For the current world tour by British pop sensation Charli XCX, lighting designer Elliott Mountford is enjoying the power and consistency of the VL2600 Profile luminaire from Vari-Lite, a Signify entertainment lighting brand.
The tour is in support of Charli XCX’s third studio album CHARLI, acclaimed for its experimentation and diversity. The show, therefore, required extraordinary variety.
Having worked with Charli and creative director Jed Skrzypczak through the summer, Mountford knew what was required, but also the limitations. “Charli hates key light, so most of my show is backlit, with a very silhouetted look. I love big, backlit looks in white, but they have to be super-wide for every audience member to see the effect.”, he said.
In achieving this, Mountford was impressed by the VL2600 Profile’s powerful output and wide zoom range. “I wanted great contrast between the lights and the rest of the rig – we had 100-plus strobes that they had to compete with,” said Mountford. “They cut through everything. My side-lights were workhorses for making sure Charli was illuminated, even during the brightest scenes. The brightness and the zoom are insane,” he emphasised.
Asked if the VL2600 Profiles had met his expectations, Mountford said: “Yes, they certainly met expectations. They went above and beyond to impress me each time I used them in the show. They totally out-performed any other similarly-sized spot that I’ve used.”