Gabby Young - Set and Costume Design

Another adventure for Jeffrey Michael Design in a new partnership with Gabby Young, and her fantastic musical creation, Gabby Young and Other Animals. From a chance meeting in the Miss Kiki Salon debut party for a line of beautiful scarves (at the Reading Room) last February came a sequence of meet-ups and discussions over the fashion week festivities. Before hearing Gabby perform in person for the very first time that evening, Gabby had spoken with me and requested some lovely lamps that she had seen in a beautiful photograph and the chance to work together on future set design and costume design. Over the next few days of catwalked venues and afterpartys we forged a new friendship and a beautiful new vision for the upcoming show at the Bloosmburry Ballroom that cullminated in a very rich and rewarding design experience.

The set concieved originally on a cocktail napkin over a quick brainstorm featured Gabby through a lovely frame for her to play and dance within. The stage was to be draped with hanging feature lighting all around her and the band like cave stalagmites. Mixed in with beautiful ambient colored lighting (purple and magenta) that the stage had been set with, the event went off without a hitch. The melencholy beauty of Gabby`s voice evoked something haunting and pointed in the center of the stomach as she danced through melody and songs .

Utilizing a full band, including horns, accordian, guitar, and drums, her sounds evokes something of a soft jazz, mixed with great upbeat harmonys. A bit of a mixture in my mind of several of my favorite artists (Feist, Amy Whinehouse, Florence and the Machines), there is something unique and new about Gabby`s sound and collection of animals. Her heart and soul come out with each song, and the enjoyment is clearly readable within each passing moment of her onstage. With many thanks and shout outs, the sets went too quickly for my likes and we were quickly into the final part of the evening.

Afterwards Gabby graced the ballroom for mingling in the Fire Necklace. Worn in a new and unique way with the beautiful dress made by Salon Gabrielle, and married with beautiful hair extensions in glowing red, it was if the entire outfit was completely made from one glowing ember. Photographer Andrew Harvey was onhand that evening to capture the mischief and mahem of the animals, as well as the creative stalls that were surrounding the outside of the dance floor. Jeffrey Michael Design displayed some of the Spring Summer 2010 lamp collection, that was also on stage as featured lighting.

Finally the evening closed with Gabby, Andrew and myself in a tiny corner hallway, of which we found the most beautiful area for photos of the Fire Neckpiece. (top two photos) Against the soft purples and blues of the stage streaming through antique glass, Gabby crouched down a small set of side stage stairs and put on a tremendous face after such an amazing set on stage. Tired, and almost last in the house, we captured some of my favorite images to date. Thanks to everyone who was involved in making this a night to remember, including Brett (Gabby`s manager), Miss Kiki (for the stalls and amazing dress), the band, and the amazing people at the Bloomsburry Ballroom who helped me get everything together onstage. Looking forward to several opportunities in the summer that have come from this including several stages at a huge 5000 person music festival, of which Gabby will also be playing :) !!

Jeffrey xx

http://www.gabbyyoungandotheranimals.com/ - the official website for Gabby

http://www.misskikisalonpresents.co.uk/ - salon gabrielle

http://blog.arharvey.com/2010/03/gabby-young-and-other-animals.html - photos of the set and light up neckpiece worn by Gabby taken by Andrew Harvey

www.youtube.com/pascalgregoire - the event in video :) !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxcV2lz9jTg&feature=related - my favorite song official video :) ! - Gabby Young and Other Animals - "We're All in This Together" Official Music Video *HD*

http://garethsgigs.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/gabby-young-other-animals-bloomsbury-ballroom-thurs-4th-march/ - pics of the stage

http://www.smvblog.com/nonita/?p=5618So - interview and background of Gabby

http://www.myspace.com/gabbyyoung - what band is complete without the myspace !! (sample the music! love love all in this together :) ! )

The garment and headpiece are from the Salon Gabrielle collection, designed especially for Gabby Young by the Miss Kiki Salon Presents artists collective. The headpieces is by UglyLovely , go check it out !! © Sofia Kalaitzidi, Kundalini Arts and Robert Burton. Live lighting design and programming by Marie Sanders.