First published 2016
Lindsey Stirling chronicles her path from classical violin training to becoming an internet sensation. She opens with her unconventional approach to music, blending electronic beats with violin performance and dance. The memoir traces her journey through childhood, awkward teenage years, and early struggles as a performer. Stirling faces repeated rejection from talent scouts and music industry representatives. Her appearance on America's Got Talent ends in dismissal, leaving her to question her artistic direction. She battles personal demons, including anorexia, while trying to establish her career. Rather than conform to industry expectations, Stirling creates her own musical category. She builds a following through YouTube videos and social media, eventually gaining over ten million fans. The book details how she recorded albums, toured internationally, and achieved billions of video views. Stirling emphasizes that success comes in many forms and that authenticity matters more than fitting established molds.
Genres: autobiography, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, personal-growth
262 pages · Hardcover · Gallery Books
Content warnings: eating-disorder, mental-illness