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Dan Nicholls is a keyboardist, producer, and curator with a richly layered practice that spans electronic, jazz, and improvisational music, deeply intertwined with visual and performance art. Embracing joy, playfulness, and a rejection of creative dogma, Nicholls explores depth and complexity through a highly experimental approach—collaging and refracting sounds and ideas from diverse sources. His collaborations with electronic music innovators like Squarepusher, Goldie, and Matthew Herbert, as well as his work with key figures in European jazz and improvised music, highlight his versatile contributions across genres and mediums. Nicholls has also developed extensive collaborations with dance, film, and visual art, crafting multidisciplinary experiences that extend beyond traditional performance.
His commitment to collective and ecstatic practices is reflected in his co-curated event series, Free Movements, a London-based gathering that fosters an inclusive community for exploring dance, sound, speculative art, and mutual care. Through these events, he creates an environment where artistic and interpersonal connections can flourish organically.
In collaborative projects, he leads Plants Heal alongside drummer Dave De Rose and video artist Lou Zon, creating immersive performances that merge sound and visuals. The group recently recorded a new album and is exploring opportunities to perform in more interactive, round setups. Another ongoing project, Clay Kin, features drummer Julian Sartorius and Zon on visuals; their improvisational sessions, spanning a broad sonic range, are slated for release on Squama in the spring.
Nicholls’ performances have spanned a broad spectrum of venues, from iconic stages like London’s Royal Albert Hall and Berlin’s Berghain to intimate experimental clubs and major international festivals. His work fluidly traverses these worlds, uniting them through a commitment to spontaneity and interwoven narratives. Each performance becomes a space for transformation, where Nicholls’ openness and collaborative ethos invite both artists and audiences into shared moments of discovery and connection.
