Discipline & ANARCHY: Death Dance Music

Death Dance Music is a project by musician and artist John Scuotto. In 2021, he co-founded Uncensored New York , an art movement against cancel culture. In 2016, Scuotto co-wrote The Puppet Man, a short slasher film featuring John Carpenter that premiered at Sundance Film Festival. He has previously shared the stage with Phillip Glass and Laurie Anderson. He was the recipient of the 2021 City Artist Corps Grant, and his work has been exhibited at Public Works Administration and Rockaway Art Week.

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WHY DO YOU DO IT? WHAT DRIVES YOU?

I make art and music because it’s something I love to do. The act of doing it brings me much pleasure and into the present moment. If I think in terms of final goals, the art suffers. Death is what drives me. 

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU DO FOR SANITY MAINTENANCE?

I listen to Buddhist audiobooks and podcasts before bed: Taigu Ryokan,  Shunryū Suzuki,  Alan Watts.

YOUR TASK IS TO PRESCRIBE ONE BOOK OR FILM TO THE COLLECTIVE. WHAT IS IT?

Book: TAO TE CHING by Lao Tzu.
Movie: TAXI DRIVER.

Current obsession?

Japanese death poems.

MOST USEFUL FAILURE?

All my failures have been and will continue to be the most useful thing in my life. 

SELECTED Q FROM THE PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE: What is your motto?

Join the death dance!

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?

I'm currently working on outreach for the next single release, "Kill Me," off my EP that comes out March 20th. "Kill Me" is a song inspired by death threats that I've received over the past few years by cowardice trolls. All talk and no bite! 

DISCIPLINE OR ANARCHY?

Anarcipline!

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Check out death dance music’s ghost you know , out march 20.

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DISCIPLINE & ANARCHY is aN ONGOING interview series featuring underrated artists and writers of scrap and substance.