Lindsey Stirling on Creativity, Collaborations, and Championing Medical Debt Relief at Louder Than Life Festival

0:05 Hi, you're listening to Adventure on W4CY Radio. This is the Pipe Man here on the Adventure's Pipe Man W4CY Radio, and I'm here with. Lindsay Sterling. Yes, here at Louder Than Life. Oh, my God. How cool is this festival? It is awesome. The energy is insane. It's just also so fun. I just got here. Being backstage and just seeing all the artists. I ran into Lizzie Hale, my friend. Nice. And just seeing all the different people. It's pretty cool. It's like going home to family, right?

0:46 It is. It is. And I saw you many years ago in West Palm Beach because that's where my main location is for radio stations. And I was like, oh my God. I forget who you were playing with, but... Because I remember you, not the other band. You were so good. I never saw anything with so much energy in my life and the violin. I kept watching it going like, how is she running around and jumping around like that with the violin and still like on point? Oh, wow. Well, thank you. That is so kind of you to say. I appreciate that. Oh, my pleasure. And I also noticed that you have I don't know, like 10 million different violins that you use.

1:31 I didn't even know there were that many violins that you use. It's really fun. You know, I've loved to kind of almost in a slow step-by-step process, redefine the violin, not even for other people, but for myself. You know, I played since I was six years old. I was classically trained. And then, you know, at that time when I got burnt out and it was either time to quit or massively pivot, I I'm really grateful that I kind of let my creativity take over and I was like, well, what if I combine the violin with movement? You know, and I learned I wasn't a natural dancer, but I learned how to dance and move and jump and play. And then, you know, oh, what if I make the violins feel like costumes? I love costumes. prop pieces and so like learning that I could bedazzle them and decorate them and paint them and and so I've really just had so much fun combining the violin with creativity combining the violin with my hobbies and just really truly redefining it for myself And I think.

2:26 You've redefined it in general, the whole concept of the violin, you know, and what you do with it and the, the creativity of course too, but like you're like a massive rocker and most people don't associate that, but a lot of rock can be classically trained. So you're like an example for everybody else. That's not just, Hey, somebody just picks up and plays three chords on a guitar. It's like, People really do know how to play. They choose to play the way they play. Absolutely. And like, to be honest, like metal music is very classically based.

3:07 Yes. It's using a lot of arpeggios. It's using a lot of the theory. It's using a lot of the intricate chord structures. Like, you know, and I actually don't do much metal, but I feel like in terms, like I have a lot of metal fans because they love the technicality, which you really can find in classical and metal. And that's kind of, or jazz. And that's totally me too, because I am a metal head. Yeah. And that's why when I saw you, I was like, oh my God, that's amazing. But I've always said, Like, people don't realize, they think metal is just noise, and I always said metal is a derivative of classical music. It really is. You know? It's a lot more thick sound, but it's classically based. Exactly. Which one of your violins do you get most excited to play with?

3:54 You know, I have this violin. I didn't bring her today. Actually, him. It's David Bowie. Oh, yeah. I've seen about that one. Yes. It's shaped like an actual crossbow. And it was for a character I developed for a comic book. And her name was Artemis. She's the goddess of the moon and the hunt. And so in all the Artemis depictions, she has this beautiful crossbow. And so I turned a violin into one. And it's a real violin. It can play. I've toured with it. It's pretty awesome. I love it. I love it. And you're into a lot of things of helping people, helping humanity. So tell me what your biggest passions are now in helping the world.

4:35 Yes. Honestly, I feel like a lot of artists struggle to pick one. A lot of people get kind of paralyzed by like, well, where do I start? Not just artists, like anyone. What do I choose as my thing? And after years of questioning, I've really leaned into... medical bills and I have a whole charity. It's called the upside fund and, you know, proceeds from my ticket sales and my merch. And I do a cruise now where all the proceeds go towards paying people's medical bills, helping people get their eliminated, uh, or eliminating their medical debt. And then also helping people find procedures that they couldn't have because insurance denied them. And, um, you know, it's been really amazing to hear people's stories and it's close to my heart because I've watched friends and family both suffer through our really backwards medical system and so it's kind of my mission to try to first start with the band-aid of how can we help people now and then i would love to get into policy work of how can we change our system and make it make more sense make it more humanitarian based.

