JOHN MAUS Debuting in Croatia!

Vintage Industrial Bar | Zagreb | 10.09.2025. 20:00

The multi-talented American musician John Maus is coming to Croatia for the very first time, with his unforgettable performance set to captivate the Zagreb audience on Wednesday, September 10 at Vintage Industrial Bar. Early bird tickets are sold out! The current presale price is €24, while on the day of the show they will cost €28. Get your tickets via the Hangtime website, an at Dirty Old Shop.

John Maus – Philosopher of Synth-Pop and Radical Experimenter

The Beginnings of John Maus and His Early Steps

John Maus, born in 1980 in Austin, Minnesota, showed an early passion for both music and philosophy. As a child he was drawn to synthesizers, drum machines, and at the same time to books about political theory and aesthetics. This dual interest shaped his career path and defined him as an artist who always sought to connect sound with thought. Even in his student days, he aimed to transcend the boundaries of conventional pop.

Synth-Pop Philosopher and Retro-Futuristic Musician

Although often labeled as synth-pop, Maus’s music goes far beyond nostalgia for the 1980s. His compositions are built on analog synthesizers, drum machines, and heavy bass lines, producing a unique retro-futuristic sound. Tracks like “Streetlight” or “Quantum Leap” illustrate his ability to transform minimal structures into powerful emotional statements. Every song carries layers of philosophy and experimentation, proving that his creativity is rooted in both intellect and instinct.

John Maus as Academic and Thinker

Beyond his music, Maus is known as a serious academic. He studied music at CalArts, collaborated with Ariel Pink, and later earned a doctorate in political philosophy at the University of Hawaii. His writings and interviews often question the role of art in society, addressing themes of ethics, alienation, and cultural responsibility. For Maus, art cannot be detached from life, and this conviction gives depth to his entire body of work.

Discography and Key Albums

His debut album “Songs” (2006) introduced him to the indie scene. This was followed by “Love Is Real” (2007) and “We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves” (2011), which secured his cult status. After a hiatus, he returned with “Screen Memories” (2017) and the companion album “Addendum” (2018), delving into themes of death, technology, and political alienation. Each release shows a progression from raw minimalism to complex, layered soundscapes.

Experimental Author and Live Performances

John Maus is equally renowned for his intense live shows, which are more than concerts – they are emotional performances. On stage he often shouts, leaps, and channels raw emotion, breaking the line between philosophy and chaos. For his audience, the experience is cathartic: a moment where theory and sound collide. This makes him an experimental author whose work resists categorization and continually expands the boundaries of modern music.