The idea of just the heads must have been sub-conciously at the back of my mind
Used to watch this video all the time

The video to "She Makes Me Move " - N.E.R.D. I think would be able to be replicated in the studio.
The very dark image I took of Matt is nearly there, so I could replicate that lighting, fast shutter speed and small aperture of around F22, 1 studio light positioned maybe directly in front but above the subject.
Make sure the subject had a black round neck jumper and maybe even a gel over the flash to replicate the colour cast.