5:34 You know what that was one thing when i saw that you do that that i love a lot because there's not many people that even realize that that needs to be done and i've had my own experiences as well And I've also had experiences in third world countries where I got taken care of better for no money. Yeah. And here I got to pay a lot of money, you know, and the insurance companies like them controlling healthcare. And it's like ridiculous when you see the bills. And then so many people that do have insurance, they don't realize because they just think it or copay and they don't care. But then there's the people that you're helping that, don't have the money or they do and it ruins their lives.

6:21 It ruins their lives. Bankrupts them and it's just horrible. More people get bankrupt in the United States by medical debt than any other cause. It's something out of their control. Yeah, it's really near and dear to my heart and it's something that I've now been doing for seven years I've had my charity and yeah, I care a lot about it. It's really cool. Can you tell all the listeners so they can help too, how they can reach out to the charity and donate or help in any way that they can? Yeah. Um, it's called the upside fund. So you can go to the upside fund.com. Um, and the thing I love is you can go there to, um, donate or you can go there to receive help. If you need help, like you can apply for, you know, financial aid. You can also find resources on how to decrease your medical debt.

7:07 So there's resources there as well. So you can go there to give, you can go to receive. Do you have a that stands out the most, somebody that talked to you that you helped that stands out the most of like, it just really touched your heart that you realize that you made a difference in that person's life. Yes. Um, I have a fan who shared with me a story. She like, it's, I'm not going to cry, but she brought her baby to like meet and greet. And she introduced me to her baby that was named Sterling. And she was like, I have my baby because of your charity. She's like, I was dealing with infertility and had so many health issues and I couldn't get pregnant. And, you know, everybody turned me away. And she's like, and I applied for a grant from the Upside Fund. And she's like, it was so amazing to realize I was worth it when I got accepted and I got the grant. And I was able to get the fertility treatment. She's like, and now I have this baby that is named after you.

8:06 And I'm like, that was really, really special. And I think what stood out to me so much was She just felt like she wasn't worth it. So many people told her no, and it started to just make her feel like she wasn't enough. So not only did it give her a chance to have a child, but it gave her a second chance to realize that every person's health, mental health, well-being is worth it. Absolutely, 100%. So now, one story, good or bad in your whole musical career, what stands out the most in your mind? Just in my music career? Yeah. One story. One story. Like there's probably a million of them. There's a million. But what's the one that comes first to your mind now? You know, the first one that popped into my head was like two years ago. It was on one of my tours and I had a song called Survive. And it was kind of an interpolation of Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive. Right. And, you know, out of whim, we reached out to her team and we were like, would you want to come perform it with us and, you know, do a mashup? And she said yes. And it was so fun at Radio City Music Hall. We surprised the audience.

9:06 Gloria Gaynor walked out and the whole audience like erupted. It was just like. a moment to perform. Like I've gotten to perform with like some really amazing icons, but that one, there was just something so magical about it. She was so kind. She gave me and my dancers advice all day about the music industry and about life. You know, she's this wise, I mean, I think she's 80, but she has the energy. Anyways, I learned so much from her and just that experience was like really special. That's so cool. And like, it's moments like that that let you know that you're really doing what you should be doing, right? Yeah. You know, all these moments we're talking about. Now, how does it come about that you do so many collabs? Like, it seems like every artist wants to do something with you.

9:55 Oh, that's so kind. Um, you know, I love collaboration. I love that. It kind of brings out a different side of you every time you work with a different person. Like I think one of my favorite collaborations I've ever done is actually with the amazing Lizzie Hale who's performing here today. Um, but the shatter me, that is such a unique song that only could have ever come about with the uniqueness of our artistry, like fitting together in a way that it didn't make sense until it made sense. You know, at, I love that. So I do reach out for a lot of collabs also because I'm an instrumentalist. Um, it's like I can sing, but anytime I want a vocal feature, I would rather find like the, like I love powerhouse female vocalists so much that, So I have a very, like, soft voice. So, like, I'd rather have, like, Amy Lee or Lizzy Hales. So, yeah, I'm always reaching for the stars. And, you know, I get lots of no's.

