Join us for a conversation moderated by Dr. Julian Chambliss with DJ, producer, and artist Jeff Mills. Known as “The Wizard,” Mills has transformed the global music scene through his exploration of sound, space, and science fiction. From founding Axis Records to his genre-defying collaborations with orchestras, filmmakers, and NASA, Mills continues to redefine the boundaries of Techno and its intersections with art and science.
Date: Thursday, April 3
Time: 6-7:30 PM (talk + 30 minute reception after)
Location: WKAR Studio (room 145)
REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON
About Jeff Mills
Jeff Mills has continually pushed the boundaries of his DJ status, delivering exceptional performances that blend music, contemporary art, pop culture, design, and science fiction. Since founding his record label, Axis Records, in 1992, Mills has maintained an innovative approach to his craft. After making a name for himself as “The Wizard” in Detroit’s early Techno scene during the 1980s and as a member of the influential collective Underground Resistance, Mills turned to his primary inspiration: space and science fiction.
The 2000s marked a significant turning point in Mills’ career as he began merging his music with other art forms. He created a new soundtrack for Fritz Lang’s iconic film Metropolis, which led to numerous cine-mix performances and film soundtracks. His multidisciplinary talents extended to the visual arts, with performances and exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as the CCCB in Barcelona, the Southbank Centre, the Barbican Centre, the Cinémathèque Française, the Pompidou Centre, and the Art Fair Monte Carlo.
Jeff Mills was also the first DJ to collaborate and perform with classical orchestras, a groundbreaking achievement captured on the 2005 DVD Blue Potential. This collaboration continued in 2012 with Light from the Outside World, a performance still staged globally. Mills has composed several pieces specifically for classical orchestras, including Where Light Ends (2013), The Planets (2015), and Lost in Space (2018).
In 2015, Mills formed Spiral Deluxe, his first band since Underground Resistance, showcasing a fusion of electronic music and jazz. This venture paved the way for Tomorrow Comes The Harvest, a collaborative project with the late Tony Allen that continues today with keyboardist Jean-Phi Dary, tabla virtuoso Edouard Prabhu, and other guest musicians.
In recognition of his contributions to the arts, Mills was awarded the title of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2007. A decade later, he was elevated to the rank of Officer, an honor that reflects his significant impact on the arts, including his residency at the Louvre Museum.
This program is in conjunction with Techno: The Rise of Detroit’s Machine Music on view at 311 Abbot February 4 – April 30, 2025.