UK – Seeing Prospa for the first time, fans are immediately struck by their musicality. Artfully playing off riffs as they layout breakbeat rhythms and analog synthesizer sonics with the fluid grace that one critic compared to “da Vinci playing light on a canvas,” the internationally acclaimed duo from Leeds creates club music that lives and breathes on the dancefloor.
But Prospa’s artistry goes far beyond that. Creating a tapestry of sounds that draws energy from many sources, the two musicians create what they call an “experiential event,” rather than a standard EDM set. This is evident in the wildly popular “Prophecy” series of shows that they have been performing around the world since 2025.
Reflecting this transcendental quality when Prospa’s Prophecy stopped at London Magazine this March, was a subtle yet powerfully immersive design by creative director and production designer Elliot Baines of Spiralstagelighting that was anchored by the CHAUVET Professional Color STRIKE M from Coloursound Experiment.
Baines’ design, with its strong element of backlighting, shadows and silhouettes, created a deep, beguiling setting that lent itself to the music. Expanding on this mood and making it even more evocative were the two hands that hung over the stage and the angel in the background, both of which were accented by the lighting.
“We wanted to the show to feel ethereal,” said Baines, who credits Coloursound Experiment, ER (Lasers), and Ombra (content) with helping to add an extra dimension to the design. “We didn’t want an ordinary concert, with chapters throughout. Our goal was to bring dark, mysterious vibes to match Prophecy,” he explained. “The two hands that hung over the stage. (part of the traveling Prophecy set) and the angel at the back of the room with her hands out, almost as if she is flying through the rig, helped us achieve this uplighting effect.”
In keeping with this creative vision, Baines avoided standard key lighting in favor of backlighting. “The DJs themselves preferred to be back lit,” he explained. “They were always back lit or lit from various side angles. We did not want to give this shows a usual concert feel.”
The 12 Color STRIKE M motorized wash-blinders in his rig were critically important in helping Baines achieve the light angled looks he wanted. “The number of STRIKE Ms we had were all we needed, as they were incredibly bright, even with a full stage,” he said. “We had them positioned at the back behind Prospa and their guests. In this show, the STRIKE Ms were treated as a design element of their own. Their role was that distinct and important. Really, they were our hero for back lighting, and creating silhouettes, which were obviously very important to a show that evokes mystery.”
