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Dimitri Vegas like you’ve never seen him before

In recent years, live shows have become increasingly popular. Tours and festivals are getting bigger, and tickets are becoming more expensive. Then Covid-19 came along. Suddenly, it was no longer possible to see your favorite artist shine live. An Instagram livestream couldn’t replicate the impact of a live show. But what if these shows were now moved to virtual reality? Is virtual reality the future of the music industry?

Proof of concept

There are already several examples of different artists giving concerts in this virtual reality. In various ways. For example, Travis Scott gave a concert in the online battle royale game Fortnite. Over three days, performances took place at different times, each lasting about fifteen minutes. The difference? The Astroworld-inspired environment and visuals could never be replicated in “real life.” The advantage? Travis Scott could promote his collaboration with the game and launch his new song in a unique way.

But The Weeknd is also not averse to a virtual concert. Via TikTok, The Weeknd gave a virtual live concert. The visuals, the set design, the movements – each one contributes to a unique experience. An experience that is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in a “real” live concert.

Truly virtual live concert

The downside of these virtual concerts? They use an avatar of the artist, so as a user, you still don’t feel like you’re actually standing in front of your idol. And that can be improved. Namely, with volumetric video!

With volumetric video, it’s possible to digitize yourself and your movements. The advantage? Your natural movements are captured and digitized without any alterations during post-production, as non-verbal communication is an important aspect of individual recognition. And that is precisely the power of volumetric video. Despite being a 3D asset, it will create a familiar feeling during the virtual experience.

Studio transformed into a Tomorrowland stage

We see opportunities in the field of virtual concerts, whether in virtual reality, augmented reality, or even for a music video. The possibilities of digitized artists are vast.

To emphasize this further, we had the privilege of hosting two DJs and one DJ duo in our studio to record a set in volumetric video. This meant rendering approximately 2 hours of volumetric video content… Our servers were put to the test, but after a month, the renders were ready, and we could let the DJs shine.

But before we had the final result in our hands, we had to conduct thorough pre-production. How do we ensure that the DJs can actually control the knobs? By placing a DJ set in our studio, it can be that simple. It’s time for the DJs to showcase their magic.

Wolfpack was the first to take the stage! With their energy, they entered our green stage, where we first did a costume check. We had to test the wolf masks of the DJ duo. Once everything was approved, they started spinning, and what energy they brought!

After the studio cooled down from the amazing set by Wolfpack, it was Angemi’s turn to show what he could do. This Italian creative knows how to mix different tracks seamlessly. His charm and enthusiasm are so infectious that you’ll find yourself dancing with your VR goggles on in no time.

The final act of the recording was to be Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. Unfortunately, Like Mike wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t be present for the shoot. But even without Like Mike, Dimitri Vegas can deliver an incredible set! His knowledge and skills radiated, and he will undoubtedly get everyone on the dance floor.

Music of the future

The story of virtual reality concerts has just begun and is far from over. We believe that there are many opportunities in creating virtual reality concerts for artists to offer something unique to their fans in a completely different way. But apart from virtual reality concerts, there are many more possibilities.

An augmented reality concert can also increase fan engagement. For example, we’ve already done a living room concert with Clouseau. Or how about a dance class with K3, so you can be the first to master the dance moves of their new single?

Promote your music in a unique way, take photos with your fans from all over the world, or offer fans a one-of-a-kind experience. With volumetric video, the line between reality and virtuality will be blurred, creating a truly unique experience.

We’re curious about how you would like to use this technology to put new and existing artists on the map in an innovative way. We’d love to brainstorm with you about the possibilities. Interested? We are too! So let’s get acquainted soon.