Music and Community: Turning Spaces into Places

When Paul Mac’s Tekno Train rolled out for Vivid Sydney, an everyday commuter service was transformed into a shared sound and light experience, turning a routine journey into a moment of collective joy and connection. In this talk, Paul uses Tekno Train as a starting point to explore a bigger idea: how music can reshape the way we experience public space.

Drawing on his work in Australian electronic music and large‑scale public projects, he reflects on how rhythm, sound and shared listening can help strangers feel present with one another. The talk offers people‑first insights into how music can turn ordinary spaces into places where community emerges.

Bio

Dr Paul (Mac) McDermott teaches the Bachelor of Music Studies at the University of Sydney. In 2021, he was awarded a Doctor of Musical Arts which focussed on creating a unique compositional voice fusing Electronic Dance Music traditions with experimental practice. His research interest focuses on Australian dance music history, building on his practice history as a participant in the EDM scene. As a solo artist, he has been awarded a Best Dance Release ARIA for “Just the Thing” (2021), and as half of rave pioneers Itch-E & Scratch-E, he was awarded the same for their track “Sweetness & Light” (1995). He has collaborated with Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns on The Dissociatives (2004). As one half of Stereogamous he has been commissioned to remix artists including Kylie Minogue, Sia, George Michael, and Rufus du Sol. His most recent work, The Rise & Fall of St. George has been performed at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall (2020) and the Sydney Festival (2021).

Event

Thursday 7 May, 8:00 – 8:45 PM @Mountain Goat Beer, 435 King St, Newtown NSW 2042

The other talk at this location is Quantum Computing 101 at 6:30 – 7:15 PM