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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

10