In another rags-to-riches YouTube success story, the incredibly talented violinist Lindsey Stirling has been signed by Lady Gaga’s manager.
Lindsey Stirling is well known for her amazing blend of violin, dubstep, and modern dance. Her YouTube channel is widely popular, claiming more than 2 million subscribers and over 300 million views in total.
Her range in musical taste is as eclectic as her style, going from pop hits by the likes of Nicki Minaj to songs from Phantom of the Opera to pieces like the theme from The Legend of Zelda. She’s even written her own songs and has a self titled album for sale.
It comes as no surprise, then, that Stirling has captured the attention of those in the industry. And, luckily enough, she was recently signed by Troy Carter, who manages Lady Gaga and John Legend, among others.
YouTube has become a breeding ground for talented singers and musicians. Artists like Karmin have gone from unknown college graduates to being heard all over the radio, making appearances on shows like SNL and touring the country.
But don’t expect Stirling to go down that same path. “I’m going to continue using the model I’ve always used,” she tells BBC. “It’s not: ‘I used that to build my career and now I’m going to jump over to a major record label.’ When you’re a YouTuber you have a creative control because it’s just you and your audience.”
Instead, she’s going to continue having a strong online presence in which she’ll post music videos of her work and vlogs about her recording process or her tour experience. This is partially due to the fact that Stirling has already established herself on that platform, according to co-manager Ty Stiklorius. However, it’s probably also because YouTube offers a strong sense of community, and one in which she is already well integrated.
Stiklorius compliments Stirling, saying, “Real big brand name musicians are still trying to find their way [to YouTube]. Jay-Z’s a huge name but he hasn’t done on YouTube what Lindsey Stirling has done.”
Check out her most popular music video below, called “Crystallize,” which is an original song.
Visit Stirling’s website and YouTube channel to see more of her work.
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