Courtesy

THEY ARE: E Muzeki

THE MEMBERS: Jenny O'Connor: violin, rhythm guitar, sitar; Mark Varelas: bouzouki (similar to a mandolin), guitar, accordion, sitar, pennywhistle, flamenco guitar. Revolving drummers play world percussion.

THE SOUND: Instrumental world music. E Muzeki's repertoire includes Greek, Celtic (Irish and Scottish), Gypsy (Spanish and Eastern European), Israeli and klezmer music.

THE WEB: emuzeki.com, myspace.com/emuzeki

THEIR ALBUMS: Mavra Matia (2003), Sindh (2005), E Muzeki (2006), Agrafa (2007)

THEIR WORDS: The name of the band is a misspelling and a mispronunciation of the Greek word for music, O'Conner said, but that's only fitting. “We're just Western people with Western ears and Western sensibilities and Western upbringing with an interest and draw to these exotic sounds that we reproduce in a way that sounds the most intriguing and expressive to us, not necessarily authentic,” she said.

WHERE TO SEE THEM: E Muzeki is playing at the Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, which is open Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 25 and the Friday after Thanksgiving. Visit texrenfest.com for information.

THE 210 TAKE: E Muzeki is a unique force in a city of hard rock and cover bands. It began as a Greek band six years ago, but O'Connor and Varelas (who are a couple) soon became interested in other kinds of world music, “anything we could get our hands on,” O'Connor said. At first the focus was on traditional folk music, but now the pair compose their own music. They've also recorded Gypsy versions of Led Zeppelin's “Kashmir,” the theme from “Last of the Mohicans” and a song by surf guitarist Dick Dale. Since 2003, E Muzeki has sold an impressive 20,000 CDs from its Web site and at shows, mainly outdoor festivals. Check out their blend of traditional and original music on Agrafa, the new CD that came out on Oct. 6. 

Jessica Belasco | 210SA Contributor