Clover names her instruments but is still trying to discover the “personality” of her newest violin. Photography by Julia Cartwright.
Clover, who goes by “just Clover, or Clover the Violinist,” quit the violin altogether at 18. Years at an elite music school and a rigorous practice and competition schedule led to burnout, says the East Dallas resident born Gabrielle Clover.
Today her classic-meets-contemporary vibe is in demand around town and abroad. Fans flock to YouTube and TikTok to hear her violin covers of Chris Brown, Kid Cudi or Lil Nas X tracks. Neighbors might catch her playing a spring wedding on a Swiss Avenue lawn or a fundraiser at the Dallas Arboretum.
Now a full-time working musician, Clover the Violinist’s first EP is due to drop this summer. She spoke with the Advocate about irons in the fire and how she rekindled her love for playing music by making it her own.
In some of your posted videos, you have names for your instruments. Can you introduce us?
I feel like every instrument has a different personality. Naming them helps me to connect with each instrument that I play. The main instrument that I use in most of my videos is this abstract-looking brown wooden electric violin. Her name is Dulce, like dulce de leche. She has a sweet sound and a caramel color. And I got a new carbon-fiber instrument that looks really cool, all black, decked out. I’m still trying to figure out a name for that one, trying to learn its personality and texture. It’ll come to me.
How many instruments do you play?
Mainly the piano and the violin. I did choir and percussion when I was young and was one of the first female snare drummers in my high school drum line. I’ve been dabbling lately in music production, so I’m playing with different sounds on the electronic side.
Where was high school?
I had a music scholarship to play the violin at a well-known prep school in Florida called North Broward Preparatory School. I joined their orchestra, and that was a really cool experience and an opportunity to get a great education.
Why didn’t you do a music program in college?
Growing up, I took private lessons with a really great, and intense, instructor in Florida. Everything was fundamental classic. I loved it, and I am so thankful for it, but by age 18, I think I was burned out. It was a lot — half my high school classes were music, I was competing and rehearsing, and I was hard on myself. My inner critic told me it was not realistic for me to sustain those rigors and live as a full-time musician.
Anyway, I decided to study psychology at Fordham University in The Bronx, New York, and I took a long break during that time from music. Every six or eight months I would pick up the violin, play around a little bit, then put it back. Maybe it was something I would do as a hobby. I struggled with that confidence factor.
Photography by Julia Cartwright.
What reignited your passion for playing music?
At 25, I had moved to Dallas and was doing paralegal work, but I was feeling dissatisfied. The 9-5 lifestyle did not feel very me. I started thinking about what brings me joy. I took up my violin and started playing around with it again, thinking it might be cool to play my favorite songs instead of just continuing to play classical. That is when I started playing by ear. At first it would take me maybe three weeks to learn a single song, and now I’ll pick it up right away — repetition and practice.
Who inspires you?
One of my favorites is Regina Carter. She plays jazz violin. Hearing someone play that style sparked my interest in wanting to do something similar. Another is Stéphane Grappelli. He’s old school, but he was one of the pioneers of that jazz violin wave.
R&B is my favorite genre to play. One of my most-covered artists is Chris Brown. I really enjoy playing Daniel Caesar. I also like to go old school with the neo soul like Soulchild or Erykah Badu.
Are you fully making your living with music now?
This is in my first year of being a full-time musician. I never saw myself actually doing this, but here I am. Before this, I was an orchestra director for middle and high school students at a Dallas charter school, and I thought that I was going to go the teaching route.
Speaking of teaching, why do you think it’s important for kids to have music education?
I liked to tell my students music is like learning another language. There is structure within it, especially if you learn the classical route, but I tried to show my students there’s more than one way to play an instrument. They can take what I teach but still be creative and turn it into something that suits them, something they love. And I think they like having that creative outlet in the middle of the day.
What do the days of a full-time violinist look like?
I’ve been doing quite a few private events — anniversaries, birthdays, engagements at homes — I really like private events, like playing weddings. I think a lot of brides enjoy the idea of my playing her favorite song as she’s walking down the aisle. I get comparisons to Bridgerton. Brides seem to like that vibe.
Clover is just as likely to be seen playing a wedding on a Swiss Avenue lawn as an Erykah Badu cover on TikTok. Photography by Julia Cartwright.
Will you remain in Dallas?
That’s the big question. I’ve been in Dallas for seven years. Just since this year started, I’ve seen huge opportunities come up for me. I’ve worked with Dallas City Hall, Dallas Arboretum, the African American Museum. Dallas has shown me so much love and allowed my music side to blossom. But, also, having had an opportunity to travel — like playing resorts in Mexico, things like that — I am thinking more about splitting time.
Where do you like to hang in Dallas?
For music, I love Revelers Hall in Bishop Arts. I love The Free Man and wandering around Deep Ellum. I like the culture there.
What’s next?
I’ll release my first EP by early summer. Finally I’ll be getting my own creations and content out there for streaming and downloading. It’ll include some of my popular covers and a couple original singles. That’s one thing I’m most excited about.
Interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
