Live performance is a tightrope act, each second feeding the next. Through the adrenaline of a gig, remaining present is crucial to navigating the constantly shifting variables instrumentalists face. Revered UK keyboardists and music directors Nicky Brown, Adrian Moore, Iziah Yarde, Berenice Scott, and Michael Masade Jr. gather in London to discuss their careers and how V-STAGE helps them stay in the moment onstage.
Nicky Brown w/ Emeli Sandé, Tom Jone
Nicky Brown has a storied career wearing multiple hats, including keyboardist, producer, and musical director. In addition to being a BAFTA-winning composer, his collaborators include Madonna, Emeli Sandé, Michael Bolton, Tom Jones, Earth, Wind & Fire, Primal Scream, and many others.
What are your first impressions of V-STAGE?
The layout is inspiring. If you had to go on a writing trip, this would be a nice keyboard because it has a little bit of everything you need. Also, it’s excellent as a performance keyboard.
The synth section is fantastic, and with Roland Cloud, it’s even more exciting. So I love that. We all love pianos, but the synth section is incredible, and I love being able to create textures easily.
How does V-STAGE help you stay connected to your performance as a musician?
The big thing about the V-STAGE is the surface itself. It’s chunky. It feels substantial, almost like the closest thing to playing a real piano. And, when you’re playing electric pianos, that makes it even more exciting.
This keyboard can take me hitting it hard. I play a lot of gospel music, and sometimes you have to dig in. I also compose for film, so sometimes you have to be quiet, and the keyboard delivers on both levels.
"This keyboard can take me hitting it hard. I play a lot of gospel music, and sometimes you have to dig in."
Why is it essential for you to stay in the moment on stage?
There are times when you’re playing a concert that is very organized. You know what you’re going to be playing at each point. You’ve rehearsed how to use those sounds and how they feel under your fingers.
Then there’s another type of concert where you’re called on to be inspirational. You’ve got to find a way of helping the other instrumentalists—create moments. So you’ve got to be able to switch things up, find the best pad, or move from an organ to an electric piano or from a synth to an organ. This instrument allows you to do that easily.
Adrian J Moore w/ Wizkid, Gabrielle
Nottingham-based keyboardist Adrian J Moore currently serves as music director for Wizkid, a Nigerian artist who infuses pop with afrobeat, R&B, dancehall, and reggae sounds. He is also the founder of Mooresound, an innovative music production company that is always on the pulse of what is relevant.
What sets the V-STAGE apart from other keyboards?
It’s easy to access. Everything is on the surface straight away. Suppose you need a piano sound—just straight there. You have synthesizers as well. You have two synthesizer parts right there that you can switch between. Even the organ—I love the drawbars you can pull in and out at any time.
Tell us how you create an organ sound from scratch.
Everybody’s different when it comes to organs. If I’m starting basic, I would like to bring out the second, third, and fourth drawbars, which probably have the harmonics off and even the vibrato. I’ll start on a C3 or C2 to have a standard sound; then, as you want to grow from there, that’s where I would grow.
"In more modern music, especially pop music, I use the organ more to pad elements."
That’s quite an old-school sound. How do you use it in contemporary music?
In more modern music, especially pop music, I use the organ more to pad elements. I’ll definitely use the third and fourth drawbars to give it more of a pad sound. But if I wanted more grit, I’d probably bring out more of the drawbars to make sure it’s growling a little bit.
How does the V-STAGE help you stay connected to your performance?
The keyboard, the layout, and everything are easily accessible. As a performer, I like to move a lot when I’m performing. I’m on stage, and you might see my head just going. I can quickly jump to it if I need to bring up a pad sound. Everything being on the surface and being so easy to access straight away helps me massively.
Why is it essential to stay in the moment?
The pianos help me stay in the moment with their brightness. I like being able to cut certain things off easily, especially on V-STAGE. It helps me not think, “Oh no. How’s the keyboard gonna respond? Is it gonna respond quickly? Is it going to respond slowly?”
Being in the moment is easy access. Being in the moment is having a keyboard I know is not gonna crash on me, it’s not gonna fail on me. It’s not going to take ages. It’s going to chop when I change sounds. All of these things are being in the moment for me.
Iziah Yarde w/ Stormzy, Sugababes
Iziah Yarde, aka “Izzy,” is a keyboardist, musical director, and programmer. Beginning with pots and pans in his grandmother’s kitchen, Yarde has become a sought-after musician and producer. He currently plays with the iconic girl group Sugababes and English-Ghanaian artist Stormz.
What sets V-STAGE apart?
