Nisha Ramnath, owner of Phase Designs, started her career in lasers at one of the large firms in the US. After 5 years of being their lead laser designer, she established her own company which partners with laserists around the world to create content for shows. No idea is too complex, no deadline too short. She uses her expertise of working for professional sports, top musicians, community events, corporate clients etc to help lasers companies accomplish creative designs that attract social media buzz and create memories for attendees.
Sean Populorum, owner/operator of Optic Laser Media Inc. As a child Sean was fascinated with art, music and technology. When he was a teenager he went to the Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill and saw the “lasarium” laser show compilations of Lallapalooza, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Grateful Dead. It was then Sean was inspired to learn about lasers and how he could create this beautiful light into art.
After high school Sean began experimenting with the different technology types of projectors, from gas powered to solid state diode heads. In his twenties he made his own laser projectors and took them around to events doing small laser shows. That was not enough for him, so he went to San Francisco to seek out more in his field. It was there where he met most of the top laser show companies in the U.S. and started working with them and truly honed his craft. While in California Sean lead creative teams for many high end clients such as Google, Microsoft and HP ranging from stage design, abstract and logo projections and video production.
Projects included:
•2015 YouTube Music Awards
•Windows 10 Logo
•Playboy Mansion parties
•Shows for EDM DJs such as Skrillex and The Glitch Mob.
In 2016 Sean moved to Durham to be back in his home state so he could begin his next chapter in his laser career. So far he has been busy doing work such as:
•Local churchʼs Christmas and Easter programs
.•Moogfest
•Outdoor shows for New Bern, Pittsboro, Oxford, Brunswick, and Emerald Isle
•Building projections in downtown Durham
•Pop-up restaurant advertising
•In conjunction with 2017 4th of July fireworks in downtown Raleigh
•Brewgaloo beerfest in Raleigh
•Swan Lake for the Louisville Ballet
After high school Sean began experimenting with the different technology types of projectors, from gas powered to solid state diode heads. In his twenties he made his own laser projectors and took them around to events doing small laser shows. That was not enough for him, so he went to San Francisco to seek out more in his field. It was there where he met most of the top laser show companies in the U.S. and started working with them and truly honed his craft. While in California Sean lead creative teams for many high end clients such as Google, Microsoft and HP ranging from stage design, abstract and logo projections and video production.
Projects included:
•2015 YouTube Music Awards
•Windows 10 Logo
•Playboy Mansion parties
•Shows for EDM DJs such as Skrillex and The Glitch Mob.
In 2016 Sean moved to Durham to be back in his home state so he could begin his next chapter in his laser career. So far he has been busy doing work such as:
•Local churchʼs Christmas and Easter programs
.•Moogfest
•Outdoor shows for New Bern, Pittsboro, Oxford, Brunswick, and Emerald Isle
•Building projections in downtown Durham
•Pop-up restaurant advertising
•In conjunction with 2017 4th of July fireworks in downtown Raleigh
•Brewgaloo beerfest in Raleigh
•Swan Lake for the Louisville Ballet
Rod ShulerTriangle Area Regional Director
aka DJ RS (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) (919) 332-9260 [email protected] |
Rod Shuler has spent more than two decades in the music industry; a marathon stretch of live and recorded performances that have allowed the Raleigh, NC, native to achieve critical acclaim in the music industry.
An accomplished songwriter, DJ, producer, and event manager Shuler first found the spotlight as a member of the mid-'90s, groundbreaking Christian rock/rap hybrid Reality Check. The band's self-titled debut sold more than 75,000 copies, earning 1996 regional Gospel Music Association New Artist honors in the process and giving him a platform to perform live at a number at a number of Christian music events and festivals (including Creation East/West, Atlanta Fest, Alive Fest, Cornerstone and others).
In 1998, Shuler—drawing on the growing influences of blatant, Massive Attack and others—formed the Nashville, TN-based fleau, with Kristin Schweain (now of ZOEgirl), and later, Marisol Laboy on vocals. The trip-hop group released a six-song EP as well as a full-length (self-titled) recording, and was featured in CCM, 7Ball and Hard Music magazines.
During its first year on mp3.com, fleau's music had more than 100,000 plays, and was eventually featured on more than 40 multimedia web sites. The band, which quickly reached more than 33,000 fans on its MySpace site, was also named Beatmart.com's top independent artist for its efforts. While performing with fleau, Shuler was able to grow even more creatively, and was blessed with the opportunity to work with artists like TobyMac (Toby McKeehan, Des Dickerson, Venus Envy, and Al Denson on a variety of projects.
Since 2009, Shuler has promoted and managed large-scale, multi-artist concerts and fundraising events for NC-based Lucas Gambit Entertainment, hosting internationally regarded talent like Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Trip Lee, and Tenth Avenue North. Additionally, as djrs, he regularly performs and emcees events across central North Carolina.
