The name Lindsay Stirling may not mean anything to you, but for billions around the world she is a star. The American electronic violinist, dancer and composer is one of the most intriguing artists of the 21st century, cleverly combining electronic music with the violin, the classical instrument she began playing at the age of 5. She arrives in Israel for the first time for a one-time performance at the Heichal HaTarbut on July 14, as part of her summer tour, in which she will perform in Italy, Athens, Istanbul, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona and more. Stirling is also a Billboard Award winner with billions of views on YouTube and tens of millions of followers on social media.
Lindsey Stirling - Crystallize (Dubstep Violin Original Song)
It all started with a home video she posted online that drew an invitation to the fifth season of America's Got Talent, the show that discovers young talent, where it reached the quarterfinals — and the rest is history. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Top 200, peaked at number one on the Dance/Electronics Albums chart and also reached number one on the Classic Albums chart for 21 consecutive weeks. Her awards include the Billboard Music Award, the RIAA's Gold Recognition, and two Billboard Chart Awards.
This is Stirling's first time coming to Israel, and in an interview from Europe, where she is currently on tour, she says: "I am very excited to come to Israel for the first time. We intend to spend an entire day traveling in Jerusalem, something I never thought I would do. I wish I had more time to be in Israel, a place I've always wanted to come to, and see Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It always seems so far away to me and it's very exciting for me to come to you."
Lindsay Stirling. Photo: Shervin Lainez
You combine the violin, a classical instrument, with electronic music like dubstep, and you work with pop and rock artists. Do you believe that through this way you are able to expose the violin to wider audiences?
"Absolutely. It reaches a wider audience. Not many people connect with classical music, and I like to combine the skills of classical music with contemporary music, because suddenly a whole public of people is exposed to elements from the classical world. I make sure to vary and change the sounds. My last album combined elements of rock and elements from the world of cinema. I combine different musical genres."
You are very popular on social media and use it. How much is this part of the routine for you? Do you need to maintain it to succeed?
"I've been spending a lot of time on social media all these years. It's my main tool and it allows me to do what I do. I started my YouTube channel in 2010. The videos caught on and Lady Gaga's manager, Troy Carter, discovered me and signed me. That led to the release of my first album in 2012."
Among other things, Lindsay has worked with major producers and music directors of top artists, such as American rock band Evanescence and singer Kara Fay of the indie rock band Shiny Toy Guns, who were previously nominated for Grammys. Her collaborative song with Kara Fey was featured on Lindsay's 2016 album Brave Enough, in which she collaborated with various singers. Of this collaboration, she says, "I love Shiny Toy Guns and Kara is a great and respected writer in Los Angeles. We wrote the song together, and she seemed like the perfect woman to sing with."
There aren't many women who do what you do. Do you feel like a pioneer paving the way for more women in the field?
"I didn't plan to be a pioneer. All in all, I took the instrument I was good at and started playing it in a way that I thought would be exciting. I feel lucky that people still like it."
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us