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says the two-time
Billboard
Music Award–winning elec-
tronic violinist, talking with
Ravinia
Magazine just ahead
of their co-headlining
summer amphitheater tour
across North America. “When
this all came up and we started
talking about pairing up with
Evanescence, it was such an
obvious yes. It’s such a unique
crossover. We actually have a
huge overlap in terms of our
fan base, but it’s still exciting
to think about how many fans
might be seeing one of our
shows for the rst time.”
Once rehearsals began for
the new tour, Stirling almost
instantaneously realized that it
would be quite the experience.
“I have never co-headlined
with anyone, so I went to an
Evanescence show, and it was
very di erent. I think we are
de nitely going to be looking
to take a page out of each oth-
er’s books, especially when we
see that both ways work,” says
Stirling, who is no stranger to
crossing performing practices,
having nished as the run-
ner-up on Season of ABC’s
Dancing with the Stars
teamed
up with dance pro Mark
Ballas. “It will be a di erent
experience for anyone coming
to this concert because there
will truly be these seamless
transitions between rock and
electronic and classical. People
are going to be blown away.”
Add that to the fact that the
tour will be backed by a full
orchestra, and it literally gives
her a case of the goose bumps.
“ e orchestra is going to add
this amazing layer behind my
wooden violin,” says Stirling,
who already raises hairs on
YouTube, where her audience
continues to make her one of
the most in uential musi-
cians online. “ ere is a real
vibration that you will be able
to feel within your soul, es-
pecially in an outdoor venue.
Physically you will be able to
feel it.”
And in case you were
wondering, stepping out
under the sky doesn’t startle
the violinist who made
her name on the screen.
“ ere is nothing like play-
ing outside in a gorgeous
landscape,” says Stirling.
“I’m so excited. I love outdoor
venues. Summer is just such
a wonderful time when
everyone is welcome
and accepted. It’s joyous and
infused with so much energy.
e audience rejuvenates you
right along with the fresh air.”
Tapping into and giving
back her audience’s energy
has been part of the incredi-
ble journey since the release
of her
self-titled debut
album, especially with her
young fans. “It’s hard for
people to imagine what it’s like
being a teenager these days,”
says Stirling, who has turned
to working as a motivational
speaker in her spare time.
“With social media, kids are so
vulnerable at such a young age
now, so I try to use my social
media positively. I say things I
believe in because my hope is
to upli people.”
And if ever the world need-
ed a little upli ing, it’s now.
“We live in an age of a lot
of smoke and mirrors, and
people can hide behind those
e ects,” says Stirling. “ is
tour has a ton of amazing mu-
sicians and a conductor with
the dancers and the bands, so
I feel like it will be not only an
amazing display of so many
talented individuals, but also
the kind of show where we are
all exposed for who we truly
are. We are all speaking the
same language, even though
we are di erent shapes and
di erent colors and speak
di erent words. It’s an amazing
time to be alive.”
Tricia Despres is a Chicago-area
freelance entertainment writer whose
work has appeared in the
Chicago
Sun-Times
,
Taste of Country
, and a
number of local, regional, and national
publications. Follow her on Twitter at @
CHIWriter.
There is nothing like
playing outside in a
gorgeous landscape.
It’s joyous and infused
with so much energy.
RAVINIA MAGAZINE | JULY 9 – JULY 22, 2018
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