Film Fest Gent - Videodroom 2025: John Caroll Kirby & Nika Milano x ‘Traces’

Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing world of “Traces,” a meditative audiovisual experience from composer John Carroll Kirby and visual artist Nika Milano. Rooted in the piano-driven atmospheres of Kirby’s acclaimed albums *Conflict* and *Tuscany*, “Traces” unfolds as a deeply personal journey through layers of sound and slowly shifting visuals. Milano’s evocative textures drift between clarity and decay, mirroring the emotional currents of Kirby’s score and creating a space unbound by narrative, yet rich in sensation. Experience the unique synergy between these two visionary artists, a collaboration described by Kirby himself as "the perfect fusion of technology and nature." John Carroll Kirby, the Los Angeles-based pianist, composer, and producer behind sought-after collaborations with Solange, Frank Ocean, and Steve Lacy (his work on “Cranes in the Sky” and “Bad Habit” earned a 2024 Grammy nomination), crafts a soundscape both familiar and otherworldly. Alongside him, Venezuelan-born audiovisual artist Nika Milano, based in Mexico City, creates immersive visuals using obsolete media, analog video gear, and modular synthesizers—transforming raw electrical signals into mesmerizing patterns, rhythmic light, and a sense of temporal suspension. A co-production with the Portuguese Curtas Festival, “Traces” is a rare opportunity to witness the power of collaborative artistry at its most profound.