Liam Payne Performs At the Baftas With EE AR Technology
Former One Direction member Liam Payne performed his hit song “Midnight” at the 2021 BAFTAS Awards in partnership with EE. Yes, you are seeing double. Joining him onstage at London’s Royal Albert Hall was an AR holographic projection of… himself.
@LiamPayne is the first multi-platinum artist who did performing in this world-first technology!!!
— (@Normi_Rio) April 11, 2021
LIAM MAKING HISTORY #BAFTAs pic.twitter.com/JSprrEUNuq
It’s been eleven years since One Direction first took to the stage and nearly six years since their inevitable separation. The boys have grown into men, as evident from Payne’s shaggy hair and full beard – he’s a father now after all, busy co-parenting life with Cheryl Crow. But he has returned to the stage in style while making strides for the future of performance.
Former Directioners and fans of Payne took to Twitter to show their support of his performance, and the immersive technology used to create a mesmerizing production.
liam payne making history
— ziamminds (@ziamsminds) April 11, 2021
and magic ⚡✨ pic.twitter.com/x3LVOgUlKs
It’s a collab with myself👑✨
— Faroo is proud of liam (@farzanehpayne) April 11, 2021
LIAM PAYNE IS BEAUTIFUL
PROUD OF LIAM PAYNE
#LiamMakingHistory
LIAM MAKING HISTORY#BAFTAs
WE MISSED YOU LIAM#tinysnakes pic.twitter.com/l0ZOu4ePl6
Payne wore a motion-capture suit with over 50 sensors and 36 cameras to create the augmented reality performance. Working with tech company EE and their 5G network, history was made as Payne sung alongside a holographic avatar of himself.
“Performing live via my own avatar in thousands of peoples’ homes, gardens and parks across the country, blows my mind,” Payne said after the show.
“Not often you get to take a picture with yourself but why not all thanks to @ee sponsoring in this amazing new technology,” Payne wrote in his latest Instagram post. For over a week, Payne has taken to Twitter and Instagram, promoting the collaboration and use of the futuristic technology.
You’ve never seen me like this before… Check out my #EEBAFTAs AR performance this Sunday at 6:45pm BST. Coming live to your phone, whether you’re at home, in the park, or on the move 📲 Download ‘The Round’ app now! 🎤🎥 @EE @BAFTA https://t.co/blB9KPJsv1 pic.twitter.com/VdvHSRt1hW
— Liam (@LiamPayne) April 5, 2021
As virtual awards shows become commonplace, fans anticipate more holographic performances. Like the famed line from One Direction goes: “You and me got a whole lot of history,” only now, Payne is making it on his own accord. Check out his performance of “Midnight” here, which now has over five billion streams on Spotify.
Writer | @IlanaDavis24
