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THE AGE OF ADZ
SUFJAN STEVENS

“Immediately, this show was a visual spectacle, inspired by and paying homage to the space age folk art of
American painter Royal Robertson. But at its heart were the songs from The Age of Adz, which, like Dark Side of the Moon, is about the deeply personal — madness, conflict, lunacy — with music that sounds on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

And in that chaos, in that conflict, are moments of resolve … in a concert filled with joy, beauty, heart, and triumph — but also beach balls, rousing choreography, some of the best multimedia I’ve seen, and extravagant pageantry.” – Bob Boilen, NPR

Stage with musicians, illuminated by vibrant purple and blue lights, featuring an angel with large wings in the center, performing with a group of musicians in the background.
Live concert with musicians performing on stage, surrounded by red and blue stage lighting, large digital screen displaying colorful, abstract digital art in the background, and an audience in silhouette.
A band performing on stage with colorful and psychedelic visual projections in the background, including a large, spherical, patterned object and layered rainbow shapes. The musicians are surrounded by eclectic, illuminated instruments and equipment.
Performers on stage in colorful, glowing costumes with a vibrant, animated backdrop of a UFO and flying saucer.
Stage with a band performing under colorful lighting, featuring a large screen displaying an animated character with horns, red skin, and wearing a red polka-dot shirt.
A concert performance with a band on stage and a large screen projection of a woman wearing sunglasses in the background.
A musician performing with an electric guitar on stage, surrounded by colorful cables and electronic equipment, with vibrant abstract art projected in the background.
Performer on stage under a spotlight, with a large blue projection of a human head in the background.
A live music performance on stage with a large digital projection of a pink skull and green scissors. Multiple musicians are playing instruments under colorful lights.
A live musical performance on stage with band members playing instruments, illuminated by blue stage lights, and a colorful abstract backdrop projected on a large screen.
A live musical performance on stage with a band and multiple musicians, with a large colorful illustration of a face and abstract elements projected on a screen behind them.
A stage performance featuring musicians with an animated cityscape and a large mythical creature with wings on a backdrop.
A live concert with performers dressed in glowing costumes on stage, with a colorful geometric pyramid light display in the background.
Stage performance with dancers and musicians illuminated by colorful lights and digital projections, featuring a triangular pattern as the backdrop.
A live concert with a band performing on stage with colorful lighting and a large screen displaying geometric graphics in the background.
Musicians performing on stage with colorful lights and a large digital backdrop.
A musician performing on stage with a colorful light show and a large screen displaying abstract visuals behind. Several band members are playing instruments, including a guitar, with fog effects creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Concert stage with musicians performing in front of a large, colorful, digital starburst display.
A live concert with a band performing on stage, illuminated by colorful lights and digital projections, including a large geometric pattern with a dark center in the background.
A performer standing on stage with arms outstretched in front of a large, colorful digital screen display. The performer wears a shiny, metallic outfit and a helmet-like headpiece. Musicians are visible on each side of the stage, and the audience sil
A stage performance with colorful costumes, large screen projection of a woman wearing sunglasses, and bright yellow stage lights.
A stage with purple lighting, large balloons, and a large screen displaying a woman's face with her mouth open and her hand near her face.
A live music concert with a band performing on stage, illuminated by purple and yellow lights, with large balloons and a big screen showing an image of a bus with a road hook.

Music Videos and Promo

Several of the visuals were released as official music videos for Asthmatic Kitty, along with an official tour promotional reel for the final performance at the Brooklyn Bandshell in 2011.

The Age of Adz was a apocalyptic space-rock opera inspired by the late artist and self-proclaimed prophet Royal Robertson.


The project featured a monolithic temple-like trapezoid backdrop, a giant diamond, and a translucent scrim, creating a three-dimensional experience with graphics and light enveloping the band. This work brought to life the themes of mythology, UFOs, and space monsters.

We used the game platform Unity for immersive world-building based on Royal's inner universe and Quartz Composer for real-time, audio-reactive elements, enhancing the concert's "liveness." The multi-screen set featured a large, temple-like trapezoid backdrop, a giant diamond, and a translucent scrim. The visuals were mapped and performed live using the VJ platform VDMX, creating an immersive, multi-dimensional, and responsive experience that enveloped the band in graphics and light. This design dynamically illustrated the album's concept and story arc: an apocalyptic space rock opera promising hope and redemption.

Production Credits

Creative Direction:
Sufjan Stevens

Visual Design + Performance:
Deborah Johnson

Unity + VDMX Programming:
Brian Chasalow and Anton Martini

Lighting Design:
Ben Stanton

Set Design:
Adrian Jones

Set Fabrication:
Daedalus

Technical Direction:
Joshua Higgason