Welcome to the future of nightlife

Music and technology are merging, reshaping the way we connect and interact. Virtual reality (VR) is no longer just a nice gadget—it’s a new frontier for nightlife, where the dance floor extends beyond physical space. In this digital playground, we don’t just party; we redefine what it means to share an experience. Welcome to the future of nightlife: VR disco.

Swiss filmmaker Patrick Muroni and Dutch artist Mila Moleman dive into this new form of nightlife to explore how technology does not replace but enriches, like a next nature. Their work shows that a shared experience does not necessarily have to be physical to feel real.

Dancing in the digital realm
Muroni, trained at the École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne, combines film with interactive storytelling. His VR experience RAVE, presented at the Rotterdam Film Festival, revives the electrifying energy of his first rave. He aims to capture the magic and intensity of that moment—the feeling of letting go, of completely immersing yourself in the music and the collective.

At the same time, Moleman, founder of Studio VRij, invites visitors on a completely different journey. Her project Show Me the Lights transforms the classic silent disco into a visual spectacle. Instead of just hearing music, visitors float through a futuristic landscape filled with neon lights, skyscrapers, and drones. “I want to show how technology not only shapes our experiences but also influences our relationship with speed and efficiency,” she explains.

A shared beat
For both artists, VR isn’t just about cool digital effects—it’s about deep, meaningful experiences. Muroni seeks to capture the collective energy of a rave and how technology can bring people together. “I want people to feel like they are part of a living story,” he says.

Moleman’s Show Me the Lights, on the other hand, explores how technology shapes our lives, questioning whether we control it or simply follow along. Using silent disco as a shared experience, she challenges the idea that VR invites reflection on the fast pace of life. “Many people just chase after technology without pausing to consider what it means for their lives. I hope my work invites them to reflect”, she says.

Shaping the future on a digital canvas
Both Muroni and Moleman see great potential in VR. But Moleman also stresses the importance of education. “People should be able to shape technology rather than just adapt to it,” she says. 

Because while VR won’t replace traditional club culture, it is changing how we connect and share experiences. The line between physical and digital is fading, creating a new kind of reality where digital experiences feel just as real as the physical world. As we step into this future, the choice is ours: how can we use technology to strengthen human connections?

VR disco is not an escape from reality but an invitation to create the future together.