The sound palette and synths alone set apart the V-STAGE. You won’t find as good synths and modeling within any other stage piano. The organ is exceptional—literally faultless if you ask me—and the effects.
How does it help you stay connected to your performance as a musician?
You’re allowed to feel in real-time. What I mean by that is that you can tweak any parameter as you see fit and not compromise on what you’re playing. You can have an idea, and everything is laid out in front of you to happen in real time.
What does being in the moment mean to you?
Being in the moment means feeling and allowing yourself to feel. Often, feelings are involuntary, so you can experience a wave of emotions and respond.
"Being in the moment means feeling and allowing yourself to feel."
Have the V-STAGE sound engines and control options opened up new ways for you to play?
One of my favorite features, which is probably understated or people have uncovered, is the Assign feature. You can assign anything to anything. My favorite is that I’ll often be playing like a piano throughout the whole song, and then in the last chorus, I need to turn on the two synth slots, A and B. I assign that to the break, so they are turned on simultaneously when I press break.
What kind of musician would you recommend it to?
It could be used for a solo piano or singer’s performance, and you’re never out of options. It doesn’t get boring. You can do whatever you want with it; nothing’s beyond imagination. Ultimately, in the session world, as a touring keyboardist, it ticks all the boxes.
Berenice Scott w/ Simple Minds
Born in Paris, Berenice Scott has music in her blood. She is the daughter of Robin Scott, of M, the composer behind “Pop Muzik.” Following in her family’s footsteps, Scott’s musical career includes solo albums, work with Heaven 17, and her current role as keyboardist for Scottish new wave forebearers Simple Minds.
Are there any specific features or sounds on the V-STAGE you find especially inspiring when composing or performing?
As soon as I turned it on for the first time and scrolled through, I looked at the names of the pianos: the Lo-Fi piano, which I just couldn’t believe I was hearing. It was amazing, and there are a few other presets as well, which are instantly inspiring. I love layering the piano with some pads.
Does V-STAGE help you stay connected to your performance as a musician?
Definitely, how intuitive it is, how the individual sound engines are laid out. When you feel like you don’t want to be scrolling through the patches, it’s fantastic to be able to stop and think and then manipulate. You can play on the fly, and I think you don’t even realize you’re doing it, and that’s the point. You need to be in the moment.
"When you feel like you don't want to be scrolling through the patches, it's fantastic to be able to stop and think and then manipulate."
What does being in the moment mean to you?
There are two types. If you’re in the studio and just writing, then you want to be flowing freely, and that’s an in-the-moment thing. Then on stage, playing for artists and acts, when things change, you want to be in the movement. For that, you want to be ready to make changes because things happen. You don’t always stick to the set list sometimes, so it’s nice not to panic.
Have the V-STAGE sound engines and control options opened new ways of playing?
Definitely, it’s different. I work with FANTOM so much, and I love it, but that’s like a computer system. Here, it’s quite traditionally laid out. It’s great to work with. It covers all the bases. It’s not always practical to remove all the traditional classic keys on the road, but here you have them. And they sound great.
Michael Masade Jr. w/ Burna Boy
Michael Masade Jr. plays keys and provides background vocals for the worldwide musical phenomenon Burna Boy. A designer, musician, composer, and visualizer, Masade—or “Maestro”—has appeared with Burna Boy in numerous high-profile environments, including an NPR Tiny Desk Concert with twelve million views.
Are there any specific V-STAGE features or sounds that you find especially inspiring when composing or performing?
I love the felt piano sound. It’s a nice, warm, unique sound that allows and inspires me to play and express myself. It’s a unique sound, and nice when layered with pads underneath it or like a string ensemble underneath it. It allows you to hear every lyrical detail and every little detail that you’re playing, chords-wise, progression-wise, and even with the melodies and arpeggios.
"These are moments in the show when everything slows down. This keyboard allows me to get in the movement and play. "
How does V-STAGE help you stay connected to your performance as a musician?
It allows me to perform on a whim and on the fly. Because everything’s right in front of me. The focus is on playing the piano rather than thinking too much about switching my patches and sounds. I liken it to a BMW in the sense that BMWs are very responsive cars, in the sense you can change modes, and it just responds to what you want when you put the pedal down.
Why is it important for you to stay in the moment?
Burna Boy’s show is very dynamic. I use this keyboard mainly for ballads and slow songs, like “Alone” and “For My Hand.” These are moments in the show when everything slows down. Burna Boy asks the crowd to bring out their phones, and there is a whole blanket of light. This keyboard allows me to get in the movement and play.
