F I O N A – X U E · J U

DELULU

2026 |  for two performers (drum set and table), electronics, and lights

Recorded on Feb. 21, 2026 at New Marigny Theatre, New Orleans, USA

Versipel New Music presents guest artist line upon line percussion as part of the nienteForte series

DELULU looks at how desire is shaped by advertising systems, data tracking, and everyday consumption. Our interests are constantly monitored, and buying habits are analyzed by algorithms that learn when and how to present suggestions. Ads appear at moments when we are most likely to accept them. If you pause, click, or spend time looking at one, the system takes note and begins to push more of the same, narrowing what you see and reinforcing the loop. What starts as convenience can quickly feel intrusive, even unsettling.
In the piece, the drum player represents this commercial system – steady, confident, and endlessly optimized. Facing it is a human presence that reacts, adjusts, and makes choices that feel personal and self-directed, but are already framed by the system. DELULU questions how often our decisions are truly voluntary, and how easily convenience can become a form of control.