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Dan Nicholls is a keyboardist, producer, and curator whose experimental practice spans electronic, jazz, and improvisational music, deeply intertwined with visual and performance art. Embracing playfulness and rejecting creative dogma, they explore depth and complexity by collaging and refracting sounds and ideas from diverse sources. Collaborating with electronic music innovators like Squarepusher, Goldie, and Matthew Herbert, as well as key figures in European jazz and improvised music, Nicholls demonstrates a versatile approach across genres and mediums.
Nicholls has developed extensive collaborations with dance, film, and visual art, crafting multidisciplinary experiences that extend beyond traditional performance. Their commitment to collective and ecstatic practices is reflected in Free Movements, a London-based event series they co-curate. This gathering fosters an inclusive community for exploring dance, sound, speculative art, and mutual care, creating an environment where artistic and interpersonal connections flourish organically.
In their collaborative projects, Nicholls leads Plants Heal with drummer Dave De Rose and video artist Lou Zon, delivering immersive performances that merge sound and visuals. The group recently recorded a new album and is exploring interactive, round performance setups. Another ongoing project, Clay Kin, features drummer Julian Sartorius and Zon on visuals, with improvisational sessions spanning a broad sonic range set for release on Squama in the spring of 2025.
Performing in a wide range of venues—from iconic stages like London’s Royal Albert Hall and Berlin’s Berghain to intimate experimental clubs and international festivals—Nicholls connects diverse spaces with their commitment to spontaneity and interwoven narratives. Each performance becomes a space for transformation, where their openness and collaborative ethos invite both artists and audiences into shared moments of discovery and connection.
