Livewired

In 2019 I was introduced to Matt Owens, a singer-songwriter and former bassist for the gold and platinum-selling band Noah and the Whale. Matt had an idea to bring a new brand of live music gigs to Bath to intimate pop-up venues in Bath.

I was determined to use video to help differentiate Livewire from similar pop-up music promotions. One key component in the early days was the inclusion of the “Livewired Podcast Videos” where Matt would interview performers, often in a drunken state, either in his studio/shed after the gigs, or whilst out in the field. This content certainly helped to establish Livewired as more of a finger on the plus of the music scene, however, visually I felt it still needed more. So I aimed more towards a studio music show look (e.g Jules Holland) rather than to capture much of the audience and the simulation of being at a gig.

With Livewired the focus lies squarely upon the artists, music writing, the music business and the community, so to strip out shots of the audience and unnecessary b-roll of the venue this is achieved visually. The act of ‘stripping back’ also goes hand in hand with the notion of ‘authenticity’ in music where messing in any way with the traditional music of certain cultures is counter-mount to sacrilege, and some country acts refuse to even multi-track opting only to record in a full live band set up.

When we took Livewired to the Love Fields during Glastonbury Festival we continued to hone this approach, surrounding the act with cameras and filming more in keeping with the style of a music programme rather than attempting to evoke the experience of having attended the gig, as is the style of Sofar Sounds.

As well as filming and editing I would also provide lighting, live sound and sound recording.

Livewired has underpinned a huge swathe of my work in music and a project I am very proud to be a part of. The full library of videos is available to view on the Livewired YouTube Channel.