Interview with JoJo Tillmann

Interviewed by: Judith Heinrich, Petra Meier and Judith Fasler

JoJo Tillmann has been a-ha’s stage/light designer since 2000 and he is responsible for the visual effects for the live shows. He is very passionate about his work and we had the chance to catch up with him during the recent South America tour.

How do you get your inspiration?
There are usually briefings from the band, however I mainly get my inspiration for shapes and proportions from modern art and architecture. At times I see myself running around exhibitions, looking for new shapes that I can build on and at the same time that are interesting. For the future for example, I am looking for new light fixtures arrangements.

Are you ever satisfied with your own work or do you think you can always improve?
I am never satisfied. There are moments of satisfaction but then after a while dissatisfaction creeps up again…However the audience reactions give me satisfaction and through them I also come up with new ideas.

In your opinion how have the lightshow and techniques changed in the past 10 years since you have been working with the band?
Looking back at the 1980s, you had very conventional light systems with some video beams coming into play at the end of the nineties. The LED technology to include video started for me around the year 2002, which enables us to create spaces and the focus is moving to videos.

How did you get first involved with the band?
Ylva Neumann, who used to be the band’s tour manager, was on the look out for a light designer. I was asked to submit some of my work but while most would send in a multi media CD, I sent a book. I was invited to Oslo, met Ylva and the band, and they really liked the book. The book itself had a great function – while sitting on the veranda, you didn’t need to start up your computer but could have a look at it at your leisure. I drafted a stage design for the 2000 tour and got the job. Everyone asked why I had a stage design of 4 towers but only 3 band members; it was about the spaces. After 7 years a-ha back on stage, a symmetric stage design, everyone on the same level, even the drums which made everyone equal. For me until now still one of the most powerful stage designs.

Do you think video shows are overtaking light shows?
Definitely yes! The tendency is that video is now a key element of a show. However every now and then you fight with yourself that it isn’t taking over the whole space. With a-ha, the band itself is quite static, there are quite high expectations from the video show as it tells a history and should keep on moving.

How do you deal with the different sizes and shapes of the venues?
It’s always a challenge – I am trying to plan, see what I can leave out. Here in South America, we had to work more with an ‘open design’ and keep it a bit simpler to ensure it was working. In the autumn 2009, we had 10 screens to work with, here we had to reduce it to one. I was missing a couple of ingredients such as my space ball (which is coming back though in Germany). While at other places we would have a big production, here I have reduced equipment and my mini mac in my hand luggage and it simply cannot be perfect in the finished product. We are missing the live cameras – so when they are back, the light & video show is going to change again. We want to show the band more and also want to involve the audience more.

What are your technical challenges in a country like Brazil?
Compared to the technical production a year ago in Brazil, this one was about 1000% better. The local crew was good though language barriers are certainly an issue and after a while it really tests your nerves. But then I am a guest in their country and I have to show respect and keep on trying. At the first show we had a lighting system that I was told was working. I got to test the system – it wasn’t working. The light bulb went on but that was it, no movement. I was still told that it was in working order. That’s just the way it is.

Do you actually like a-ha’s music?
Of course I liked a-ha’s hits before working for them, however 11 years of collaboration with the band brought the variety and complexity of their music closer to me. For example, I very much enjoy the new live acoustic version of “Minor Earth Major Sky”.

If you had an unlimited budget what would be your dream light/video show?
I would have an absolute massive light bulb that would transform in videos and the a-ha logo however it’s very very expensive…. I also love to have just more time on hand prior to the new live shows with the band to develop the perfect live experience.

Where do you get your video material from? Do you google it/youtube it?
Parts have been researched from image banks, parts are self produced material such as images of my daughter in “The Shadowside” version from 2009, we drew hands which we then put together in a collage and manipulated for “Riding the Crest” in 2009.

Would you ever want to produce a music video?
Definitely yes – but nobody would want to see it. It would contain colours, shades, textures but not showing the band. It would be very much ‘art’, abstract, without any realities. I would be very tempted to do it.