Read the full interview at Composure Magazine.
Styling: Samantha Burkhart
Makeup: Alison Christian
Hair: Craig Gangi
Photography: Cara Robbins
Composure Magazine: When was the first moment you incorporated violin with dancing, and what influenced you to do this?
Lindsey Stirling: I was in the Junior Miss pageant my senior year of high school. It is a scholarship program, and I was trying to win to help pay for college. There were several other really talented violinists in the competition, and I was trying to find a way to stand out so I decided I would choreograph my performance and do a rock song instead of classical. It was so different, and I wasn’t sure what people would think—but I won.
CM: You have an extensive list of collaborations with other artists and musicians, what were some of your favorites?
LS: I loved the process of working with The Piano Guys. They are the best, sweetest, funniest humans in the world and I adore them. Not to mention they are super talented. I was the most honored to work with Celine Dion.
CM: With your newly released Warmer in the Winter: Deluxe Edition album, and a growing list of accolades, at what point did you realize you were going to be able to do what you love as a career?
LS: I had been releasing videos on YouTube consistently for about ten months, and they had done ok. My covers were mostly what people wanted to see, but then I released an original violin Dubstep song that I had written, and in one day it got one million views. That was HUGE for me. I was speechless. Not only did more people watch it than had ever watched one of my videos—they loved MY music, not just my covers. At that moment I realized my life had just changed. That it was not just a dream, it was my future.
CM: You’re currently on your acclaimed Holiday Wanderland Tour visiting several cities around the United States! We wonder—how did it feel to co-headline on Evanescence’s Synthesis Live and play with an orchestra after so many years?
LS: I loved being on the Evanescence tour. I have been a fan of Amy and the band for years—like, a huge fan. It was mind-blowing to get to tour with her and share the stage with her night after night. Playing with a live orchestra was intimidating, but wow it was cool. It brought my past music world and my current music world together.
Min A. Lee 