MIKA GIGS

Stages and show elements

Each performance and show, whether one of the kind or one of many during possibly even a long tour, has a setting around it and for someone as creative as Mika that's a big opportunity. One option as a setting is of course having nothing extra on stage at all which is a choice as much as any setting and one of my personal favourites simply because it means that the atmosphere comes purely from the music, the energy and people on stage. A good example of a performance without any show elements was the gig in Basel, Switzerland  (Oct/2024) where the outfits created beautiful elegance and the loveliness of the evening came from the intimate environment, the beautiful relaxed performance and sharing personal stories. What a lovely, cozy evening we had, one of my favourites during the whole year.

Everything starts from the venue because it offers the space where everything happens and that way already creates a mood to start with. The venue sets limits for the stage setting and even during big arena tours like the Heaven Tour (2015-16) and the Apocalypse Calypso Tour (2024) each venue in the end defined the final setting depending on if there was space enough to use the biggest elements like the big signs ("HEAVEN" and "Club Apocalypso") coming from the ceiling or for example the huge Arc de Triomphe or the giant bird cage. Arenas can be scary and cold but work as big empty spaces where Mika can bring his own show and that way allow him to be creative and offer us possibilities to see the amazing results again and again.

During years I have seen numerous venues that are like pieces of art itself, with special character, beautiful architecture and the atmosphere that has built itself during decades or even longer periods of time. Many small, smallish or outdoor even big, often historical venues have a lot to offer and when possible that can be used as a setting. Just think of the incredible circumstances at Teatro Antico di Taormina in Italy (July/2015) or Théâtre antique d'Orange in France (June/2024). All that was needed was lights and the artist and musicians on stage and the incredible atmosphere was there. In situations like that natural elements like the view or the weather can add extra charm. 

For many years I have had - obviously a distant - dream of Mika having his own tiny venue which would create stability and at the same time give him a total freedom to create whatever he wants, whatever comes to his creative mind. A small club or theatre which could be rented for corporate events or small fashion shows or even wine tastings and which - a few times a year - would offer his own little programme whether that's an acoustic performance or a small theatrical show or a collaboration with another artist, the performance with Nomfundo Moh at Cheltenham Jazz Festival (April/2023) being a brilliant example of that. The world that Mika has created around his music exists for real but most of the time in another dimension and taking a physical form only during performances or installations. This way it would literally exist all the time welcoming people from all over the world.

Sometimes, like at the tiny gig at Kettner's in London (Jan/2011), the venue can be so small it really reminds a comfortable living room. Before Kettner's in North America 2009 and during the Imaginarium Arena Tour 2010 a 1950's style living room was created on stage with a sofa, curtains, lamps and an old-fashioned television. The band was serving tea in their dotted or checked black and white outfits and the news that was broadcasted on television was shown to the audience on the background. With the space walk after the news the scene was one of the most legendary in the Mika history and also a good example of using a mix of different elements: a film clip and a decorated room built on stage. A similar idea was used at the Heaven Tour Bercy gig (May/2016) where the Heaven setting with the mechanical caravan theatre and the big throne was completed with huge new elements like the lighted Arc de Triomphe and film clips on the background letters showing Mika walking in Paris to support the theme "Mika loves Paris". 

I love old-school stage elements like physical background canvases and seeing them appearing and seeing elements like the piano being carried on stage like often happens at festivals creates excitement and anticipation. Digital modern options have still their places and my favourite example of them is the digital background set used at Coachella (April/2022) where the combination of different elements was as perfect as it possibly could be: sunny daylight, positive energy, the smiling, joyful performance, beautiful and at the same time simple yet meaningful outfits and those changing, cheerful and very colourful flowers and stars on the background. Generally, digital elements are quick to use at festivals and strong colours work also in daylight and I can very well remember also the firework patterns from Isle of Wight festival (June/2023) and the sun particularly from Rockwave in Greece (July/2023). Another brilliant example of stunning, digital background flowers is Any Other World from the Apocalypse Calypso Tour in spring 2024 where the utterly powerful, classic song was combined with simple and extremely dramatic opening flowers on the background creating something truly impressive.

Below I added two photos of fixed, physical stage settings: the Marie Antoinette setting from 2011 and the Revelation setting from 2019. The basic structure with backgrounds and signature pianos is quite similar. The Marie Antoinette setting included numerous "paintings" on the background and two chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the small piano was covered by mirrors. The Revelation background had images of Mika's parents and some familiar elements like planets and the pink piano hid the big red heart inside. As concepts these two were of course totally different. The royal setting was completed by a big court of people and the backing singers, the band and the orchestra musicians were all dressed in similar style gorgeous royal outfits. The Revelation show was a one man show and highlighted the story and emotions. The band was on the background and different moods were created using colours in the rainbow floor and the big light show and Mika wearing outfits in different, plain colours. 

Even though there are structural similarities and signature elements in different settings the theme changes each time and the final result is always somehow unique and I find it hard to pick my absolute favourites or even to compare settings or stage elements from different tours. The magic is always there. However, what I definitely love most is seeing the line between the reality and fantasy suddenly almost fading away for a moment. Seeing the news situation in that old-fashioned living room suddenly becoming "real" and the actual astronaut arriving through space. Or Mika singing "you take me high" the pink piano literally going high towards the ceiling. When he in the end of the Revelation show sang "we gonna stay high" and thanked the audience from the bottom of his heart he did it standing high up and pointing the big red heart that only a moment before had appeared from his pink piano. At Parc des Princes (July/2008) the circus themed show included circus performances. During those moments we were not in the middle of the concert the way we are traditionally used to, we were in the middle of the real circus. 

One of my biggest gig moments ever has obviously been seeing Mika and Ida performing with a small orchestra at the Versailles Royal Opera which has to be one of the most gorgeous venues in the world for any artist to perform. The circumstances were royal and the outfits elegant and as an extra element I felt the situation had almost been "rehearsed" years before with the royal festival setting. It felt like something that had been created on stage suddenly became as real as it possibly could be in the most stunning way. That was magic happening in front of our eyes and not only in our imagination. When you look at the heart-shaped stage that was brought in the middle of the game field at Stade de France after the rugby final (June/2018) with all the lights we can see the heart stage almost breathing life like a real heart. As a statement the heart is always my favourite element. The giant heart in the photo below is from Arena de Verona (9/2022) and we have seen it several times when the stage has been big enough for it. Brought in front of thousands of people at Solidays (June/2024) which was organised for a good cause the heart symbolised a big-size act of support, literally pointing out the meaning of love in life and in that, very emotional,  situation. Can't think anything that would have been more appropriate.