The Light We Leave Behind

A chance to be present and experience something new—without the interference of phones—is increasingly rare in today’s world. Which is one of the reasons I was so intrigued by The Light We Leave Behind, an “intimate immersive water, sound and light experience” popping up in the Arts District through October 25 (it’s been expanded twice due to popularity).

Created by Emmit Fenn—an L.A.–based artist, composer and producer who’s worked with artists including Billie Eilish and companies like Apple and Netflix—the experience is, in essence, a concert on the water, but the mysterious nature surrounding the event and the design elements of the space elevate it to something that’s utterly tranquil, a bit otherworldly and wholly unique.

I checked out the Light We Leave Behind at rush hour in the middle of a particularly hectic week—so the note on the invite saying “there is no need to rush” was particularly appreciated. Once you arrive at the space—a soundstage at East End Studios, set right under the already-iconic arches of the Sixth Street Viaduct—you’re led into the Snow Lounge, which took my breath away. At the center of a cavernous dark room is an illuminated 30-foot tree being lightly dusted with snow in real time. Sidle up to a bar where Tea at Shiloh—a late-night teahouse also in the Arts District—is serving a choice of three teas, which provide some coziness in the chilly space. If you arrive at your entry time, you can relax for a full half-hour in here.

After appreciating the peace and quiet for a bit, staff members will lead you through near-total-darkness to the Water Room, which is another showstopper. Plush beds are arranged in a square around the focal point of the space: approximately 70 glowing lightbulbs on concrete pillars, peeking out from shallow water that covers nearly the entire floor of the room. You aren’t allowed to take your own photos and videos in here—your impulse will be to capture it on your phone, but it’s actually freeing to just be in the moment—but it’s quite a spectacle.

At the center of all those lightbulbs and water is a set-up for four musicians, who emerged without ceremony and began to play as the lights shut off. But it turns out this wasn’t just an elevated version of the candlelight concerts you see advertised on Instagram—rather, Fenn has devised a way to connect the lights directly to the musical system, so they sync up in a very satisfying way. One repeated note on the piano meant that one lightbulb was gently flashing. Musical swells from the entire ensemble meant that the entire surface of the water was illuminated. The program leans classical and contemporary—in addition to piano, there’s violin and even some saxophone action—and Fenn composed many of the pieces specifically to interact with the environment.

My favorite part of the night was near the middle of the set, when the lightbulbs all switched to blue, and rainfall cascaded around the musicians in a circle. It felt like being cozy in bed in the middle of a rainstorm—and since the room is so huge, at times I almost felt like I was outside.

The ticket prices reflect the limited-time nature of the engagement and the ambition of the production—$145 will get you reclined seating and the Snow Lounge experience before, with complimentary tea. A patron ticket for $250 includes a curated gift bag and VIP parking. Both options promise “an evening unlike any other”—and I do think Fenn and his team deliver on that promise.