Lindsey Stirling, born September 21, 1986, in Santa Ana, California, began studying violin at age five and later joined the rock band Stomp on Melvin while attending Mesquite High School in Gilbert, Arizona. She gained initial visibility through YouTube videos starting in 2007 and as a quarter-finalist on season five of America's Got Talent in 2010, where she combined violin with dance and hip-hop, pop, and classical elements. Her debut self-titled album released in 2012, featuring the hit 'Crystallize' with over 42 million views that year, achieved commercial success including platinum certification in Germany. Subsequent albums include Shatter Me (2014, Billboard Music Award for Top Dance/Electronic Album), Brave Enough (2016, #1 on U.S. Dance/Electronic charts), Artemis (2019), and Duality (2024). Her style fuses classical violin with electronic, dubstep, and rock influences. Stirling is recognized for live performances incorporating choreography, dance, and aerial elements alongside violin playing, often with dancers, video projections, and lighting in elaborate stage shows.