In Conversation with Dan Deacon

in Conversation with Dan Deacon: Collective Ecstasy, Solidarity, and the Future of Live Experiences (Between Venom and Trump)

Dan Deacon is known for his electrifying live shows that create unique experiences through electronic ecstasy and collective interaction. At the Elevate Festival 2025, the American composer and musician will speak with Natalie Brunner (FM4) about the transformative power of his performances, his work as a film composer, and his vision for the future of live experiences.

Since the early 2000s, Deacon has pushed the boundaries between electronic music, pop, and experimental composition with his albums—from Spiderman of the Rings to America to Mystic Familiar. In addition to his solo work, he has collaborated with renowned orchestras, film directors like Francis Ford Coppola, and dance companies such as the New York City Ballet.

A central theme in his work is the exploration of social and political issues. Particularly with his album America, Deacon delved deeply into the divisions in his home country. During the Artist Talk, he will also discuss how he, as both an artist and a politically conscious person, has perceived the developments in the U.S. during and after the Trump era—and what role art and music can play in times of societal division.

How are musical live experiences changing in an increasingly digitalized world? What role does the audience play in his performances? And how do his works in film music influence his approach to composition and sound? A conversation about sound, community, politics, and the future of immersive music experiences.

Co-curated with Nuits Sonores (FR) as part of TIMES