Page 56 - ION Indie Magazine JanFeb 2018

LINDSEY STIRLING has proven that success as an Indie artist can go in many directions, both in the style of
music one performs and in the path taken to get there. The violinist first gained recognition on YouTube,
which brought her to “America’s Got Talent” when she was only 23-years-old. She was described as a “hip
hop violinist” and also noted for incorporating dance into her playing. Reaching the quarter finals on that
show opened endless doors thereafter, making her one of the most viewed pages on YouTube and recording
successful studio albums of her own as well as numerous collaborations with the likes of The Decemberists,
Pentatonix, John Legend, and many others.

Now at 31, she has 4 albums in her discography, has reached #2 on Billboard 200, and won the Billboard
Music Award for “Best Dance/Electronic Album” 2 years in a row. YouTube even has their own awards which
she won twice, including “Best Artist”. Incidentally, she’s been viewed over 2 billion times on the site! She
also has been busy at the end of 2017 as a contestant on the ever popular “Dancing With the Stars,” where
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she ultimately came in 2 place. Somewhere, right in the middle of that competition, she managed to fit in
a U.S. tour to showcase her first Christmas album “Warmer in Winter,” which was released in October.

Stirling couldn’t have had her success without the essential element of her personality, and well it shines
through in what she does. It doesn’t take long to recognize the joy that she puts into all the things she does.
So, it only makes sense that such a beacon of positivity, theatrical showmanship, and traditional values would
embrace the Christmas season and share her take on it. This past November, the historic opera house in
Philadelphia, The Academy of Music, was packed with fans that wanted to join that celebration.

To call it a concert would be an understatement. Stirling put on a show, a production, complete with changing
set pieces, costumed dancers, and continual choreography. This fits just right with her music, her dancing.
and her occasional singing including on her original title track “Warmer in the Winter.” Her ability to continue
to play while launching herself around the stage is one of the most impressive aspects of her performance.
Although when a stage hand moving a set piece knocked the bow out of her hand for a brief moment, it
reminded you of the authenticity, which made it more impressive. Also making it real is her humility, which
you can see on her face when she sometimes has a tentative look that suggests that she might be thinking
“Am I going to be able to pull this right now?” It makes her performance much more genuine and aligns with
when she would later say, “I love this so much…how is this my life?”

The music was powerful, with her graceful strings leading the melody over powerful electronic undertones
and deep bass that shook the ancient hall. Her back band was very integral in her performance and they even
did a few songs where they sit on the front of the stage and play children’s instruments, including her first
violin from when she was young. It was a comical and seemingly spontaneous departure from the grander
production and gave her a chance to talk more to the audience.

Later, as the show resumed, Stirling increased the energy of the night by taking higher bounds and more
dramatic solo dancing while still playing. This is another case where this photography would point out that
all the best visual stuff happens after they make us put our cameras away!