Rodo Crespo, a lighting designer with over 22 years of experience, has learned how to connect with the audience by creating captivating atmospheres, especially with Claypaky fixtures like the Sharpy Plus. His motto, “in art, there are no negatives,” drives him to innovate and provide unforgettable experiences in every show.
Rodo Crespo was born in Buenos Aires 40 years ago. Just like the city lights, his work as a lighting designer comes to life in the darkness. While Buenos Aires shines until dawn, Rodo transforms the stages, making the shadows into a spectacle.
This designer and programmer of lighting, video, and laser has worked with some of the most important artists in the country, such as Las Pastillas del Abuelo, Illya Kuryaki and The Valderramas, Khea, Axel, and Los Ratones Paranoicos.
“My first steps in the industry were already 22 years ago, but my calling as a designer started around 15 years ago,” Rodo recounts. “As I met different professionals, I developed and learned the craft.”
One of the most important milestones in his career was creating his own company, New Rock Lights Design, through which he not only designs one of the stages at Lollapalooza Argentina but also built his own virtual studio, which has been key to his growth as a designer.
However, his most important project at the moment is Trueno, the young urban artist with whom he has developed a special creative connection. Each Trueno show represents a challenge and an opportunity to take his design to another level.
Rodo Crespo has been part of Trueno’s team for almost four years, a collaboration that arose thanks to Santiago Compiano, the artist’s technical producer, with whom Rodo had already worked on other projects, like Khea.
When it comes to designing the lighting for a Trueno show, Rodo prioritizes the artist’s ideas. “The first thing I do is ask him what he wants to convey in his show, understand the personal and artistic moment to create a staging that reflects his vision,” he explains.
From there, he seeks to unify all the key elements: video, screens, lighting, scenery, and the stage itself to mount a design where he can express himself through the staging, as Trueno’s aesthetics, rooted in rap and hip-hop, present unique challenges and opportunities for lighting design.
Rodo Crespo has been using Claypaky fixtures for several years, since the Scenius Unico arrived in Argentina with the help of BALS, and he knew it would be a long-term choice.
The true test of Claypaky’s quality came when working with Las Pastillas del Abuelo. “With this band, we started doing many stadiums, as it is a very popular artist. As soon as I had the opportunity to demand a fixture that I considered essential for the show, I requested to have the Scenius Unico,” he states.
The experience gained with Claypaky has been fundamental in his development as an LD and in his ability to create impactful staging.
In his designs for Trueno, Rodo highlights several features of Claypaky that have been key to achieving an impressive show. “My favorite model has always been the Sharpy, but as they have evolved, I prefer the Scenius Unico and the Sharpy Plus.”
For Trueno’s shows, he has specifically requested the Sharpy Plus in the rider. “I think it’s a fantastic device with CMY, gobos, and the ability to be a beam at the same time. It’s a great hybrid equipment that allows me to play with different light effects,” adapting to the artist’s energy and aesthetics in each presentation.
The process of creating the lighting design for Trueno’s last show was a unique experience for Rodo Crespo, who worked carefully on every detail. “The main concept of the staging is based on black and white, with horizontal and vertical lines,” he assures.
To achieve this effect, he incorporated innovative design elements. “We’re bringing a scenery of acrylics in the shape of horizontal lines, which we illuminate with Claypaky Tambora Batten LED bars,” he notes, “In addition, I used the Sharpy Plus to emphasize the vertical lines on stage with its beam function and zero zoom, along with its focus.”
With this combination of techniques and concepts, Rodo has managed to make each Trueno show not just a concert, but a complete visual experience that leaves a mark on the audience.
“I’ve never had any issues with the equipment; they are very reliable and robust fixtures. Even outdoors. And this definitely allows me to focus on creativity and design without worrying about technical failures.”
When designing the lighting for a show, Rodo deeply immerses himself in the music, which he considers the soul of the spectacle. “The main thing is the music; it’s what moves my creativity at the beginning of a project,” he asserts.
“I express with minimalist scenes for very intimate moments, seeking to bring the light into the artist. In the highest moments, I light up the audience a lot, with colors and blinders,” he explains passionately about his work. Rodo loves that the artist can see their audience, creating a special bond that enhances the connection between them. “Lighting them allows me to see the sea of hands and people dancing and enjoying the moment,” he says.
Rodo Crespo’s philosophy toward lighting design is clear and encouraging: “In art, there are no negatives; everything is possible and everything is achievable. You just have to put love, energy, and a lot of work into it, and any fantasy, any project, any idea is achievable.”
Looking to the future, Rodo is excited about what’s to come. “Of course! I have many projects ahead,” he says enthusiastically. And without a doubt, collaboration with Claypaky will continue to be fundamental in his work.
“At the end of this year with Trueno, we will be doing a stadium in Argentina to close 2024,” and he anticipates with great expectation: “We will be performing at the Ferrocarril Oeste stadium, and we are working on a very large setup, where the main fixtures will be the Sharpy Plus.”
With this blend of ambition and creativity, Rodo is ready to take his lighting design to a new level, always trusting in the quality of Claypaky. Guided by his passion for art and his desire to connect deeply with the audience, each project becomes a unique experience for the artist, his audience, and himself.
