For violinist Damien Escobar, his favorite piece of equipment is a no-brainer: his violin.
But like his unique crossover stylings — which meld strings with pop, R&B and hip-hop production — Escobar's trademark violin isn't your average wooden instrument. Its custom design features an abstract paint job that's accented by a Michael Jordan-esque silhouette of Escobar himself.
"I said, 'You know what, I may not be in the NBA and have a sneaker like Mike, so why not have a violin?" Escobar says in his episode of It Goes To 11. "It's a really, really dope expression on music and my take on art. What I do is so unique and so different, I wanted to bring that kind of vibrance to the world of violins."
The New York-born violinist calls the instrument "an extension of my body," likely because he's been playing since he was a kid. He's attached to this particular violin, though, because he designed it himself (with the help of artist Allison Dayka, who he shouts out in the video).
Escobar is currently on tour, stopping through cities around North America until June. If you catch one of his shows, look out for his custom violin — but don't expect him to break into song. "You don't want to hear me sing," he jokes. "This sings for me."
Watch Escobar detail his favorite violin above, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more episodes of It Goes To 11.