10:45 But that doesn't matter. It's just you keep reaching out. Someone will say yes. And I've gotten some amazing people that have graced my albums with their voices. And speaking of which, you just dropped a song recently with a collab, King of Coins. Yes. Yes. That one is really unique. I mean, this was... Honestly, I think it's one of the first times I've ever collaborated with other string players. Because, you know, usually I'm like, oh, I want someone who can do something I can't do. But... I was writing, actually, with this group called Archai, and we had such unique energy together. Again, creating something that neither one of us would have created on our own and adding the cello into it. And Jonathan, the other violinist, he has such a different stylistic way of playing. And that song is really fun to play. I've really enjoyed releasing it and doing the videos.

11:31 I love it. And one other thing I really love about you as somebody that was on the 80s Sunset Strip scene where all the shenanigans were, how you handle your crew, and it's basically a drug, alcohol-free zone. So tell me more about that, because to me, that's so impressive. It's people like you changing this industry to where there are a lot of artists now that are straight edge, and I think it makes the music industry that much better. Well, I think it makes a healthier place. When I first started touring, I was... I was quite naive and I'd been, you know, I, I grew up in Gilbert, Arizona and I went to college at BYU in Utah.

12:16 And so I was like, Oh, I'm entering this crazy world of music. You know, it was kind of, I was actually quite scared. And so I was like, what can I do to feel comfortable? And I was like, I wonder if my band and crew would be okay with like a, a dry tour. And, um, it was interesting cause I feel like the reaction rather than being like, Oh my gosh, I'm on the lamest tour ever with this girl. It's like, A killjoy. I realized that quite a few people were kind of relieved that there wasn't this pressure to party. And, you know, not to say, I'm sure there were some times when they might have wanted to have a drink backstage, and they're allowed to go do that elsewhere. But to me, this is not only my office for the day. I take my job very seriously. I couldn't imagine going on stage drunk. I really like to be focused and present. Right. Um, and I want everyone else to be present with me in the experience. I don't want to feel like I'm alone up there and isolated while they're all flying high. Um, and so to me, it's like, it's not only our office and our work day, but it's also our home.

13:09 When you're on tour, that bus is your Haven. It's your mental health space. It's your, it's got to feel safe. And so, you know, in the beginning it was purely just, what can I do to feel safe? And it's kind of stayed that way. And it's become a very safe place for my entire crew. And it's the way it should be. Like any other industry, it wouldn't be acceptable to do it while you're working. And I don't care who you think you are, you're never as sharp. Never. Never. You know, I think you are. You think you are. Totally. If I take out an in-ear, I may feel better because you feel the room and you feel the sound. I remember one show I took out my in-ears and I was like, I felt so good. And my sound guy was like, you were so off the whole, you know, he's like, you were not crispy, but it's like you, I think it's that numbing effect of like not having your in-ears in or having like a little film over your brain. You may think you're better, but you're actually just a mess.

13:58 I know, right? Yeah. So I love that you're doing that. Is there anything you want to talk about that we haven't touched on yet? Well, I am very excited. We just announced our Christmas tour. I go on a Christmas tour almost every year, as well as a summer tour. But, yeah, we're heading out this December and November again for the Christmas tour. And also, I am doing my cruise in January for the Upside Fund. Again, all of the proceeds from the cruise go to paying people's medical bills and eliminating medical debt. And this is my second time doing it. But we've got, like, neon trees on it. We've got Against the Current. We've got Derek Hough. We've got a really fun cast of, like, other performers. It's going to be great. I love it. Well, I love that you're here at Louder Than Life, and thank you so much for being on The Adventures of Pipe Man.

14:43 Yes, thank you so much for your really fun interview. Well, that's the best compliment I could ever get. Yeah, I had a good time. That was a great chat. Good deal. Hi, I'm Lindsay Sterling, and you're listening to Pipe Man on W4CY Radio. Thank you for listening to The Adventures of Pipe Man on W4CY Radio. Thank you.