[Interview] With Their Stunning Crystallized Volcano, Krewella Hopes to Blow Fans’ Minds
By Carolyn Heneghan
We all know what happens when light hits a crystal. The light is refracted and dances about, creating a visually pleasing physical reaction. Now what happens if you introduce colored LEDs, a wealth of crystal-simulated mirrors and electronic dance music courtesy of female producer-and-vocals duo Krewella? 2013 FlashFWD honoree for Best in Live and leading visual arts studio, V Squared Labs presents: the Volcano.
VJ and founder of V Squared Labs, Vello Virkhaus and lead designer Amanda Hamilton teamed up with fabricator and technical engineer Stefano Novelli to create this architectural masterpiece using reflection mapping to create the synthesized crystalline structure. At 30 feet by 18 feet, the Volcano superstructure is destined to travel to more than 50 venues across North America, acting as a visionary centerpiece for each explosive show.
Making of The Krewella Volcano from V Squared Labs Inc. on Vimeo.
This “Sketch to Stage” video features different chapters of what went on behind the scenes to make the superstructure a reality. “Design” features some of the original sketches and schematics of the Volcano in its early stages. “Fabrication” shows the incredible amount of effort that went into creating the structure itself, from constructing the framework and skeleton to manufacturing the crystals and light panels. “Building” demonstrates the assembly of each piece of crystal structure and the software that brings the Volcano to life. In “Rehearsal,” Krewella comes in to get a feel for the structure and rehearse their routine coordinated with the Volcano itself. The final chapter shows the duo performing live in Austin, TX, using their new and improved light show.
We had the pleasure of interviewing V Squared Labs’ Amanda Hamilton, the lead designer for the Volcano project, to learn more about what went on behind the scenes and what fans can expect from this state-of-the-art piece of lighting, made especially for Krewella.
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SoundCtrl: How was the idea for the Volcano inspired? Was there a specific moment or event that triggered it?
Amanda Hamilton: The inspiration came from Krewella’s Play Hard cover art, which depicts a crystalline explosion. Creating a volcano of exploding crystals became the premise of the design, so from there I studied the mechanics of crystal growth and their formation in nature. The mirrors as a material choice were to enhance the crystalline quality, and their explosive formation focuses your eye on the performers in the center. The crisp definition between the lighting effects outlines the separation of the crystal outgrowth from rocky cluster, and the LED screen acts as an overall environment and light source for the form.
SC: What was the process like transforming the Volcano from ideas to pen and paper and then to a physical centerpiece?
AH: So amazing. As an artist, having a client come to you with the idea of a “crystal volcano” is pretty exciting in itself. After discussing the circulation of the performers and necessary aspects of functionality, it was all form-making and light effects from there. Taking basic material ideas into physical experiments was the most fun, and getting to execute it at an even larger scale was a dream come true.
SC: What do you think is the most innovative and/or impressive aspect of the Volcano’s design?
AH: I think the complexity we achieved through very simple principles. Once we had a mock-up crystal made, we were able to grasp the light potential. There were minimal facets, and we tested it with just a few lights. After seeing the amazing effects on a small scale, we knew that a larger scale was going to produce even more intricate results.
SC: How did you make this massive structure portable for use on the Krewella tour?
AH: I worked with our fabricator, Stefano Novelli, on this aspect of the project. I knew the different configurations that the client desired, so I broke the crystals up into pieces that were small enough to transport while still making sure that the seams were corresponding with the configurations. Stefano made sure every joint and connection was feasible for a tour and simple and quick to assemble.
SC: How exactly will Krewella be interacting with the Volcano, or how will the Volcano interact with the music?
AH: The crystals hide various sets of stairs and platforms that they are able to move around and perform on. This allows them to look like they exist within pieces of the volcano itself. The exploding form is based around a central point which is also where their DJ booth sits. This is meant to draw the viewer’s eye directly to them. The different lighting effects inside and outside the volcano are all programmed with specific looks and colors based on Krewella’s set. Our VJ, LD and the music itself are responsible for the speed and rhythm of these effects.
SC: What reaction do you hope to get from fans who see and experience the Volcano live?
AH: I hope that it takes the music and performance to the next level. The entire structure is meant to enhance the music and aid the performers in creating the experience they’ve always dreamed of. Their fan base is so strong already, so in a way this gives back to the fans who have stuck out Krewella’s performances with no visuals whatsoever.
SC: Do you envision any updates or changes you might make to the Volcano either throughout the tour or after?
AH: We would love to expand upon the Volcano for future tours, maybe adding more pieces and platforms throughout.
SC: How do you plan to use the Volcano once the tour is finished?
AH: It is Krewella’s to keep! We only wish we could keep it here at the lab.
“My team at V Squared Labs and I are always pushing the envelope with existing technology to generate new forms of experiential visual art. The Volcano is our next experimental design integrating lighting, reflection mapping and sculptural form. We are very excited to bring the audience along on this amazing musical and visual journey.” – Vello Virkhaus, Founder of V Squared Labs
