Designing for Coldplay, Rihanna & The Weeknd: Sooner Routhier

In this episode of The Vocal Lab Podcast, Jason and Shelby are joined by Nashville’s own Sooner Routhier, a visionary production and lighting designer whose work has defined the visual identity of modern live music. As the CEO of The Playground, Sooner has earned prestigious accolades including multiple Parnelli Awards and the Live Design Achievement Award. She is the creative force behind some of the highest-grossing tours in history, notably serving as the lighting designer for Coldplay’s record-breaking Music of the Spheres World Tour and the co-production designer for The Lumineers' 2025 Automatic World Tour. Her portfolio spans genres and generations, from the theatrical world of the Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience to stadium shows for The Weeknd, Rihanna, and Chris Stapleton. Beyond her technical mastery, Sooner is a champion for industry evolution as the co-founder of EVEN, an organization dedicated to fostering diversity and mentorship within the live events community.