VERSA Studios, the UK broadcast studios network, has partnered with Factory International on KAGAMI, an immersive mixed reality concert event that is currently running as part of the Manchester International Festival.
The performance, a mixed reality concert event created by the late composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto in collaboration with Tin Drum, launched on 29th June and runs until Sunday 9th July at VERSA Manchester Studios.
VERSA studios said that it had worked as close production partners over the last six months with Factory International and Tin Drum to ensure the smooth delivery of the event.
“Working with our neighbour Factory International, in close collaboration with Tin Drum, on a Manchester International Festival event which combines leading edge technology with an inspiring musical performance has been a perfect project to welcome audiences back to our city centre studios,” said Edward Harvey, studio and strategy manager for VERSA Studios.
VERSA stated that KAGAMI represents a new kind of concert, “fusing dimensional moving photography with the real world to create a never-before-experienced mixed reality presentation”. Audiences are provided with a headset to view a cinematic, dimensional Sakamoto performing on piano alongside virtual art created to accompany each song. Presented in surround sound, “the experience is both collective and individual, inviting observers to connect to the work – and each other – throughout”.
Sakamoto was known for his varied composition styles, from electronic to classical, including original scores for Oscar-winning films such as The Last Emperor and The Revenant. KAGAMI brings Sakamoto into collaboration with Tin Drum, a specialist studio producing content for mixed reality devices.
Charlie Ingall VERSA Studios founder, added, “Another high profile creative and engaging live event brought to you by VERSA Studios across our Manchester site. It’s fantastic to see such immersive experiences housed with us as part of the hugely important Manchester International Festival. Our nimble, bespoke set-up at VERSA means we can partner and welcome the best projects and most famous brands in the world to our studios.”
