For The 197Live, the focus was to move beyond a standard cover set and build a high-end, immersive tribute experience. My work focused on capturing the specific DNA of a The 1975 show, replacing inconsistent karaoke style tracks with custom built tracks. To ensure a professional flow, I designed the set with authentic intro and outro tracks, using live-style interludes to bridge songs and keep the energy moving.
On the technical side, I built the show to be entirely road ready and accessible. I developed a system featuring backing tracks with integrated guide cues, allowing the band to navigate complex moments and transitions perfectly even without prior rehearsal. By providing custom live reference tracks for learning and rehearsal, we created a polished, tour grade production that remains consistent and professional in any venue.
the 197live
The Briefmake an authentic sounding ‘the 1975’ set using the custom tracks already made, create more custom backing tracks to replace karaoke version and add in authentic intro’s, outro’s and interludes.
musical direction
For this project, my goal was to recreate the specific energy and momentum of a The 1975 show. I focused heavily on the flow of the set, utilising authentic interludes and crafting tight transitions to ensure the performance never lost its pace. By mirroring the structural nuances of their live tours, we were able to move away from a standard song by song setlist and create a continuous, immersive show.
Because the band needed to deliver a high quality performance without the luxury of prior rehearsals or charts, I designed the entire show to be as "idiot proof" as possible. I provided the band with custom backing tracks featuring integrated guide cues. These cues act as a roadmap for the musicians, calling out sections and upcoming "moments" so musicians and the singer have a safety net in during the show.
To further bridge the gap between the studio recordings and the stage, I supplied the musicians with specific live reference tracks from ‘The 1975’ live albums in the correct keys. This was to aid the band to be able to practise along to a full track before the live show so nothing would be a surprise when we got on stage
A major part of this project involved either replacing Karaoke Version backing tracks with custom built tracks or making them sound good, a few custom tracks had been made previously and I wanted to achieve a sound that was truly authentic to the original artist, I rebuilt the tracks to ensure a quality sound that holds up on a professional stage. Each track has to be as close to the original record as possible, giving the band a solid, big budget foundation that feels like a real touring production rather than just a cover set.
To frame the performance, I developed a bespoke show structure that mirrors a genuine ‘The 1975’ concert experience. This included a custom made intro track to open the show and a specific outro for the finale, both modeled after the band’s live transitions. By incorporating several authentic interludes throughout the set, the flow felt continuous and intentional, bridging the gaps between songs and creating an immersive atmosphere that captures the brand of the artist from start to finish.