Behind the Lens: Capturing the Global Fusion of Lawson Rollins

We’re excited to share a new music video we just produced for “Bach to Brazil (Sarabande from Violin Partita No. 1)” by Lawson Rollins — a project that came together across multiple studios, multiple cities, and a seriously talented group of musicians.

This project starts with Lawson, because this is very much his world. He’s spent decades carving out a lane where classical guitar technique, Latin jazz, and global rhythms coexist naturally. Guitar Player Magazine once named him one of the 50 Best Acoustic Guitarists of All Time, and “Bach to Brazil” is classic Lawson — reverent toward Johann Sebastian Bach, but restless enough to push the piece somewhere new.

Lawson Rollins at Shahin Music, capturing the foundational guitar tracks.

The Hero Video: Cinematic, Focused, Intentional

The main music video was designed to feel elevated and cinematic — carefully lit, tightly framed, and built around the subtlety of each performance. It treats the song like a composed piece of visual storytelling, not just a live recording.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxSJ0PogQko

A cinematic performance of “Bach to Brazil (Sarabande from Violin Partita No. 1)” by Lawson Rollins — blending classical influence with modern Latin energy across multiple studio locations.

• The East Coast Anchor: Lawson was filmed in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia at Shahin Music. The space gave his performance a quiet authority that anchors the piece.

A macro look at the precision of Lawson's signature fingerstyle technique.

• The West Coast Groove: The rhythm section came together at two iconic Bay Area studios. At 2200 Studios in Sausalito — formerly Record Plant West — we filmed Marquinho Brasil on percussion and Jason Lewis on drums.

Jason Lewis at 2200 Studios, bringing decades of studio history into the rhythm track.

• The Texture: Marquinho’s setup alone was a performance — chimes, snares, shakers, bottles, and unexpected sounds layered into a percussion world that adds depth you may not consciously notice, but would absolutely feel if it were missing.

 Marquinho Brasil’s percussion "world" – a masterclass in sonic texture.

• The Foundation: Over in Berkeley at Ninth Street Opus, we filmed Dan Feiszli on electric bass and Colin Hogan on accordion — a studio musicians love for its focus on sound over spectacle.

Dan Feiszli locked in at Ninth Street Opus.

Put it all together and you get something bigger than any one room: a guitarist in Virginia, a rhythm section in Sausalito, bass and accordion in Berkeley — all feeding into one cohesive piece of music.

The Response & The Bonus Edit: A Studio Session Perspective

Since the release for “Bach to Brazil,” the response has been incredible—crossing one million views in record time. It’s clear that people aren't just listening; they are watching closely, captivated by the "how did they do that?" nature of the performance.

Because of that viral momentum, Lawson decided to open up the recent archives and release a second cut: The “Studio Session” Edit. 

The subtle physicality of the performance caught in the Studio Session edit.

This version leans into pure presence. It’s less about cinematic composition and more about being in the room with the musicians — seeing the breathing between phrases, the physicality of playing, and the subtle communication that happens during a high-level performance.

Same footage. Different energy. This wasn’t accidental. Because we captured the performances intentionally — with strong lighting, clean coverage, and space to let moments unfold — the content could live in more than one format.

Why We Love This Approach

This project is a perfect example of how thoughtful production creates flexibility.

A collage of the "Next Steps" sessions: Three cities, one vision.

One shoot. One performance. Multiple high-value deliverables.

When you design a shoot with intention, you’re not just making one video. You’re building a library of moments that can live across different outlets and moods. And most importantly — you’re serving the music in whatever form it needs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8fEBhwGmjo

An intimate studio session edit from the same shoot — capturing the musicians in their element and offering a stripped-down take on the performance.

Musicians

• Lawson Rollins: Guitar

• Dan Feiszli: Electric Bass

• Marquinho Brasil: Percussion

• Jason Lewis: Drums

• Colin Hogan: Accordion

Production Crew

• Directed by: Mark Austin Heim

• Cinematography by: John Grove and Jeffrey Carroll

• Camera Operators: Nate Pesce and R. Mitchel Roth

• Edited by: Anthony G. Trivisonno

Get the Album

"Bach to Brazil" is featured on the brand new album Next Steps, out now.

Stream or purchase Next Steps here: https://orcd.co/7j1kdnj