How Lindsey Stirling Finds Her Own Place in Music

When we think about music genres, EDM, hip-hop, and classical are at opposite ends of the spectrum. But who says we can’t have both?

Written by Celeste Wen

These days, Lindsey Stirling is a busybody. You can find her performing on stage, working on new music, shooting videos, and, as of recent, embarking on her Wanderland Tour. Stirling’s journey of exploring her musicality started at a young age, placing violin at the center and soon blending all of her musical tastes.

She began learning violin at the age of five, playing classical music as is typical for the instrument. Even though her family could only afford 15-minute violin lessons per week, Stirling proved her resilience by practicing as much as she could on her own. Determined to learn what she could, her love for classical music only grew as she aged. Yet, fast forward to high school when Stirling joined a rock band, a jarring contrast from the classical training she had been used to all these years. Rather than shying away from this entirely new genre, Stirling felt invigorated.

Apart from her love for playing music, she had always had an affinity for dance. She began choreographing routines to accompany her performances, adding her own spunk to her self-composed music. And that’s how her act was born.

Stirling created her YouTube account “lindseystomp” in 2007 in order to showcase her unique sound. In 2010, she competed in “America’s Got Talent.” Although that did put her in the spotlight, she also received some critical feedback from the judges, where they told her that she was simply “not good enough” to be able to play violin and dance on stage simultaneously. But interestingly enough, her appearance on the show wasn’t what launched her career: it was YouTube. After one of her YouTube videos went viral, she began to gain real attention for her music. Before she knew it, she was creating music videos, going on tour, and meeting fans from around the world.

What makes Stirling so special? As her music evolved, you can truly see how different musical influences have made their way into her music. Playing her electric violin, Stirling branded her sound as both “rock violin” and “hip-hop violin.” As her music has developed, it’s incorporated more electronic backing, so it’s not atypical to hear a bass drop in the background of her intense playing. Nevertheless, her inclination towards these faster styles of music doesn’t mean she still doesn’t embrace modern classical. Stirling is not afraid to slow down the tempo, showcasing the wonderful resonance of the violin and all it has to offer.

If there’s one thing you should know, it’s that Lindsey Stirling isn’t afraid to do things a little differently. Her style is eclectic, quirky, but most importantly, a true reflection of herself. This devotion to herself is what draws people into her music and performance. For rock and electronic music lovers, she opens up the possibility that perhaps you can headbang to violin. For classical music enthusiasts, she shows the faster-paced, thrilling result from experimenting with a string instrument’s sound. And for performance aficionados, well, her shows never include a dull moment.

So hats off to Lindsey Stirling for finding her own niche in music and bridging the gap between music lovers everywhere. Her confidence inspires others around the world to not shy away from letting loose and being themselves.

Afterglow ATXDecember 11, 2018