Chagall :: Unlocked Behind the Scenes

Behind the scenes of Chagall and her team leading up to the premier of ‘Unlocked’ at Explore The North festival in July 2021. ‘Unlocked’ is singer/producer Chagall’s latest live music performance in which she explores her relationship with a reactive light-art installation called B.A.B.Y. (Bionic Assistant for Becoming Yourself). As Chagall controls all elements in the show in realtime through sensors in her costume, audiences witness an organic and intimate interplay of the human body, voice, light and music. At the heart of ‘Unlocked’ are nine visceral, synth heavy pop songs written in collaboration with poet Robert Isaf during the pandemic of 2020. Chagall serenades the journey within herself and what was left when all external distractions, deadlines and plans had faded away. The confrontations and unification with the self are visualised by the exchange between Chagall and B.A.B.Y. At times the installation is a comfortable cocoon, a safe space, fully reactive to Chagall. At other moments B.A.B.Y. will take the lead and guide Chagall through places of unrest and confrontation. While singing Chagall controls all musical and visual elements in this performance with the movements of her hands and body. For this she uses sensor-enabled gloves (MiMU), a full-body motion capture suit (Xsens) and specialised software that allow her to create the music and lighting design in realtime (not pre-recorded). Chagall’s natural movements are leading the technology, resulting in softness and human liveliness in a tech-heavy performance. Credits: Music, technical concept & programming / / Chagall Director // Kenza Koutchoukali Choreography // Jori Meijer Audio & Light Technician // Sven de Hoog Lichting Design// Stefan Prokop Unity Developer // Ruud op den Kelder Construction // Niels de Waard & Pieter Meijer Lyrics // Robert Isaf Costume // Linda Bogers Executive Producer // Tinka van den Heide Technical Advice // Olav Huizer (WERC) Video Production // Eldar Gross Producer // Paradiso Melkweg Productiehuis & Explore The North Festival Tracks in video, taken from 'Unlocked': 'Lilac Morning' produced by Raven Bush & Chagall, lyrics by Robert Isaf 'Shoeless' produced by Chagall, lyrics by Robert Isaf 'In Maelstrom' produced by Raven Bush & Chagall, lyrics by Robert Isaf 'Ridge Line' produced by Chagall, lyrics by Robert Isaf Made possible by the support of Stichting Amarte Fonds, Stichting Dioraphte, The ministry of Education, Culture and Science & Controllux Made possible by the technology of MiMU Gloves, Xsens, ProtoPixel, Unity, VRee, Ableton Live, Keith McMillen Instruments, Arturia, TC Helicon