RS: Is there a video coming?
Valentin: There is a video actually for Love Bites, which I believe is just now being introduced into the European and Asian territories that we’ve licensed and we’re seeing about how that’s going to roll out in the US as well. The video is unique because most of it we shot ourselves, actually Kris and I working the camera and doing our thing. It was edited together using a patented system that I developed called MediaXtasy, which we use for live performances. Not only for QED, but we’ve used it for celebrity parties and events all over North America. It basically allows a Me-J, media jockey, to trigger visuals in time with the music. It allows them to organize visual images into different pallettes or groups that they can set up to be themed according to the music that they’re playing with. So that if you're me-Jing, as it were, for a DJ, you can follow what they’re doing as they build up the set and tear it down, you can follow their energy level and you can play really precise syncopation. A lot of people who are drummers and DJs, also want to be me-Js because they can really mess with video in really cool ways with this system.
RS: Are you saying VJ or Me-J?
Valentin: Me-J, media jockey.
RS: OK, I’ve never heard that term before.
Valentin: It’s a term that we’ve coined because we were expected to call ourselves VJs, but then we said well, VJs are the silly people who do stuff on MTV so we said why don’t we call it media? Because it really is about, in the context of a QED performance and where we see a lot of performing going, rather than relegating video to the backstage tech thing, we really see media jockeys, or Me-Js as being the people who will be added to the performance entourage on stage. A lot of the concerts and live shows now are integrating video, but a lot of it is sort of what I would term ‘wallcandy’.
RS: Or wall paper.
Valentin: Yes, it’s neat looking stuff that’s up there, but it’s not really closely associated with the music. At its best, it sort of captures some of the mood. The idea with the Me-J performance is that they have instantaneous control of literally thousands of video clips and can call upon them in real time to actually play video like an instrument along with the music. The video is never the same thing twice and it’s also very tightly integrated with the music, because as good as the Me-J is, if they’re good enough, they can really follow and work back and forth. They can jam with video along with the other members of the performance whether they be vocalists in a track act or a DJ or a full band. To make a long story long, that’s the concept that we’re putting forth with QED and that we’d like to also get other artists interested in. Video creation is part of the whole creative process and not just a video director coming along and with their interpretation after the fact. Part of this whole thing is envisioning the video up front as part of the means with which an artist expresses themselves, not only through music but also through video, and tying it all together and making it something that’s completely memorable. In a live performance context, its never the same thing twice, so by design, it’s something that’s always fresh and interesting.
RS: Wow, that’s totally much more than I expected. I VJ in addition to DJing, so the whole idea of the media jockey is a really interesting and unique concept. So QED is the artist name of you and Kristine and Valentin is you solo doing remixes, is that correct?
Valentin: Yes, basically remixes and also production. I’m in the process of producing probably what will end up being the entire album for a young pop artist named Jaimie Lee. We’re doing some very interesting tracks with her ranging from hip-hoppy pop type stuff to almost kind of rock type songs. She’s got a good breadth of talent that we’re covering. So, I’m basically doing remix and production and that’s the whole Valentin thing.
