At the end of August 2024, after watching Sorry Youthâs large-scale concert âNoise Apartmentâ at the Taipei Music Center, the lingering visuals were unforgettable: moments felt nostalgic, then transformed into stark black and white simplicity, like a high-speed chase on a highwayâa cinematic experience. Amidst the visual thrill, one couldnât help but wonder, âWhy hadnât I realized before how much lighting can impact the presentation of a song?â
ANH Design, established in early 2021, draws its name from the homonym for âpartnershipâ in Mandarin, embodying a core philosophy of collaboration. Beyond designing the lighting for Sorry Youthâs concert, ANH has been at the forefront of lighting design for major concerts in Taiwan, working with artists like Yoga Lin, Enno Cheng, Accusefive, FRAN, Anpu, Nick Chou, 9m88, YELLOW, and ÃZI, as well as on official events like the Ministry of Cultureâs Golden Indie Music Awards. Recently, ANH has expanded its mission into education, launching online lighting design courses, including their LIGHT ON 360° series, to promote lighting knowledge.
If concerts are milestones on the journey of music, bands immerse themselves in creative vision long before a songâs release. Once a song is out, stage lighting brings the performanceâs energy to life, adding dynamism and nuance to every moment. However, for an instrumental band that conveys mood and texture over lyricsâwhere phrases are complex and challengingâhow does a lighting design team respond?
The following is an excerpt from an interview between Major in Body Bearâs guitarist, Miles, and lighting designer Jianfeng Sun. Their story begins in 2017, even before ANH Designâs formal inception:
Each Major in Body Bear release centers on a specific themeâfrom âConfessionâ and âRelationshipsâ to âMomentsâ and âTime.â Their latest full album, Topic 5: Calling, follows the same creative thread. Typically, Miles crafts an initial guitar melody or chord progression, then deconstructed and reassembled by the keyboardist, Anxi. This approach gives the band its signature dual-melody lines, enriched by bassist Seadog and drummer Andy, who bring rhythm and depth.
While instrumental bands without vocals are rare, it allows Major in Body Bear to delve deeper into instrumental dialogues, conveying emotions through minimalist compositions. Their prolific output and live performances set them apart in Taiwanâs indie music scene. However, live performances go beyond just the musiciansâthe onstage experience depends heavily on behind-the-scenes elements like lighting.
âWhen lighting design influences a musicianâs playing or a performerâs movement, we must carefully consider the purpose of the design,â Miles shared. âFrom my perspective as a band member, lighting design is their expertise. If a particular lighting effect makes my playing challenging but enhances the audienceâs experience, Iâd prioritize the visual impact and adapt as best as I can.â
A seasoned musician, Miles recalls his first collaboration with Jianfeng and ANH Design in 2017 at a Vast & Hazy concert. It wasnât until he saw photos from the show that he fully grasped the power of lighting design.
âIt wasnât until I saw the photos that I realizedâĶ Iâd never imagined myself looking this way on stage,â Miles said. This moment of realization was the starting point for their collaboration. The band invited Jianfeng to design the lighting for their first solo concert at Legacy in Huashan in 2018. As luck would have it, Jianfeng had previously served as a resident lighting designer for Legacy, ensuring the showâs seamless flow.
The concert marked a new chapter for Major in Body Bear. The challenge of lighting design was magnified without lyrics, relying on music and visuals to communicate. This concert included guest performances by Rin and other artists, leaving a lasting impression through the combined impact of video and lighting. It deepened the bandâs understanding of lighting design, enhancing their communication with lighting designers for future performances.
Without lyrics to convey specific messages, song titles and visual cues serve as bridges between the band and Jianfeng. From their first solo concert to a widely acclaimed show at Clapper Studio in Syntrend Creative Park, ANH brought fresh visual dimensions to Major in Body Bearâs music. Jianfengâs process begins with an in-depth analysis of the music, delving into the bandâs interviews and writings, to create visuals that resonate with the musicâs narrative.
âWhen weâre creating a song, I often think of a single word to capture its essence,â Miles shared. âThe other members might not even know the title until the album is nearly finished,â he laughed. âItâs funny because that word usually reflects the internal atmosphere or challenges weâre facing at the time of writing.â
Jianfeng recalled designing the lighting for Topic 3: Moment at The Wall, proposing an ambitious lighting setup with both flagship and standard hardware options. By then, the band had collaborated with him multiple times, trusting him to take creative liberties. This show introduced the now-iconic âmatrix lightingâ in Major in Body Bearâs performances, with Jianfeng choosing point-based or vector-style visuals to highlight the bandâs technical prowess. The lighting colors drew inspiration from the colored balloons on the Moment album cover.
When asked which song presented the greatest challenge, both Jianfeng and Miles immediately answered âSmashing the Wall of an Endless Maze,â affectionately called âMaze.â The intricate rhythms and mid-song time signature changes demanded a meticulous synchronization of lighting, deeply moving the band. âIt feels great to be understood,â Miles said.
Influenced by Japanese math rock pioneers like toe and Mouse on the Keys, Major in Body Bear decided to design a four-sided stage for their 2022 EP Topic 4: Time at Clapper Studio, echoing their early performances at APA Mini.
The Time EP, composed during the pandemic, carries some of the bandâs heaviest emotions to date. Miles explained, âTime is a neutral but omnipresent force. We hope listeners can project their own experiences or emotions onto the music. Time carries these fragments, walking with listeners through every chapter of life until the endâwhether thatâs life itself or any significant milestone.â
In this performance, Jianfeng introduced new lighting elements, most notably movable light tubes that added a magical touch. The tubes, suspended above the four-sided stage, adapted to the musicâs rhythm and mood, creating an immersive experience from every angle.
Beyond light tubes, Jianfeng meticulously synchronized light flashes with the EPâs title track âTime,â fusing lighting effects with musical rhythm for a powerful visual impact. He tailored lighting for each performerâs movements, spotlighting solos to craft a focused, intense atmosphere.
For this show, Jianfeng opted for minimal lighting equipment, using just four spotlights and a few intelligent lights. This approach created a focused and layered stage, accentuating the bandâs intricate music.
Jianfeng’s lighting captures the essence and intensity of the music in each performance. For more information about ANH Design, please visit https://lighton360.com. English content and an online program will be available soon.
Read more about the Taiwanese scene at Inside Taipei Music Expo: A 2024 TRENDY TAIPEI Project That Elevates Taiwanâs Music SceneâThe Dream Thailand Wishes For!
A Minimalistic Dialogue of Light and Sound: A Chronicle of Collaboration between ANH Design and Major in Body BearPress Photo: ANH Design
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