Elliot Baines Lights Prospa Prophecy Show with CHAUVET Professional

	"The two hands that hung over the stage, part of the traveling Prophecy set, and the angel at the back of the room with her hands out, almost as if she is flying through the rig, helped us achieve this uplighting effect." Photo: Josette Crispin

The electronic music duo Prospa appeared at London Magazine in March, presenting one of its Prophecy evenings, featuring an immersive design by creative director and production designer Elliot Baines of Spiralstagelighting, anchored by the CHAUVET Professional Color STRIKE M supplied by London-based Coloursound Experiment.

Baines' design, with its strong element of backlighting, shadows, and silhouettes, created a setting that lent itself to the music. Expanding on this mood and making it even more evocative were the two hands that hung over the stage and the angel in the background, both of which were accented by the lighting.

"We wanted the show to feel ethereal," says Baines, who credits Coloursound Experiment, ER Productions (lasers), and Ombra (content) with helping to add an extra dimension to the design. "We didn't want an ordinary concert, with chapters throughout. Our goal was to bring dark, mysterious vibes to match Prophecy. The two hands that hung over the stage, part of the traveling Prophecy set, and the angel at the back of the room with her hands out, almost as if she is flying through the rig, helped us achieve this uplighting effect."

In keeping with this creative vision, Baines avoided standard key lighting in favor of backlighting. "The DJs themselves preferred to be backlit," he explains. "They were always backlit or lit from various side angles. We did not want to give this show a usual concert feel."

The 12 Color STRIKE M motorized wash-blinders in his rig were critically important in helping Baines achieve the light-angled looks he wanted. "The number of STRIKE Ms we had was all we needed, as they were incredibly bright, even with a full stage," he says. "We had them positioned at the back behind Prospa and their guests. In this show, the STRIKE Ms were treated as a design element of their own. Their role was that distinct and important. Really, they were our hero for back lighting and creating silhouettes, which were obviously very important to a show that evokes mystery."