UNTOLD Dubai 2024 & 2025: Cancelled Music VJs | VJDXB
UNTOLD Dubai 2024
UNTOLD Dubai 2025
UNTOLD Dubai 2024 and 2025: Live VJ Visuals for Cancelled Music
By Chris Tully, Creative Director, VJDXB
VJDXB was hired directly by Cancelled Music to provide an exclusive live VJ set for Kris Fade and Dean Curtis at UNTOLD Dubai in 2024 and 2025. Chris Tully and Yelena operated the visuals for both DJ performances, and we created a timecoded intro for each year’s set.
Working directly with the act gave the project a clear focus: create an opening for Cancelled Music, then support their performance with visuals controlled live throughout the set.
Who are Cancelled Music?
Cancelled Music is the DJ partnership of Kris Fade and Dean Curtis, both associated with Virgin Radio Dubai. Alongside their work in radio, the duo performs together under the Cancelled Music name. Virgin Radio Dubai
Virgin Radio documented their main-stage appearance at UNTOLD Dubai in 2024 and their return in 2025. For VJDXB, the commission was specifically for the duo’s performances, with our visual work centred on their sets. YouTube
UNTOLD Dubai 2024 at Expo City Dubai
The first UNTOLD Dubai took place at Expo City Dubai from 15 to 18 February 2024, bringing the festival’s international music programme to the UAE. 19-21 March 2027
Cancelled Music appeared on the main stage, with Chris Tully and Yelena providing the live VJ performance for their DJ set. We also created a timecoded intro for the appearance.
An artist intro has a specific job within a festival programme. It marks the start of the act’s own performance and gives the audience an immediate introduction to its identity. At a shared festival stage, that opening establishes the visual direction for the set that follows.
Our 2024 commission brought that prepared opening together with live visual operation for Kris Fade and Dean Curtis’s performance.
Returning with Cancelled Music for UNTOLD Dubai 2025
UNTOLD Dubai returned from 6 to 9 November 2025 at Dubai Parks and Resorts. The published line-up listed Cancelled Music on the main stage on Saturday, 8 November. Virgin Radio Dubai
VJDXB returned with the duo, with Chris Tully and Yelena again providing their exclusive live VJ set. We created a timecoded intro for the 2025 performance as part of the commission.
Across the two editions, our role covered both the prepared opening and the live visual performance. The collaboration continued with the same act across two years and two festival locations.
Timecoded intros for DJ performances
A timecoded intro follows a fixed timeline, allowing visual moments to align with the planned opening audio. It provides a controlled start to the performance, with timing established before the show.
For Cancelled Music, we created these intros for both the 2024 and 2025 UNTOLD Dubai sets.
An intro can be designed around a known sequence, while the rest of a DJ performance may call for live decisions. Planning festival visuals means considering both: the precision of the opening and the flexibility needed once the set is underway.
Live VJ performance by Chris Tully and Yelena
Chris Tully and Yelena were the VJs for Cancelled Music’s DJ sets at both editions.
Live VJ work involves choosing, mixing and controlling visuals during the performance. Timing depends on what is happening in the music: a build, a transition or a change in intensity can all affect when the screen image should change.
The operator’s judgement shapes how the material feels. Holding a visual can give a moment space; introducing a change at the right point can reinforce the movement of the set.
For these performances, our role paired the timecoded intros created in advance with live VJ operation during the DJ sets.
Festival visuals commissioned directly by the artist
This project reflects an important part of VJDXB’s work: collaborating directly with artists on their visual presentation.
Our UNTOLD Dubai commission came from Cancelled Music and covered their performances in 2024 and 2025. That artist-focused scope connected content creation with the people operating the visuals on the night.
For DJs and artist teams planning a festival appearance, considering the intro and live visuals together helps establish a clear brief. The opening audio, artist identity, screen layout and playback requirements all influence what needs to be prepared.
Live VJ services and DJ intro production in Dubai
VJDXB provides live VJ services and custom visual content for DJs, concerts, music festivals and live events in Dubai and internationally.
Our work with Cancelled Music at UNTOLD Dubai brought together timecoded intro production and live visual performance across two festival editions.
Explore our live VJ services, see our event content production, or contact VJDXB to discuss visuals for your next performance.
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