Groove Armada

http://www.groovearmada.com/#Home


As seen from their most recent performance in Amsterdam, Groove Armada is an epic force to be reckoned with, being a very long established music maker from its humble beginnings in the early 90's. JMD has had the great fortune of partnering with Groove Armada, and Ada Zanditon to come up with a light up costume creation for lead singer Becky for their upcoming touring this year.

Paper Romance Video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74cQF2ebgOM

To be created as a brainchild between Ada and Jeffrey, this piece will speak to the future of both of their careers, in lighting, and creative throwback. Taking references from Tron, Broken Glass, and futuristic design inspirations in both of their collections, this piece will be used throughout the upcoming touring season for the band's lead female singer.

Groove Armada has played all over the world, taking in Russia, New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, Los Angeles, two sold out tours of the UK, which culminated in three consecutive sold-out nights at London's Brixton Academy, and two-sold out tours of Australia, ending with a live New Year's Eve gig for 20,000 people on Bondi Beach, Sydney. Of special note gig wise is the amazing London outdoor festival Lovebox, of which Groove Armada has headlined along with the likes of Goldfrapp and The Flaming Lips

Ada Zanditon interned with Alexander Mcqueen before studying at the London College of fashion, where she graduated with high honors. Since then, she has worked with the likes of Patrick Wolf, Bishi, Robots in Disguise, etc etc (so many amazings), and shown her collections on many prestigious runways at London Fashion Week.





Jeffrey Michael and Ada had the chance meeting throughout the last year at many mingles, runway shows, and adventures through common friends (it was destined before long) and joined forces recently several months ago with the intent to create something visionary that lent upon both of their skills. Utilzing exciting lighting schemes, structural design, and intense costume creation, the two have madly been scheming and creating in coordination with team Groove Armada.

Get excited, this is the big time !! Look to see the piece this September and keep posted for finished pics ....

Ada's Collections = http://www.adaz.co.uk/index.html
Info on Groove Armada =http://www.groovearmada.com/#Home
Paper Romance Video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74cQF2ebgOM
Jeffrey's Collections = http://www.jeffreymichaeldesign.co.uk/costume_daniel_stepin.php

Jeffrey xx

The Sterling8 Dynasty

A new Jeffrey Michael Design project has began on the up and coming artist Sterling8. Sterling has just released his first debut single "Hypnotized" which is cracking out and getting airplay all over the US, and recently just broke into the UK market. Being already remixed in Germany and Japan, the track has broken open new possibility for the artist. JMD and Sterling have partnered up to create iconic, couture, one of a kind pieces to showcase Sterling as a top celebrity artist.

JMD has currently been brought out to New York City to work on the full costume design for Sterling8's performance, media, and album cover which is being shot this coming weekend. Noteably being shot by Shelby Chan and hair and makeup by Theo Faulkner , this shoot holds much promise for the up coming single release. The costume piece is one that has been in the brain of JMD for several months over discussions with Sterling for the perfect one of a kind look that suited his personality and music type.

Decided to be titled 'organic futurism', Sterlings look is a contrast between soft organics like leather, feathers, and earthy materials, and hard sharp diamonds, black, and reflective materials. This best reflects both his high fasetto (seen in the new single hypnotise) and his soft gospel infused low range (soon to be seen in his upcoming 2nd and 3rd track).

Upcoming events for JMD and Sterling include a soundcheck with a very high profile celebrity (more info on that to come), and a very exciting selection process for the background dancers with celebrity choreographer Candice Franklin who has worked with Janet Jackson.

JMD is very excited to be working on this project with such amazing fellow team members and looks forward to the exciting array of key signature, iconic pieces commissioned by the Sterling8 dynasty.

The single can be seen on Sterlings website : http://www.myspace.com/sterling8music.

To see work by the other artists working on the Sterling8 project please visit their webpages :

Theo - Makeup/Hair - http://www.theoafaulkner.com/

Shelby - Photographer - http://www.shelbychan.com/scfinal.html

Candice - Choreographer - http://www.sceneinteractive.com/talents/candicegetsdown/

Jeffrey xx

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.

Fire Neckpiece

After a year of discussion and thought, a lovely collaboration piece was done this Christmas/New Years season between me and Mark Sheppard.

Several amazing performance by Mark on New Years, including "Play" nightclub, and "The Empire Ballroom" were notable for the evening and Mark put this costume piece on display and worked the room with it. (Check last blog for pics of the shows and piece at the event)

Above (top three) is the sexy photoshoot that was shot by me in the late hours of the evening at Studio Mark Sheppard. Truly a dream come true to work with the person responsible for much inspiration in my career. I have always wanted to do a photoshoot with Mark in one of my pieces, and along with several other photoshoots this day, we carried out the " FIRE NECKPIECE ".

Focusing on the solid color palette of red, with red lighting, this piece was mean't to emphasize and draw light up the neck and along the jaw. It was situated centrally on Mark's body, creating a dynamic focal point, featuring explosive radiating color and light. Like the many other costume pieces by Jeffrey Michael Design, this piece also saught to push forward creative unseen design, as well as to integrate the lit aspect into a dynamic, wearable, moveable piece. The attention draw to the wearer, such as happened on the evening, amplifies both the aspect of the performance and conversation and through heightened interest and excitement.

This was an amazing shoot, styled with a simple red dress, and an exotic headpiece made of feathers, of which I really was thinking a mix between Rihanna's mohawk and sexuality, and the Vegas Showgirl. It turned out even better than i could have imagined, and Mark made this a pleasure to create and shoot. His gorgeous camera gave me a taste of the professional world and his set and studio are to die for (I aspire to have the same someday soon!!).

Finally on display are my photoshopping skills which I pushed to the limits in these top three photos. I would like to get good enough to go out on a professional level working for myself, amongst my many endeavors. If you have any interest in this please let me know.

Here are some easier to read examples of what the piece looks like on its own. It drips down the front to a stop near the navel, and has a small featured larger shoulder on the left hand side to add attention from the back. The lighting is all self contained and does not require a plug in. It is mobile and dynamic.

If you are interested in this or other costume pieces for purchase or rental, please contact jeffreymichaeldesign@hotmail.com .

jeffrey xx

New Year's 2009

Another fabulous New Years has passed by, and I was able to celebrate in style with Haus Mark Sheppard. Along with his fabulous backup dancer's, Sinfully Sweet, I assisted Mark with his light-up costume design and photography over the evening.

Shown here, my newest creation was glowing and golden red throught the evening at both the Empire ballroom, Play Nightclub, and later in Studio Mark Sheppard. We had so much fun, with a bit of crazy mixed in getting between all the venues, but in the end I had so much fun.

The main event photos on the big black stage were at the Empire Ballroom at which it felt like a grand stadium and Mark's intro video got the ground pumped up to a crazy height, with them going mad as he came out to sing his new single 'JUMPSTART ' ! I had so much fun being in the audience taking photos, mingling, fielding questions of why Mark is so fabulous.

The evening was a huge success and the costume piece was on display with the right man. I specifically designed this piece for him as a one of a kind commission. I brought all my costume making devices all the way to cold cold Canada and used his studio the days leading up to the event.

I even got to wear it for a little bit of time in some photos! So amazing.

Shortly to follow will be the big shoot I shot in Mark's studio featuring the piece and some hot styling, as well as some direct photos of the piece on a glowing white mannequin ! Keep your eyes peeled over the next few days !

Jeffrey xx