Raised in Arizona, Lindsey Stirling loved music and dance ever since she was a child. When she was five years old, she begged her parents to let her take violin lessons. Her family saw her enthusiasm for music and, despite financial constraints, committed to paying for her violin lessons.
Stirling decided it was time to share her talent with the world and auditioned for the hit TV show, America’s Got Talent. It was then that millions had first heard the name Lindsey Stirling, and were introduced to the concept of “hip-hop violin.” Auditioning with her rendition of “Right Round” by Flo Rida and Ke$ha, she wowed the nation with her musical inclinations and a concept that was uncommon at the time.
By her second performance, she was able to impress the judges again with a cover of “Pump It” by Black Eyed Peas. Unfortunately, her third performance was where the judges felt she was lacking. Stirling continued her signature hip-hop violin and dance routine, pushing her unique skills to their limits.
While performing her intense choreography as she played her instrument, she missed a few notes. This led to a buzzer from Piers Morgan, and Stirling ultimately being eliminated from the show due to a lack of audience votes.
“…But now I’ve seen you three times. I think the problem is with you, you need to be in a group. You need a singer, you need to find a group of people to work with. And I don’t think what you’re doing right now is enough to fill a theater in Vegas.”
Sharon Osbourne, America’s Got Talent, 2010
Rejection was only a redirection for Stirling, as this decision led to her focusing on her YouTube channel. Here she began to upload covers and original songs, growing her fanbase from America’s Got Talent. This was partly due to a collaboration with videographer Devin Graham, who reached out to film a music video for Stirling’s release, “Spontaneous Me” in 2011. By 2012, her name began to be synonymous with YouTube, with her videos amassing more recognition every upload.
It was in February 2012 that she reached new heights. She released her original song “Crystallize” on YouTube, part of the Stirling-original “dubstep violin” genre. This release singlehandedly became her most famous song at the time, leading to it being the eighth most-watched video on the platform by the end of the year, charting on three Billboard charts, and later becoming RIAA certified gold. This jumpstarted her career and threw her into the limelight, making her the face of violinists everywhere.
Later in September 2012, she released her debut album Lindsey Stirling, containing the viral track “Crystallize.” Hitting a peak of 23 on the US Billboard 200, she continued her success with new opportunities, such as signing with label Atom Factory and becoming a finalist on the dance competition show Dance Showdown. She would also release a cover single of Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” with Pentatonix in 2013.
Despite personal struggles and naysayers, Stirling was able to reach what could be considered the biggest accomplishment of her career thus far. In 2023, she performed an incredible set in Lollapalooza in Paris. With headliners like Stray Kids and Rosalía, she performed on stage with a holding capacity of 50,000. She was one of the few artists that did not sing participating in the festival, showcasing the power of her unmatched talent.
Lindsey Stirling is a testament to innovation and commitment. When Stirling first appeared on America’s Got Talent, her style of dress and musical proclivity were unconventional. She navigated the sphere of digital content creation after her unfavorable results and managed to create a new game plan for herself. She has weathered the storm of negativity and blazed her own trail to the top.
She’s choosing to channel this energy into the release of her upcoming album, Duality. The lead single off the album, “Eye Of The Untold Her,” was released in March 2024. The video depicts the history of Stirling, showing her beginnings in America’s Got Talent, and the current triumphs of her career. The video is a celebration of her accomplishments, showing a dedication to her craft despite the setbacks she first experienced when she was 23.
You can stream Lindsey Stirling’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube while awaiting Duality, set to release in June 2024.
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