Lighting designer, Pasi "Pasu" Koivistoinen, has worked with the artiste for four years. Latest project is her new album Terra, with the live tour that started in November 2013 and reached a staggering 33 summer festival gigs this year.
In early 2013, Pasu first approached local distributor Noretron Communication Ltd and its CEO Timo Kunnas to test some of SGM's fixtures in order to assess his possibilities regarding special strobe effects. These tests influenced rental company Uudenmaan Kiertuetekniikka Ltd to invest in six XC-5 RGB LED colour strobes, 10 P-5 wash light for the tour (and further eight TLD-612A touring LED drivers with Art-Net and 200 LB-100 LED Balls for different stage setups), while also supplying special integrated road cases and truss solutions for easy transport and set-up.
By operating the SGM units for Jenni Vartiainen and stretching his creativity as designer, Pasu now has nearly two years of experience with the unique LED fixtures. This is his perspective:
"I am sort of a 'semi' old school guy when it comes to lighting, and the P-5 and the XC-5 were actually the first LED fixtures that I really wanted to have with me on tour.
"The XC-5 is a perfect touring buddy. It doesn't consume much electricity and it obeys my commands. It changes the colour when I tell it to, no more messing around with scrollers!
"I like to create big looks on stage with lots of colours; the P-5 is perfect for that job. They are pretty much the backbone of the show, providing the colour and pulsating. The even spread and brightness that my six floor units, washing the drapes, are able to give is somewhat jaw dropping, while the four front/side P-5s, with narrow lenses, are perfect to colour-wash the band and to give dramatic looks that I like.
"The brightness of the white LEDs, while not having them in my colour mixes, allows me to use the P-5s almost as a two different fixtures - for example having a smooth dark blue chase and on top of that a sharp beat with white LEDs. At the same time I do not have to worry about the rain at open air concerts as they are IP65 rated.
"At every club, festival or concert hall that we visit, I find my fellow lighting designers - and even sound guys - showing an interest in this product."
(Jim Evans)
