Lindsey Stirling is a woman of many talents. When she’s not writing songs and making music, she’s making YouTube videos and giving motivational speeches. Stirling recently released the deluxe edition of her album ‘Warmer in the Winter’ and opened up to United by Pop about her music, balancing all of her interests and more in an exclusive interview.
How did you first get involved with music?
When I was a kid, my dad used to play classical music on an old record player in our living room. I remember dancing together and running around to the music as it blasted from the speakers…still one of my favorite childhood memories. My dad didn’t make a lot of money, but he was a music enthusiast. Eager to gift the passion of music to his children, he often found free orchestra concerts at the park for us to enjoy together as a family. After a few musical outings, it became very clear to me who the stars of the orchestra were and I couldn’t wait to get my little hands on an instrument! After months of begging, my parents made some financial sacrifices of their own to make violin lessons a reality for me. I think I always knew that my parents couldn’t afford lessons and yet they found a way to provide them anyway. So I guess I figured…when I didn’t want to practice, that I should practice anyway. I wanted to make their sacrifice worth it.
Now that it’s the holiday season, what can you tell me about ‘Warmer in the Winter’ and its deluxe version?
I absolutely love Christmas and genuinely look forward to playing Christmas music every Thanksgiving Day as soon as [the] feast is over. As they say, it’s the most wonderful time of the year; and year after year this has proven to be true for me! As long as I’ve been able to play [the] violin, I’ve taken full advantage of practicing and performing Christmas tunes. Now that I’m able to produce at a level only my dreams once thought of, I feel so much joy in the process and hope to be able to share that joy with others through my music. One of the new singles from the album, I Wonder As I Wander, has turned out to be my favorite cover that I have done…like, ever. I talk about ‘why’ in my Behind the Scenes video on YouTube if you want to check it out. As for the rest of the album, narrowing down which songs I wanted to tackle for the new tracks wasn’t easy! Santa Baby was a personal test, in that I’ve never particularly liked the song, but I challenged myself to make a version of it that I DID like. Gratefully, I succeeded. Making the video for it was, likewise, a ton of fun! I also decided to recreate the Home Alone Theme because I LOVED the movie as a kid. It’s one of those epic Christmas movies that has somehow miraculously withstood the test of time. My greatest hope and dream is for my music to endure that kind of longevity!
You have many talents! It’s quite impressive. How do you balance those talents and incorporate them into your music?
I look at “talents” the way someone might look at a recipe: it’s got potential, but it needs work. There are quite a few ingredients that go into the finished product. And balance is absolutely the key. When I’m creating or writing, I am, of course, intently focused on that aspect. Once complete, however, I am able to listen to the finished product and fantasize over what I see myself doing with it: what colors do I see; what style of dance can I incorporate; what am I wearing; are there other people surrounding me and what are they contributing? As for having “many talents,” it’s a challenge balancing the time needed to focus on writing music versus technique versus musicality versus dance versus investing in others and in my relationships versus getting sleep! But having a very clear idea of what I want, believing that it’s possible, and channeling energy into what I need to do to get there is what I think makes any of what I do possible.
Your book The Only Pirate at the Party is a New York Times Best Seller! How has it been to see the success and impact of your own work in the form of writing?
I have my sister, Brooke, to thank for this one! She is the true genius behind the book. What I love about her writing style is that she is so funny! She truly has a way with words. Co-writing this book with her was so much fun, and brought us closer together in a way that made it all worth the effort. New York Best Seller or not, I have the best sister in the world!
Is there any type of field or hobby that you would be interested in dabbling in sometime in the future?
I’m currently exploring the possibility of writing and starring in a Broadway musical atm. I’ve also considered learning more about music production/mixing and I would really like to do more public/motivational speaking.
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You have a huge following on Youtube. What is the best part about sharing your passion for music through that platform?
I imagine that I feel the same way about my videos that George Lucas feels about his Star Wars films. The ability to recreate something visually that you’ve only seen in your head is a hugely empowering process. Combining music+visuals causes almost a divine euphoria for me; the epitome of creative expression. And then being able to share the art that I feel so passionate about with the public, and having it (for the most part) well-received and appreciated is extremely humbling. I’m so grateful for the support of all who have ever watched one of my videos, attended one of my shows, or purchased one of my albums, without which I would never have had the ability or freedom to continue creating new content.
Who do you dream of collaborating with in any aspect in the future?
I’ve said it for years…and I’ll say it again! I STILL want to be on the Ellen Degeneres Show! Collaborating with Ellie Goulding, Avril Lavigne, or Taylor Swift would likewise make my year.
If you could give advice to fans of yours who aspire to have a career similar to yours, what would you say?
I believe that the only true way to succeed AND be happy is to turn your hopes and dreams over to God (or a higher power/light/universe/whatever you believe in). He, and only He, knows your heart in a way no one else does. He sees your hopes desires and knows what you want even more than you know what you want. I truly believe that if we ask for what we want, in faith, completely believing that we deserve and will receive what we are asking for, the way will be provided. The people we need will show up. The inspiration we are looking for will manifest itself. Be prepared, ready, and willing to work and give your all. Bring willing friends with you; help them to be happy and thriving and successful too. Stay true to your morals and don’t forget your reasons for wanting success in the first place.
What can fans look forward to in the near of distant future?
I have some rather different goals for 2019, one of which is working on a Broadway musical (which I plan to be in). I would love to do some more musical collaborations, and I’d like to pitch myself as a potential judge on a reality TV show. I am also planning to further my “education” by taking vocal, violin, general music, production, and dance lessons to improve my skills.
The deluxe edition of ‘Warmer in the Winter’ is out now.