An accomplished songwriter, DJ, producer, and event manager Shuler first found the spotlight as a member of the mid-'90s, groundbreaking Christian rock/rap hybrid Reality Check. The band's self-titled debut sold more than 75,000 copies, earning 1996 regional Gospel Music Association New Artist honors in the process and giving him a platform to perform live at a number at a number of Christian music events and festivals (including Creation East/West, Atlanta Fest, Alive Fest, Cornerstone and others).
In 1998, Shuler—drawing on the growing influences of blatant, Massive Attack and others—formed the Nashville, TN-based fleau, with Kristin Schweain (now of ZOEgirl), and later, Marisol Laboy on vocals. The trip-hop group released a six-song EP as well as a full-length (self-titled) recording, and was featured in CCM, 7Ball and Hard Music magazines.
During its first year on mp3.com, fleau's music had more than 100,000 plays, and was eventually featured on more than 40 multimedia web sites. The band, which quickly reached more than 33,000 fans on its MySpace site, was also named Beatmart.com's top independent artist for its efforts. While performing with fleau, Shuler was able to grow even more creatively, and was blessed with the opportunity to work with artists like TobyMac (Toby McKeehan, Des Dickerson, Venus Envy, and Al Denson on a variety of projects.
Since 2009, Shuler has promoted and managed large-scale, multi-artist concerts and fundraising events for NC-based Lucas Gambit Entertainment, hosting internationally regarded talent like Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Trip Lee, and Tenth Avenue North. Additionally, as djrs, he regularly performs and emcees events across central North Carolina.
Roman Keith Hines has been in the entertainment industry since 1984. His family owned a roller skating rink in Hillsborough, North Carolina where he started spinning records and serving as the rink dee-jay. Realizing his passion and strength, Roman went to broadcasting school in 1987 at Lenoir Community College in Kinston. While in broadcasting school, he worked for 106.5 WSFL (New Bern) and 90.5 WKNS (Kinston). After broadcasting school, Roman returned home to Durham where he became a dee-jay at WDNC (620 AM). In 1991, he opened his own mobile dee-jay company under the name Sights and Sounds. To supplement his income, he signed on as a teacher’s assistant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Sights and Sounds started doing mostly school dances. Over time, the company specialized in professional lighting, including lasers. This set Sights and Sounds apart from other companies, which secured higher end laser light dance parties, often hosting thousands of people. The addition of the lights gave Sights and Sounds the opportunity to provide lighting at concerts of all kinds, including KC and the Sunshine Band, Technotronic, Crystal Waters, and Kool And the Gang.
Roman’s passion is working with youth as he is highly sought after for everything from small birthday parties to large high school proms. His enthusiasm and constant interaction with the crowd make him a favorite with everyone at the party.
Roman takes pride in sharing his life story with others as a way to show youth what they can accomplish. As a child, Roman was diagnosed with a processing learning disability and dyscalculia. He had great difficulty with organization, mathematics, hearing the teacher, and often “just felt clueless.” School was a struggle for much of his life. After attending the Hill Learning Development Center in Durham, he learned how to adjust. While he struggled in English and Math, Roman always wanted to work in entertainment and thus began to read about the subject. Through mostly self-study, Roman learned the trade which allowed him to start his own business of Sights and Sounds.
Roman shares this story of his youth with others because he wants kids who struggle with any disability to realize that they are capable of finding a marketable strength with which they can make a difference and make a living. Roman is based in Durham.
Sights and Sounds started doing mostly school dances. Over time, the company specialized in professional lighting, including lasers. This set Sights and Sounds apart from other companies, which secured higher end laser light dance parties, often hosting thousands of people. The addition of the lights gave Sights and Sounds the opportunity to provide lighting at concerts of all kinds, including KC and the Sunshine Band, Technotronic, Crystal Waters, and Kool And the Gang.
Roman’s passion is working with youth as he is highly sought after for everything from small birthday parties to large high school proms. His enthusiasm and constant interaction with the crowd make him a favorite with everyone at the party.
Roman takes pride in sharing his life story with others as a way to show youth what they can accomplish. As a child, Roman was diagnosed with a processing learning disability and dyscalculia. He had great difficulty with organization, mathematics, hearing the teacher, and often “just felt clueless.” School was a struggle for much of his life. After attending the Hill Learning Development Center in Durham, he learned how to adjust. While he struggled in English and Math, Roman always wanted to work in entertainment and thus began to read about the subject. Through mostly self-study, Roman learned the trade which allowed him to start his own business of Sights and Sounds.
Roman shares this story of his youth with others because he wants kids who struggle with any disability to realize that they are capable of finding a marketable strength with which they can make a difference and make a living. Roman is based in Durham.