Bosnian Rainbows Tour – Matt Bittman VIDEO Interview

Words/Images by Matthew Schuchman, Video by Armando Alvarez

Those familiar with the career of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez have heard about the portable recording systems he has used over the years to create his prolific catalogue of music. We had the opportunity to check in with Bosnian Rainbows, take some photos of their show, and catch up with sound engineer and tour manager, Matt Bittman, to get a better idea of how he dials the band in. The band sounded fantastic on the night, giving onlookers a glimpse into the next phase of Omar’s creative progression, which this time, seems a lot more all-encompassing.

After the band left the stage at New York’s Highline Ballroom, we learned that another compact system is revolutionizing the way Omar and his crew prepare for their current performances. We got a little insight into how the forthcoming Bosnian Rainbows album was put together, how busy Bittman is, and how he locks in levels on his iPad. As you’ll see in the video below, he’s engaged in what he refers to as “virtual soundcheck,” where a recording is used to determine levels at every single venue the band visits. Bittman speaks about taking stadium touring and reducing it to be applied in smaller venues. After seeing and more importantly, hearing the band live, we can attest to the precision of the mix. Enjoy the video, it’s a goodie.