An Intro to AV Live Shows w / Zoë Mc Pherson & Alessandra Leone

Explore the dynamic interplay between music and visuals within live shows in this online workshop for women, trans and non-binary artists

Saffron is delighted to present the June instalment of its Saffron Members Club online workshop programme - for women, trans and non-binary people worldwide.

Join us to explore the dynamic relationship between music and visuals in this two-hour online workshop with Zoë Mc Pherson and Alessandra Leone.

In this session, we’ll look at how visuals can be used to elevate live performances, and explore the process of bringing an audiovisual concept to life. Zoë and Alessandra will begin by providing a short introduction to their work and creative relationship before talking us through their audiovisual live shows “String Figures”, “Pitch Blender” and work in progress “Is THIS real” from idea to realisation.

Through a mixture of presentation, discussion and group exercises we will cover the following:

• Why integrate visuals into a live show?
• Audiovisual narrative-building
• How music shapes visuals and vice versa
• The tools of creation (free and paid)
• Accessible ways to begin exploring AV practices
• Group discussion

The session will close with a Q&A with the opportunity to ask for guidance and advice.

Think you would benefit from this session, but can’t afford to contribute? We have a few bursary spaces reserved for those in positions of financial hardship. We trust these will be taken by those who need them – no questions asked. To request one, please email us at

ABOUT ZOË MC PHERSON AND ALESSANDRA LEONE

Zoë Mc Pherson (music, voice, performance) and Alessandra Leone (visuals, lights) are co-founders of SFX platform and the work in progress audiovisual live performance “Is THIS real?

Based on Mc Pherson’s 2025 album Upside Down. The project develops a performative language where sound, image, and stage environment form one fluid system. Real-time visuals (live camera feeds, depth capture, 3D scans, adaptive lighting) continuously reshape the space around Mc Pherson’s live presence. 

The work aims to expand on the duo’s internationally presented AV projects (String Figures, Pitch Blender) and situates hybrid club music in dialogue with contemporary art practices, offering a multisensory stage form that challenges conventional boundaries between concert, installation, and performance.

Zoë Mc Pherson & Alessandra Leone @Robot Festival 2025 - Bologna WIP

↪ https://vimeo.com/1153190444/dff2cd77e9

↪ https://zoemcpherson.xyz/ 

↪ @zoemcphers

↪https://opencluster.cargo.site/ 

↪www.alessandraleone.com 

↪@ale.byss

ACCESS

This workshop will be delivered via Saffron's digital members platform, but non-members who are women, trans, non-binary or gender non-conforming may also purchase a ticket.

Saffron Membership starts from less than £6 per month and provides access to regular online workshops, an online community space, video masterclasses, free music tech tools, discounts and much more. Join Saffron Members Club

This workshop is open to people worldwide, but will be running at 7.00 pm BST, so please bear time zone differences in mind. If you purchase a ticket but are unable to attend live, you will automatically be emailed a recording of the workshop after the event.

We are committed to making our online events as accessible as possible. We have created a guidance document about this - Click here to view the accessibility document. Alternatively, please email us with any access requirements you may have.

GENDER POLICY

The gender imbalance in the music technology industry is well-recognised. While we are absolutely not ‘anti-men’, we see that a shorter-term solution is to provide fellowship and learning environments that are not dominated by the cisgender male perspective. Therefore, these workshops are intended for women, non-binary, trans and gender non-conforming people to attend. While we do not ban cisgender men from attending, we hope that they will respect that this event is not intended for them.

ABOUT SAFFRON

Saffron is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to advance gender equality in the music tech sector by creating safer spaces for marginalised people to learn, create and grow confidently through forward-thinking technological music creation, DJ and music industry experience. Saffron’s work focuses on educational courses, online workshops, mentoring, a global members club and an artist development and label platform. We are building a future industry that is inclusive and diverse. Founded in Bristol UK in 2015, Saffron has grown from a one-woman operation to an initiative supporting thousands of people worldwide to find music education and community.

Safffronmusic.co.uk - Instagram / LinkedIn