Being a matchmaker is always a problematic thing. You set up a good friend on a date with your sister, brother, niece, nephew or whatever, because you’re sure they’ll be just perfect together. Then things crash and burn on the first date. Or you recommend an old school buddy for a job, only to see this ideal candidate quit after earning “the worst employee we ever hired!” distinction.

It’s no wonder that many people give up even trying to be matchmakers. Thankfully Marko Vujovic wasn’t one of them. Vujovic was the FOH audio engineer and production manager for KORN some years ago when the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning band found themselves in need of a lighting designer.

“Dude, there’s a job opening over here and I know you can run it. You would be perfect for it.” Vujovic said to his friend Thomas “Church” Christmann. In this case, the matchmaking worked, creating a union made in metal heaven! After eight years of cutting his teeth lighting bands like Machine Head and Simple Plan, the Hamburg-based designer had developed a raw, intense design style that fit the American metal monsters like a tight leather glove.

Today, Christmann and KORN are still going strong together, with his blistering visuals providing the perfect complement to the band’s brutally honest brand of music. Christmann shared insights into his relationship with this iconic band and talked to us about why it has worked out so well.

You started working for the band in 2016. By that time, they were already nu metal icons. How did you make sure you “fit in” with a group that was already so established?
“I didn’t have to change anything to ‘fit in,’ because I demonstrated my style already in working for other bands before this opportunity came up. Marko V. told the band I would be a perfect fit with KORN, because he knew my work. When I showed up for KORN the first time, they were doing a European tour without their own production. The band gave me no rules or anything, they let me build a show with what we had available. So, I did what I do best, and created one. They liked the style and how I ran everything.”

How did your impressions of the band and the individual members change since you started working for them and got to know them?
“It didn’t change much because I knew the band before. Not personally, but I knew their music and I was–and still am — a fan of it. I like the unique style they have. Of course, we became close over the years, and it’s now a partner/ friends-relationship. I know them and I know their ‘needs,’ so when we talk about business we can go in deeper and understand each other much easier.”

Why do you think you’ve meshed so well with KORN?
“There are two things: my work skills and my social skills. The way I prepare and run the shows and the way we make designs together — because it’s always a collaboration. We meet each other on a creativity level. They have something in their head and I know how to translate those things into a design. We share the same kind of creativity and ideas for the KORN designs.”

What does your lighting have in common with their music?
“Being passionate and in your face!”

Do you have a favorite KORN song to light?
“I like when we do the older songs because you can stay ‘old school’ with the lighting. Especially when we added A.D.I.D.A.S. back to the setlist. Instead of a full-blown light show with fancy gobos, video, or extraordinary fixtures, we have more simple and stronger lighting. Keeping the band in focus and the lighting back to the basics.”

What is the most challenging thing about working for KORN?
“It might be the most challenging thing, but at the same time the most fun part of doing your job is busking in real time & hitting cues on point… Nice groovy timings and no time code. Everything needs to be adjusted every show. Especially when you also work with video footage.”

What is the best thing?
“Being part of the KORN Family and feeling home when you’re there. Hanging out with the crew, band, management and being creative to put out a show. It’s like a big family and it’s always fun to go out on tour with them and enjoy the music together.”