Lindsey Stirling has the type of live show you can’t see only once. At first, one could easily consider that a pretty girl with a violin, in the twenty-first century, would capture one's attention for what, ten maybe fifteen minutes?
Throw in some modern lighting and modern dancing – while fiddling – you could extend that consideration to, say, 30, maybe 40 minutes. It’s not something that the mainstream would adapt to easily, or is it?
Night after night Lindsey Stirling captures people's full attention in large entertainment venues around the globe. While visiting Australia last year she played at the little Corner Hotel in Richmond, Melbourne. This time around she played at the grand, gothic cathedral fondly known as The Forum. It was a sell-out. The line from the front door completely circled an entire city block like a giant python awkwardly eating itself.
A friend introduced me to Lindey's music a couple of months ago. Captivated by her cute beauty and incredible technical expertise I just had to get along to see her perform live. I was also fortunate enough to photograph her on stage and to interview her the following day.
What she said, soon into the interview, surprised me. “I kind of got burnt out of playing violin. I played all the time as a child. I think what happened was I got burnt out playing classical music. Classic music can be very rigid. I remember having a teacher tell me how I should play, what I should play, when I should do that, how I should do that, and all the creativity got lost for me. I didn’t feel I was expressing myself, then I realised, 'If I am going to love this, I need to play the music that I like'. It just seemed like a no brainer, and then it was obvious what I had to do."
PHOTOS: See photos of Lindsey's Melbourne performance here.
Reflecting, Lindsey continued, “So, it was a process of just practising and trying different styles of music until I developed my own style. I was working a job to pay my way through college. All my spare time would be spent writing music or playing in a band or doing open mike. I would constantly play whatever spare time I had. When I was teen, getting ready to go to college, I was wondering if I should major in music. But, then I realised, ‘Oh, I don’t love this anymore'. Which kind of broke my heart because I have played my whole life and it is a huge part of who I was, who I am. So, rather than quitting or giving it up, I thought I have to get myself to love it again!"
Inspirationally she went on in more depth, "Who says I have to play music that is over 100 years old and that I have to do it the way it always being done? I started to write and I thought, 'I am going to make the music fit me, rather than me fit the violin, then I became alive again, more so than I ever had with music."
Overcoming the traditional classical ways is a milestone unto itself. With that in the past I was itching to know what Lindsey sees in her future as an artist. "That’s a great question. I am working on a book and it is going to come out this fall.
"I am also going to win a Grammy some day! [Laughs] I thought I would win one this year, I was very disappointed when I was not nominated, because I thought I had it. It IS going to be mine! [Laughs] It almost rules my passion. I was kind of like, 'Huh? I did not get it ok? Well, alright moving on now’. [Laughs] It was funny, I really thought I was going to win a Grammy and it was kind of embarrassing when I did not even get nominated. So, sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself and just be like, 'Well you know? I guess don’t count your eggs before they're hatched,” Lindsey laughed graciously at herself.
“I am just kind of along this ride and I love the fact that every tour I get to do bigger and better ideas, imaginative ideas that have always been there. I want to see them come through, I just wanted to see them brought to life and that is really exciting for me — to be able to bring my creativity into reality, in everything from my performing to making music videos. I never would have been able to do that a couple years ago.
"I remember two-and-a-half years ago I was starting my first tour, you know it’s crazy for me to think that it’s been two and a half years! My life has changed so drastically, so quickly! But, at the same time it has been a very nice and steady process. I feel like was able to stay the Lindsey that I was, that I am. My biggest goal has always been that I wanted to stay myself and holding everything from my values, to my personalities, being grateful all those things that makes me be me."
Midway through the concert Lindsey played the beautiful 'Lord Of The Rings' during which she sang quite angelically and hinted we may hear that soulful voice on the next album. “I get nervous [singing], especially live. But I think I will because my fans have been complaining for a really long time that I have to sing more. I actually wrote a song already, I think I might sing on that song, so we will see."
Lindsey Stirling Performance Dates 2015
Feb 20 - Tivoli Theatre, BrisbaneFeb 21 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Feb 23 - Astor Theatre, Perth
