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Lasers pierce through a dancing crowd immersed in a bed of fog as a projector shines vibrant colors of abstract shapes and images. Dancers with multi-colored hair are on the stage, covered in glitter and dressed in fishnets and fuzzy leg warmers while a DJ bobs his head and throws his hands in the air, mixing Electronic Dance Music.
This is a familiar scene for CMU student and computer information science major Cody Jacob, as he is typically standing to the side of the stage with a computer and mixing pad. Only Jacob isn’t a DJ. He is the mastermind behind the visual effects that are an essential part of any EDM show.
“I’ve been into electronic music for a long time, and I began following the visual mapping and projection scene a few years ago,” Jacob said. “Visuals are a huge part of the concert experience. It’s where the future is.”
Jacob was heavily influenced by Pretty Lights and the visuals at each one of their shows.
“Pretty lights is my favorite producer of all time, and his visual producer Greg ‘LazerShark’ Ellis is my idol,” Jacob said.
About a year and a half ago, Jacob decided to combine his love of EDM and light production and began his production company, Fix Your Face Presents. He sets up his visual displays and/or sound equipment for various shows and events across the Western Slope, including bigger named artists like Michael Dark and Robotic Pirate Monkey.
Jacob has several lights and lasers that he controls with an Ableton mixing pad similar to one a DJ would use. Each button on the pad is set up with a different macro, so when pressed, they make real time changes in the light patterns to go with the music.
“The first time setting up at a new venue takes a lot longer, but it typically takes about two hours to set up the equipment and another half hour to adjust it all,” Jacob said.
Currently, he is preparing for the upcoming Kill Paris charity event on Dec. 14, where he says he has a big surprise for everyone.
“I’m working on a projection map stage that’s all 3D,” Jacob said. “The one I have right now is pretty rudimentary, but the new one will be a lot more heavy duty.”
Along with the production company, Jacob also has a radio show on KMSA, works for Snob Productions, training to be a sound engineer and keeps up a blog, fixyourfaceradio.blogspot.com, where he reviews shows, interviews artists and posts videos.
“I started working for KMSA three years ago and have been doing Fix Your Face Radio ever since,” Jacob said.
The show is every Tuesday from 9 p.m. to midnight and showcases mainly Colorado musicians.
“I try to keep the show as much Colorado-based musicians as I can,” Jacob said. There’s some great artists out there topping EDM charts, but I’m trying to help the ones that are trying to come up.”
Since he is already doing what he loves and making money, “it’s been really rough this last two semesters to balance school and keep motivated,” Jacob said. “But I’ve started, so I have to finish.”
Jacob plans to finish his degree while furthering his production company and hopefully making a positive influence on EDM.
“I was involved in the scene in the early years in not such a good way,” Jacob said. “So I’m trying to have a more positive influence on it. That’s my main goal of the production company. I feel like the EDM scene gets a bad name cause people think you have to be on drugs. You don’t have to be on drugs to come out and have good time.”
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