Theron Pray

Synesthesia is a visual instrument I created in 2015. It is now an industry standard VJ software and what I primarily use when I perform live. It runs audio reactive, parameterized shaders to create real-time content that automatically syncs to live music.

Synesthesia now has a thriving online marketplace that allows VJs to purchase generative content from GLSL creative coders themselves.

Our growing team of developers are always pushing out new updates. If you’re interested in joining us, shoot us an email at: social [at] synesthesia.live.

As a member of a close-knit team of visualists I worked to create and perform mapped content on a 115ft tall pyramid build by camp PlayAlchemist during Burning Man 2019, 2022, and 2023.

The project involved more than a week of construction ahead of the public opening of the festival, and used 6 projectors each in an airtight enclosure with their own A/C unit to protect them from the elements. We then performed visuals on it nightly for the whole week of the event.

This project was done in collaboration with Ryan Uzilevsky, Kevin Colorado, Caleb Olsen, John Mitchell, Brandon LeJeune, Luma Visuals, Alec Birdman, and dozens of other global VJs who sent in content for us to add to the mix.

Tipper’s final projection-mapped show, ever. Six 40k lumen projectors created a 250-foot, 8k-pixel canvas that I meticulously mapped with video tech support from Eric Mintzer of Imaginex.

During Tipper’s 75-minute downtempo set, I collaborated with The Void—both running Synesthesia in tandem, live mixing our content between the walls and main screen.

Photos by Josh Weichman

Thanks to Tyler Reino, Dave Veler, and the whole Orion Amphitheater team.

I designed and executed virtual projection mapping for Microsoft’s biggest annual conference, Microsoft Ignite, which was held virtually during Covid. I created environments for keynote speakers such as Satya Nadella, James Cameron, and Guy LaLiberte. The conference was held across many platforms, so the environments had to play well in VR, tabletop MR, as well as standard 2D.

Projection mapped the arched ceiling of a circus tent with eight 32k projectors for a Tipper live show at Camp Bisco. Performance was a collaboration between Datagrama and Cullen Hassel.

Noah Wight and I put together an art installation for St. Edward's University, using addressable LED strips and projection mapping to transform the facade of the library building into one giant canvas. We created interactive content in TouchDesigner, synesthesia.live, Processing, and Unity, all rendered in real time. This was the culmination of a series of workshops we taught on DIY LED programming, projection mapping, and creative coding.

I created an Augmented Reality art installation and live music experience for concertgoers attending a sold-out Jade Cicada show in downtown Denver. Anyone attending the show could come explore different scenes that would fill the space around them, featuring dance-reactive effects that would respond to their own body’s motion.

This was done as part of Alpha Channel, a company I founded whose goal is to build the worlds first and best Holographic Live Music Shows.

I projection mapped legendary sculptor Daniel Popper’s temporary piece ”Emergence“ at Boom Festival in Portugal, 2018.

This was done in collaboration with Wayne Ellis of Afterlife AudioVisual.

I am one of the core members of the international visual collective Datagrama. We are a team of creative coders and designers who bring art installations to live events, in addition to performing live music visuals.

Projection Mapping, content creation, and live performance for AI conference 'Time Machine'. A 100ft wide curved screen with a holographic display in the center. Included a short live performance done in collaboration with a live dancer using motion capture hardware and reaction diffusion growth systems. Done as a part of Datagrama.

3D Projection Mapping with drone photogrammetry done for Tipper and Friends 2018 in Brooklyn. Custom content created for the space and intricate details present in the architecture. Done as a member of Datagrama with Joao Beira and David Negrao.

I perform music visuals regularly for Tipper, and have performed with Luke Vibert, Jade Cicada, Detox Unit, Mindex, and many others in the IDM and psychedelic bass music scenes. I am a resident visual artist at IDM label Defunkt Records.

As Covid hit, Burning Man went virtual in a global collaboration known as brcVR. Along with LightHarvest, I collaborated with teams at Microsoft and AltSpaceVR, to fully virtualize the projection mapped pyramid we usually bring to Burning Man.

I performed what may have been the world’s first livestreamed projection mapping of a virtual stage, to accompany Diplo’s contemporaneous DJ set and performance for our virtual audience in the pyramid.

We also worked with Android Jones to project a complete performance of his full-dome audio-visual experience Samskara into the sky above the pyramid.

I was invited to Portugal in 2018 as a visual performer at Boom Festival.

As a member of Datagrama Visuals with João Beira and David Negrão we executed projection mapping, stage design, and live performance for the Alchemy stage.

Teaser for Datagrama’s VJ Set with Tipper at Okeechobee Music Festival. Captured in real time from Synesthesia. Mashup and edit of two original shaders created by Shane and Keijiro Takahashi.

Interactive content for Mars Candy’s SXSW bar takeover, in collaboration with Daigon Digital. Created never-looping generative content for 8 screens at a SXSW bar takeover. M&M particle systems, audio reactivity, Kinects, all that fun stuff.

Project management, software development, and content creation for a custom-made addressable LED and projector installation in a private residence in Austin. Projection mapped outdoor deck and oak tree. LED installation in indoor ceilings, outdoor deck railings and underneath staircases.

A collaboration with Noah Wight, Danielle Almond, and Rob Perez of Daigon Digital.

I enjoy teaching and have led projection mapping, TouchDesigner, GLSL, and creative coding workshops at schools like the Rhode Island School of Design and St. Edward’s University. Always eager to run another workshop, get in touch if you’d like to host one.