Don’t use more than two colors on stage at the same time. This rule is about as axiomatic as “always pack an extra pair of socks when you travel.” Virtually every lighting designer follows it. Luke Edwards routinely does too… at least most of the time. The owner of Bear Bright Studios, Edwards believes that, like all rules, this one too must be broken on occasion, and he’s demonstrating that in brilliant fashion on multi-Grammy winner Jacob Collier’s global Djesse tour.
When asked which colors are dominant in his tour design, Edwards simply said “all of them.” His pithy answer makes sense, considering that the tour he’s lighting covers his client’s widely celebrated four-volume Djesse album, a 50-song opus that weaves myriad musical influences, including contributions from stars like John Mayer and Chris Martin, into a captivating whirlwind of sounds. Given the sheer breath of this ambitious undertaking, it’s virtually impossible to see how any combination of two or even three colors could truly reflect this show’s diverse musical tapestry.
“While I usually follow a rule of using no more than two colors on stage, working with Jacob led me to break that mold,” said Edwards. “Each of the four albums in this collection is associated with its own distinct color. For this production, we embraced all four colors simultaneously, creating a vibrant and dynamic visual experience that reflects the essence of his work.”
Helping to create this polychromatic spectrum on stage is a collection of 15 CHAUVET Professional COLORado PXL Bar 16 fixtures. Positioned along the stage deck, the motorized tilting RGBW battens are used to up light the set. “They created a striking curtain of light,” Edwards said of the fixture. By drawing on the PXL Bar 16’s tilting function, and changing the intensity level, he was able to vary the looks played out in the rainbow of hues that reflected his client’s four-volume album.
Edwards created another powerful effect by playing off his rainbow of evocative colors against the bold white light from his rig’s 32 CHAUVET Professional STRIKE Array 4 fixtures. “We use the STRIKE Array 4s as blinders,” he detailed. “They deliver impactful moments that enhance the overall visual dynamics of the production.”
Since audience interaction is an important part of a Jacob Collier concert, Edwards paid careful attention to how he incorporated the blinders into his design. “Our intent is to make the audience feel fully immersed and part of the show,” he said. “To enhance this effect, we often split the blinders into segments, especially in venues with distinct areas to light. This approach is allowing Jacob to create unique harmonies across different parts of the room.”
Just as he changes his audience lighting throughout the show, Edwards also adjusts how much of the stage he lights in order to evoke different moods. “This show is a dynamic blend of high-energy moments and intimate scenes,” he explained. “There are times when the focus narrows to just the set, illuminated softly, with a single spotlight on JC or the backing singers. The set itself is constructed from up-cycled pallet wood, which adds a warm, natural texture. Lighting these moments with soft, warm tones beautifully complements the organic feel of the materials, creating a cozy and emotive atmosphere.”
Backlighting is also enhancing the power of the production. There are some striking instances where Collier is backlit, creating a dramatic effect. During a special disco moment, the singer Alita is also beautifully backlit at the top of the set, imparting a unique visual element to the show.
Another memorable visual element was created during the tour’s stop at the 02 Arena in London, when Chris Martin appeared on stage to sing “Fix You,” while Collier was performing his signature act of “playing” the audience as if they were an instrument. That was, said Edwards, “a truly magical moment that perfectly showcased the creativity and spontaneity of the show.”
Making a mighty contribution to that creativity and spontaneity throughout the tour is this designer’s willingness to depart from the norm and bend a rule. This brings to mind Picaso’s famous quote about learning the rules as a pro, “so you can break them as an artist.” And that is precisely what Luke Edwards has been doing that on this tour for a client who has expanded musical horizons by following a very similar philosophy.
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