Lindsey Stirling, “Snow Waltz” (Image courtesy of Shore Fire Media)
Fri. August 26, 2022 6:00 p.m.
New Christmas album out October 7 via Concord Records
√ New festive single, “Ice Storm”, out now
On Thursday, award-winning pop violinist Lindsey Stirling announced her new Christmas album, “Snow Waltz.” It will be released digitally on October 7 and on vinyl on November 18 via Concord Records.
Featuring eight classic covers and five original tracks, “Snow Waltz” delivers Stirling’s immersive arrangements and haunting melodies – but with a seasonal twist – with songs that promise to be the perfect soundtrack for the holiday season.
“I wanted to give the songs a whimsical, leprechaun-like feeling that sounds like me,” Stirling said of the new record. “It’s always a challenge to put your own stamp on a classic song that’s been recorded hundreds of times, and I absolutely loved experimenting with different approaches and making sure each song was completely unique to who I am as a than an artist.”
To accompany the announcement, Stirling shared the project’s first single “Ice Storm”. An original, guitar-fueled and wildly catchy instrumental, the song sheds new light on the multi-faceted musician’s rock sensibilities. The “Ice Storm” video features a paper-cut collage of a pack of wolves chasing a young deer, running for its life to escape danger.
Listen to “Ice Storm” here: https://found.ee/LS_IceStorm
LOOK:
Pre-order/pre-register “Snow Waltz” here: https://found.ee/LS_SnowWaltz
Recorded in Los Angeles with Gladius (longtime Grammy-nominated producer with credits such as Demi Lovato and Justin Bieber) executive producer, “Snow Waltz” evokes a delightfully eerie vibe, fully embodying the boundless imagination at the heart of the Stirling art. The title of the album was born from the reflection on the period between Halloween and Christmas where the two seasons overlap.
“I wanted to create something in the same world as ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ or the ‘Harry Potter’ movies, where there’s a kind of Christmas feeling alongside all the creepiness,” Lindsey explained.
And the song “Snow Waltz” is just that, rooted in his ineffably expressive violin work and adorned with plenty of cinematic detail, including dark percussion, singsong flute melodies and bright, lively glockenspiel tones.
When it came to reinterpreting timeless holiday songs, Stirling tapped into his own boundless and unfettered ingenuity. On “Joy to the World,” she teamed up with Gladius and orchestrator Stephen Anderson to create a glorious Celtic-inspired version of the 18th century Christmas carol. One of the most left-wing moments on the album, the “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” beat features Stirling’s frantic violin alongside his hypnotic, celestial vocals and was produced with Mark Maxwell. For her flamenco-infused rendition of José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad,” she enlisted the guitar skills of fellow countryman Mark Ballas (a dancer/choreographer/musician/actor who was her partner on the 25th season of “Dancing with the Stars”).
Although the set of “Snow Waltz” carries a powerful emotionality, songs like “Magic” ft. David Archuleta have a particularly powerful meaning for Stirling. One of the album’s many voice-activated original numbers (along with “Crazy For Christmas” ft. Bonnie McKee and “Christmas Time With You” ft. Frawley), the bittersweet but uplifting ballad was sparked from t a profound moment in Stirling’s life, when his sisters and mother shared fond and amusing memories around the passing of his father.
The sequel to her debut holiday album “Warmer in the Winter” – which earned her a No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Holiday Albums chart and No. 1 on Amazon and iTunes Holiday Album Charts – “Snow Waltz” emerges as a singular new entry into the canon of holiday music, proving once again Stirling’s extraordinary gift as an instrumental storyteller.
Lindsey has launched an annual campaign, “The Upside Fund,” around each holiday season to help families in dire need of support during a medical crisis. She has partnered with medical companies such as RIP Medical Debt, Resolve Medical Bills and Dollar For to pay off over $4.5 million in medical debt and bills nationwide.
Stay tuned for more information on this year’s campaign and find more information here.
Lindsey Stirling (Image courtesy of Shore Fire Media)
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Since releasing her debut album in 2012, Stirling has established a successful career as an electronic music impresario, violinist, dancer and entertainer. She has humbly become one of the most innovative stars of the 21st century. His groundbreaking vision has earned him millions of adoring fans worldwide, four Billboard chart-topping albums, and two Billboard Music Awards (including Top Dance/Electronic Album for his third studio release, “Brave Enough”).
Her holiday album, “Warmer in the Winter”, catapulted to number one on the Billboard, Amazon and iTunes holiday album charts upon its release. Lead single “Carol of the Bells” made history as the only instrumental song to reach AC Radio’s Top 10.
Stirling has amassed over 12.5 million subscribers, nearly 3 billion views on YouTube, 3 million subscribers on TikTok, and over 500,000 user-generated creations on TikTok and Instagram reels. On top of that, Forbes placed her at number 4 on its list of highest earning YouTube stars in the world in 2015.
Her fifth studio album, “Artemis,” debuted at No. 1 on the Dance/Electronic Albums chart.
Stirling has performed for over 800,000 people on his headlining tours, and his co-headlining tour with Evanescence was named one of Live Nation’s best-selling amphitheater tours of 2018. .
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