Kid Cudi, known for his distinctive atmospheric and emotionally-gripping live
performances has just finished the first leg of a new US tour supporting his
“Speeding Bullet to Heaven’ tour , complete with a moody and evocative lighting
design by Brett Lorins with Robe moving lights right at its heart.
Lorins has worked with the artist for five years and coordinates both lighting and
video aspects of his live performances. He’s been a big advocate of Robe for the
past 6 or 7 years and includes Robe products on his riders as often as possible.
For this one, the rig included 10 x MMX Spots, 12 x LEDWash 300s and two
LEDWash 600s with the MMX Spots being the main workhorses. This core touring
package was complemented by some house lights at each venue.
Six MMX Spots were rigged on 6 x 8 foot upright sections of truss onstage, three
positioned stage left and three stage right behind a 26 foot wide brick wall set
piece. Four more were mid and downstage, with 10 of the LEDWash 300s primarily
placed to illuminate the set and double as aerial washes and effects.
The other two LEDWash 300s were downstage on the deck and used to side light
Cudi – who’s not a fan of follow spots or front light – and the two LEDWash 600s
were also on the floor to cross light him from a low mid-stage position.
Cudi’s music is dynamic and dramatic, it’s hugely exciting to light and texture and
he likes it edgy, all giving Lorins plenty of creative latitude!
He thinks the MMX Spots have great gobos for painting the stage and are excellent
for creating the negative spaces that Cudi loves and plays into. “He’s very
situationally aware and knows how to “play the light’ exceptionally well.”
His perception of Robe at the moment is, “right there at the top of the game,’ and
one of two or three manufacturers who are “giving their clients solid quality
products for a fair price and amazing performance.’
The initial set design ideas came from the artist himself together with tour manager
Silbert Mani from Dmani Entertainment Group and Matt Robertson from Lakewood
Creative. He’s keen on having the additional layer of visuals but also doesn’t want
it to be distracting for the audience.
Upstage a video wall sitting flush with a 6 foot mirrored tunnel gave an interesting
infinity effect, and six scenic “televisions’ onstage were fitted with LED video panels.
The lighting package was supplied by TERI Productions, coordinated by Jay Coatney
and Jason Murphy.
