When you think of the electronic music experience, it’s hard not to envision the bright, flashing lights that are so prevalent at live shows. In fact, the lights may be just as much an indication of a show’s tempo and overall mood as the music itself.
And that’s no accident. A great deal of planning goes into the light installations you see at shows such as tonight’s Flying Lotus show, where the visuals were designed by Dr. Strangeloop, aka David Wexler. Wexler has also designed live-visual shows for Skrillex and Erykah Badu.
You can learn a little more about the intricacies of light installation by viewing Omnilith 2, a collaboration between Dr. Strangelove and The Frequency Mass, aka John King, an electronica musician from Los Angeles. The installation is showing at Altamont Theatre, 18 Church St., everyday of the festival.
Light installation by Omnilith 2, a collaboration between Dr. Strangelove and The Frequency Mass at Altamont Theatre. (Hayley Benton/ Mountain Xpress)
Installing the complex piece didn’t go quite as smoothly as expected. The original plan to incorporate a smoke machine caused the Altamont’s fire alarm to go off — allowing the Asheville Fire Department to get a sneak peak at the installation. Luckily, the problem was resolved and the public can view the Omnilith 2, free of charge, from noon to midnight through Sunday.
— Hayley Benton contributed to this report.
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