ON THE FLOOR
How did you get into the business of creating mind-blowing visuals?
It started when I was a five year old kid. Some of the first drawings I remember making were these colorful, flowing abstract shapes. I was always listing to music, loud music, while drawing and it came out in the work. Looking back now, I realize I was just interpreting the music in a visual way, using colored pencils and paper.
The fascination I had with mixing sight & sound through art continued. Once in college, I started learning the digital tools that would be needed to bring out these images I had in my mind. But this was before VJing was even on the scene. It wasn’t until several years later that I found an outlet for this sort of synes- thetic obsession. While visiting the studio of some tech-artist friends I noticed they were playing around with a VJ app. As soon as I saw it I knew it was what I had been looking for. After asking them about a million questions, I jumped in head first.
What kind of artistic influences have shaped your designs?
All kinds. Everything from the art-rock posters of the 1960’s to Daft Punk’s rapture-like pyramid experience. My style follows a very geometric, symmetric line of logic. It’s heavily influenced by the stunning forms of sacred geometry and the mystical drawing of yantras, which are the visual component to mantras.
What new ideas, styles or interests have you been exploring lately?
As a live visualist my style has been shaped by what looks best with the tech we’re using. I would describe it as “color-minimalism’. It’s a direct responce to playing on super bright, low resolution LED panels. The same imagery that looks great on a screen can look terrible on LED. The content isn’t necessarily interchangeable. Also, I try to work with the lighting designers, using matching or complementary colors. Many times in the past it’s been the VJ vs. LD in a battle royale, but everyone loses in those situations.
As a live visualist my style has been shaped by what looks best with the tech we’re using. I would describe it as “color-minimalism’. It’s a direct responce to playing on super bright, low resolution LED panels. The same imagery that looks great on a screen can look terrible on LED. The content isn’t necessarily interchangeable. Also, I try to work with the lighting designers, using matching or complementary colors. Many times in the past it’s been the VJ vs. LD in a battle royale, but everyone loses in those situations.
“I’ve worked with Morgan and his team at festivals like IDentity etc... The Future is Visual and Future Visual is the team to be on!”
– VJ Aeonchild 80
As a production designer I’ve been exploring fully choreographed shows where every visual component is tightly synched to what the DJ is playing. Video content, lighting, dancers and performers are all part of the same overall vision. This kind of coordination has been possible with one-off shows but we’ve rarely seen it in the EDM festival scene. We hope to change that.
How long have you been VJing? The first time ever was at a small art gallery in 2008. Haven’t stopped since.
What is the most exciting technology that has emerged in VJing in the past year that has been a gamechanger for you?
HD mixers that are light, portable and inexpensive. Resolution is a beautiful thing!
Have you seen the fans in EDM becoming not only more interested in visuals, but of next level production in general?
Without question. It’s becoming an essential element of every EDM event. The fans are talking about which shows were visually lacking and which ones were completely mind-blowing. They’re always excited about what they might see next. And with EDM moving into the mainstream here in the states, more fans are asking, why go to a show when the DJ will play the exact same tracks they hear at home. With massively stunning visual spectacles, those questions don’t come up as much.
Who is your favorite visual artist?
Wassily Kandinsky. Few people realize that his paintings were some of the first forms of what I would call ‘music-visualism’. He was literally translating the music he was listening to into lines, colors and brush strokes on canvas. It’s the same thing we do now as VJs in this brave new age of technology.
Where do you see the future of VJing and visual design heading?
In a word... Immersive. When you look at where the EDM scene has come from, where it is now and what’s had the biggest influence, it’s easy to see that it’s moving to an interactive, immersive, 3-dimensional experience. Fans want to be participants in that experience, not just observers anymore. It’s evidenced by all the glow toys, performences and costumes that we see fans bringing to the shows. And by the hours of practice they put into their dance moves. I believe our roll for the future will be to merge what the participants bring into the overall visual production. Making it an experience that is co-created for that one moment in time.
That’s really what we all want, to be part of an experience so amazing that it captures time.
Interview by: The Superstar VJs aka Visual Jedi & VJ Infinight
THE SUPERSTAR VJS ARE: ‘VJ INFINIGHT’ AND ‘VISUAL JEDI’ CHECK OUT WWW
www.djmag.ca
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