by KELSEY OHLEGER
Intern Lifestyles Reporter

Imagine a blank coloring book. One can grasp the idea the empty figures represent, but the pictures do not come alive until you color in the lines.

This idea is how sophomore recreation management major John W. Harris explains the need for lights within the Boone music scene.

The inspiration for his company, High Country Light Design, occurred at a Disco Biscuits show at Legends in February 2008.

“I remember sitting in front of their lighting designer, watching him vibrate these crazy lights on stage and thinking I want to do something like that,” Harris said. “What it brought to the show completely elevated everybody’s experience. It made the music sound better and made it feel better.”

From that night on, Harris has worked to create a lighting service available to the local music scene.

As a member of local funk band Ample Example, Harris is no stranger to Boone music and its needs.

After using one single light during a show at Parthenon Café last year, he was determined to expand the idea for others.

“It completely changed the experience for everybody and right then is when I noticed the little difference light can make,” Harris said. “That’s when I first got interested in providing the business to others. It’s something that is missing within the Boone music scene.”

Harris now offers artists a variety of different lighting supplies to add multiple colors and effects to correspond with the music.

Along with lighting shows for Ample Example, Harris also designed the lights for Farm Vegas and Corleone at Ad Astra Music Festival in Big Island, Va., as well as for Boone hip-hop band BPL at multiple locations.

“The lights help to make the shows feel more like a big event and set the mood of the music,” BPL keyboardist Rhett L. Huffman said. “[Harris] has got a great thing going with the lights and we have nothing but good things to say about [our experience].”

As his business continues to develop, Harris has several goals in mind to expand his services throughout the High Country.

“I want to be able to contract my services and designs to four or five major [Boone] bands, and in any given night that they are playing music, I want them to have my lights,” Harris said.  “I want to be present at their practices to where I know their music well and be able to design for all their shows.”

While he may be a businessman, Harris’ main focus seems to remain on the music and its significance within the community.

“I hope that [High Country Light Design] can benefit everybody involved,” Harris said. “If a band has an unbelievable light presentation to match their music, it is going to help me, as well as the band and the venue.”

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