Killer reels: echolab and Kultnation

By now I’m sure you’re well aware of my deep respect for high-end visual and sound design. Among the inspirational friends I consider to be emerging masters in these complementary storytelling fields are sound designer Gavin Little of echolab and director Marco Vinicio, aka Kultnation. In the recent past, these gentlemen (heralding respectively from Dublin, Ireland, and Mexico City, Mexico) have collaborated often, and I hope you’ll agree that the results are quite spectacular. To experience their latest works, please visit www.vimeo.com/echolab and www.vimeo.com/kultnation. Read more

Leviathan and V Squared project Drake and friends

Following the success of several recent live performance projection mapping feats, design-focused, Chicago-based production studio Leviathan partnered once again with its frequent collaborator VJ Vello Virkhaus and V Squared Labs… this time for platinum selling, Grammy nominated recording artist Drake’s sold out OVO Festival, which took place in Toronto in early August. The stage’s structural set consisted of gigantic columns with retractable scrims, upon which a barrage of animated type, colorful patterns and ambient effects were projected. To highlight performances by musical guest Stevie Wonder, the team utilized a Kinect sensor to capture a surreal point-cloud avatar of the artist, which was projected live on the set for more than 16,000 fans in attendance.

Updated news on Drake, announcements on his forthcoming album release and his live concert appearances are available at facebook.com/drake and on his website at octobersveryown.blogspot.com.

Experience ISAM Live

The phenomenal live show experience Amon Tobin has conjured to accompany his Ninja Tune Records release “ISAM” is coming to all the North American cities listed below in September and October, and it’s also set to return to London on November 24. For the latest information, please visit www.amontobin.com/tour — and for a taste of what’s in store for audiences, enjoy “Visualizing ISAM” from design-focused production studio Leviathan and V Squared Labs.
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Joshua Frankel’s Plan of the City

“Plan of the City” is an amazing new animated film conceived and directed by Joshua Frankel. Combining live-action footage, animated elements, illustrations and images including public domain photos taken by the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the visually stunning 13-minute film artfully envisions New York City’s unique architectural fixtures blasting off from Earth and resettling on Mars. On the evening of May 6, 2011, at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge, the film will by presented by New Amsterdam Records featuring a live performance by Chiara Quartet, Matmos and NOW Ensemble, celebrating the releases of their new albums. Tickets and detailed project, performance and artist information is available via Le Poisson Rouge.

Heroes of heroes: Damion Clayton

My formal studies into the amazing artform of the music video began in 1981, when MTV first appeared. I was 15. Soon, I’d watched so many that I was dreaming them… and since then, hearing great music has always triggered MTV-inspired cinematic visions. Today, my studies continue, and I consider myself very lucky to have crossed paths with many masters in this field, each of whom is a hero to a director who has made something I’ve seen on television and loved, for one reason or another. Damion Clayton, editor at Rock Paper Scissors, is one of those heroes. Read more