TwoSet Violin Says Goodbye With Final Six-Part Video Series

The comedic duo Brett and Eddy announced their stepping back from social media

Violinists Brett Yang and Eddy Chen of the comedy duo TwoSet Violin have announced that they will be taking a step back from social media.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Chen and Yang confirmed that they were finished with TwoSet Violin, as they were getting worn out by the scrutiny and the demands of creating more than 100 videos per year.

“We’ve said all that we wanted to say,” Yang told NYT. “It felt like I had 50-kilo weights on my shoulders for the last 11 years, just trying to please people and be the best that we can.”

In a recent YouTube livestream, Brett and Eddy answered fans’ questions about TwoSet Violin, saying “there’s only so many reaction videos you can do … we wanted to move on and 11 years is a good time.” 

In October 2024, the duo removed almost all of their YouTube videos from the TwoSet account with 4.32 million subscribers, explaining that they only wanted to leave content they felt most proud of. After many fans showed their dismay at this, the duo recently said that all the videos will be placed back after the scheduled release of their farewell music video series.

“We are sorry to those people that are very upset and we wanted to put [our old videos] back out straight away but then [we thought] you know what, let’s commit to the plan and finish [our last] six videos first.”

For the last year, Chen and Yang have been in the process of making six videos in which they play composers Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, and Mozart. The videos are some of their most produced content to date and feature the duo rapping in a combination of comedy and social commentary.

Inspired by K-pop, they're calling the project B²TSM (which stands for the composers' initials) and have created a separate Instagram account, on which they have been regularly posting.  

The final video of the series, “Forever Symphony,” can be viewed below:

Chen described the videos as “our blood, sweat and tears” and a final gift to fans. 

Filmed in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Austria, the B²TSM videos saw the duo work with the Hong Kong Ballet to record a video about Tchaikovsky. In Austria, they produced “Papa Wolfgang Style,” a Mozart-themed video at the Eckartsau palace. 

Chen and Yang said they did not know what would come next, but said they could potentially perform again as B²TSM, which they first introduced in 2022.

“It would be stupid to throw this all away,” Yang said, “after all the ups and downs we’ve been through together.”

As explained in the livestream, the duo would like to continue working together and educate through music. The duo also discussed the potential of creating a music academy as a future possibility. 

(Image courtesy: NYT)

Their countless projects have included video collaborations with violinists Hilary Hahn, Ray Chen, Janine Jansen, and Maxim Vengerov, as well as the creation of the fictional character Ling Ling, who is said to practice music 40 hours daily.

“So many congrats on a job well done!” violinist Hilary Hahn commented on their post. “And thank you for everything you have done for the musical community. Not just classical! You guys rock.”

After producing a virtual tour in 2021, during pandemic lockdowns, the duo went on a 39-city tour in the 2023/24 season, appearing at some of the world’s top concert halls including the Berlin Philharmonie. 

The duo told fans that another tour may be possible and that if it happens, it would be in the 2025/26 season. More details on this can be followed by signing up on their website. 

The farewell from social media was posted on December 25.

“Dear Ling Ling Wannabes,” Brett and Eddy wrote. “This is a message we never thought we’d have to write so soon. After years of sharing our passion for classical music, humour, and practicing 40 hours a day, the time has come for us to take a step back from social media.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for everything you’ve given us. You’ve laughed with us, cried with us, roasted us, roasted together and turned what started as a simple dream into something far bigger than we could have imagined. Through all the ups and downs, you’ve been our constant source of inspiration and motivation. We all share the same love for music, laughter, and creativity that brought us together in the first place.

“While we won’t be active on social media anymore, this isn’t goodbye. If you’d like to stay in touch and be the first to hear about our future projects – maybe even a chance to perform to you all, enjoying classical music and comedy together — sign up on our website. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for every moment you’ve shared with us. It’s been an honour to share this journey with you, and while our social media lights may dim, the music – and the connections we’ve built together — will always play on … P.S. GO PRACTICE.”