The Manhattan-born trio of brothers-turned-bandmates, AJR, are no strangers to crafting viral music videos. But one wholesome clip of the bros playing their brand new track, “World’s Smallest Violin” during their 2022 tour has become a go-to fountain of joy for some viewers, amassing 9.7 million YouTube hits to date!
This rendition features the three brothers, Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met performing alongside an additional snare drummer and female trumpeter (who lowkey steal the show). These multi-instrumentalists capture an eccentric mix of sounds; from the ukulele, bass, and acoustic guitar they’re playing live, to the violins, xylophones, and other pick-n-mix noises triggered on their MIDI pad.
Upbeat and saturated with country music vibes, AJR’s tiny dash of choreography steals the show for The Music Man, as Adam and Ryan lean, balancing on one leg to shout backing vocals down Jack’s mic.
This folksy and feel-good “World’s Smallest Violin” hides a troubled story of knowing your greatest real-world worries pale in comparison to others; a song epitomizing first world problems whilst still feeling inadequate amongst your peers.
It’s no wonder so many people have flocked to this highlight of AJR’s discography and found some sense of strength within their lyrics. This band is beloved for their nichely artistic take on indie pop, from the subtle soundscapes which mirror their lyrical stories, to the addictively quirky yet relatable sense of poetry running throughout each verse.
AJR twist the bland core of indie pop with both profundity and stupidity, as experimental in their soundscapes as in their viral music videos; “Yes I’m A Mess” sees Jack meandering Times Square in an Elmo costume before getting hunted by the NYPD, while “God Is Really Real” is rawly minimalist; a sped-up video of the devastatingly personal lyrics being handwritten in a spiral-bound notebook.
Fun fact: all the band’s music is written, recorded, and produced in AJR’s living room, and released on their own label, AJR Productions, giving the bros the autonomy they crave to create the most honest music they can.
The eclectic indie pop trio busked around their New York City hometown before getting noticed by Australian superstar Sia, who led them to their new manager and into the limelight. The brothers dropped their debut album, “Living Room,” in 2015, with four subsequent albums including their latest, 2023’s “The Maybe Man,” and 2021’s “OK Orchestra,” from whose tour this clip was taken.
“World’s Smallest Violin” first featured on the tail-end of “OK Orchestra,” before a snippet of the track went viral on TikTok, and its official music video gained 206M views on YouTube (almost 100M more than any other video on AJR’s channel).
With over 1M Instagram followers and 3.77M YouTube subscribers, AJR is far from your run-of-the-mill, internet-famous band. Career highlights include a tour with Demi Lovato, an international hit with the song “Weak,” and a sold-out US headline tour!
If you would like to hear more from this talented trio, you can subscribe to their YouTube Channel for more incredible music.
Stay connected with AJR on social media: follow them on Facebook and Instagram. For more information and updates, visit their official website.