our unique contributions to shape the piece. Songs like “Strumming the Earth” and “Las Olas” came to life through all of us brainstorming and arranging together. Sometimes one of us brings a seed of an idea, and we all spin off it, or we might start with an improvised jam that evolves into a full composition. It’s like creating a musical painting—layer by layer.
Pinch of Sol: Given that you all come from different musical backgrounds and experiences, how do you ensure that each member’s individual style is represented in the band’s overall sound?
Quarantined Quartet: We each write and play our own parts, which gives everyone their own voice in the music. This approach lets us stay creative and authentic to our individual styles while contributing to the whole. It’s not about writing parts for each other but about allowing the song to grow organically with everyone’s input. While we all have different musical backgrounds, our shared goal is to create melodic, singable guitar lines that resonate with audiences.
Pinch of Sol: How do you make creative decisions as a family band? Is there a collaborative process that everyone contributes to, or do specific members take on certain roles when it comes to composing or arranging music?
Quarantined Quartet: It’s a completely collaborative process. Of course, disagreements happen—whether it’s over arrangements or harmonies—but we pick our battles and find compromises that work for the song. If we can’t agree, sometimes the song just doesn’t make it into our repertoire. In the end, we aim for a natural flow in the music, and everyone’s input is what makes it uniquely ours.
Pinch of Sol: The success of Quarantined Quartet has turned your family into a well-known musical entity. How has your relationship with each other changed, if at all, since your rise in popularity?
Quarantined Quartet: It’s brought us closer. Playing as a family requires us to function as one unit, which means learning to be patient and supportive with one another. It’s taught us the value of teamwork and resilience—how to dedicate ourselves to a shared vision and push through challenges. This journey has shown us that by working together, we can create something truly special.
Pinch of Sol: With so many different genres influencing your music, are there any particular artists, composers, or musicians who have been especially impactful in shaping your style?
Quarantined Quartet: Absolutely. The Gipsy Kings and Juan Serrano have had a huge impact on us—playing backstage with the Gipsy Kings was a dream come true! Juan Serrano’s teachings and compositions have shaped our playing, and we’ve incorporated so much from his work. We’re also deeply inspired by artists like Paco de Lucía, Paco Cepero, Jesse Cook, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ottmar Liebert, Sabicas, Opal Ocean, and Dilermando Reis, to name a few. Each has contributed to the blend of styles you hear in our music.
Pinch of Sol: Now that the album is out, what’s next for Quarantined Quartet? Do you have any plans to tour, collaborate with other artists, or further evolve your sound in the coming years?
Quarantined Quartet: We’re thrilled to have a residency at Tavern on the Green in Central Park and to perform candlelight concerts in New York. This winter, we’ll be traveling to California and Arizona for performances. Looking ahead, we hope to tour the album next summer, create new music, and polish what we have for a second album. There’s so much we’re excited to do!
Pinch of Sol: You’ve reached an incredible milestone with your debut album, but where do you see Quarantined Quartet in the next five years? What goals do you have for the band’s future?
Quarantined Quartet: We don’t plan too far ahead since life is unpredictable, but we set realistic yearly goals. For 2025, we want to grow our social media presence, create a guitar book based on Strumming the Earth, and even apply for a Grammy for the album. Fingers crossed! Beyond that, we’re focused on continuing to make music, perform, and share our passion with the world.
Listen to Strumming the Earth below:
