Josh Deu is the co-founder of Canadian
indie rock
Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the music they produc ...
band
Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band, consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, alongside Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. The band's current touring line-up also includes former core member ...
. He and
Win Butler
Edwin Farnham Butler III (born April 14, 1980) is an American-Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and multi-instrumentalist. He co-founded the Montreal-based indie rock band Arcade Fire with his wife Régine Chassagne.
Early life
Butler was ...
co-founded
Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band, consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, alongside Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. The band's current touring line-up also includes former core member ...
in late 1999. Deu formally left the band in late 2003. He went on to co-found the Los Angeles-based animation and visual effects and animation house known as BLEACH FX LLC. Deu has served as a producer and director in various forms of media, currently working on the film Black Moon, Music Video such as Arcade Fire Tunnels, Rebellion, Laika, Lightning I, II. Josh is also a major stakeholder in Attica Sciences (biotech) and Athos Pharmaceuticals. In addition, Josh is working with TNG (www.takenewground.com) consultancy with Dan Tocchini, Mark Edwards, and Adrian Koehler. Josh is also writing and producing a web series with SNL alum, Chris Kattan called "Hey Kattan" and an animated television show with the legendary Mike Swaim, Cracked TV Veteran 2005-2014.
Career
Arcade Fire (1999–2003)
Deu and Win Butler began to work on both visual and musical collaborations.
They formed
Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band, consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, alongside Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. The band's current touring line-up also includes former core member ...
, with Deu and Butler initially sneaking into a practice space at
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...
to write and rehearse.
While practising there, they met music student
Régine Chassagne
Régine Alexandra Chassagne (; born 19 August 1976) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and multi-instrumentalist, and is a member of the band Arcade Fire. She is married to co-founder Win Butler.
Early life and career
Régine Alexand ...
, whom Butler had previously seen performing. Deu noted, "Win and I played guitar. Everyone played guitar. We had a lot of music to show her, but played none of it, she ended up saying yes to joining us, and I don’t know why. Maybe there was a little spark with Win."
Deu subsequently designed the band's initial website alongside Win's brother and future band member,
William Butler.
After a "profound spiritual experience," Deu began to prioritize filmmaking and visual - interactive projects and collaborations, and left the band in late 2003, stating: "It just didn’t feel like it fit me anymore." Deu, however, continued to collaborate with the band on promotional materials, web content, and music videos, noting in 2010: "Not everyone gets to have these experiences forming a famous rock band and then helping develop their aesthetic. I’m so blessed to have been part of who the band was at the beginning, and who they’ve become now."
Regarding his friendship with Deu, Butler noted in 2004, "In the beginning, I started a band called The Arcade Fire with my best friend Josh Deu (who was the best man at my wedding this last summer, and who designed the website with my little brother Will). He was also the reason I moved to
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...
(because he had gone to school up here, and had great things to say about it). He still adds little bits to a bunch of the songs and helped write the music to "Headlights" "Power Out" "Neighborhood" from our
demo EP and other songs off
Funeral''.html" ;"title="Funeral_(Arcade_Fire_album).html" ;"title="'
Funeral''">Funeral_(Arcade_Fire_album).html"_;"title="'Funeral_(Arcade_Fire_album)">Funeral''.
_Production
Deu's_animation_projects_Include_''The_Alchemysts'',_"Black_Moon_Rising"_"The_Gift_of_the_Dolphin'',_Hey_Kattan_YouTube_Sketch_comedy_series._____
Deu_co-wrote_the_tracks,_"Neighborhood_1_(Tunnels).html" ;"title="Funeral (Arcade Fire album)">Funeral''">Funeral_(Arcade_Fire_album).html" ;"title="'
Funeral''.
_Production
Deu's_animation_projects_Include_''The_Alchemysts'',_"Black_Moon_Rising"_"The_Gift_of_the_Dolphin'',_Hey_Kattan_YouTube_Sketch_comedy_series._____
Deu_co-wrote_the_tracks,_"Neighborhood_1_(Tunnels)">Neighborhood_#1_(Tunnels)"_and_"Neighborhood_3_(Power_Out).html" ;"title="Funeral (Arcade Fire album)">Funeral''.
Production
Deu's animation projects Include ''The Alchemysts'', "Black Moon Rising" "The Gift of the Dolphin'', Hey Kattan YouTube Sketch comedy series.
Deu co-wrote the tracks, "
Neighborhood_#1_(Tunnels)"_and_"Neighborhood_3_(Power_Out)">Neighborhood_#3_(Power_Out)",_on_the_band's_debut_studio_album,_''
Neighborhood_#1_(Tunnels)"_and_"Neighborhood_3_(Power_Out)">Neighborhood_#3_(Power_Out)",_on_the_band's_debut_studio_album,_''Funeral_(Arcade_Fire_album)">Funeral''_(2004),_and_the_song,_"Quiet"_"Tremalo"_"In_the_Attic",_"Headlights_Look_Like_Diamonds",_many_the_band's_debut_EP_and_first_album_"Funeral",_''
Neighborhood_#1_(Tunnels)"_and_"Neighborhood_3_(Power_Out)">Neighborhood_#3_(Power_Out)",_on_the_band's_debut_studio_album,_''Funeral_(Arcade_Fire_album)">Funeral''_(2004),_and_the_song,_"Quiet"_"Tremalo"_"In_the_Attic",_"Headlights_Look_Like_Diamonds",_many_the_band's_debut_EP_and_first_album_"Funeral",_''Arcade_Fire_EP">Arcade_Fire
_
Arcade_Fire_is_a_Canadian_indie_rock_band,_consisting_of_husband_and_wife_Win_Butler_and_Régine_Chassagne,_alongside__Richard_Reed_Parry,__Tim_Kingsbury_and__Jeremy_Gara._The_band's_current_touring_line-up_also_includes_former_core_member_...
''_(2003)._Deu_and_Butler_co-wrote_over_50_songs_that_remain_largely_unreleased.
Formerly_in_Declare_Productions_LLC_(BLEACH_FX_LLC)(www.bleachhaus.com)_(Operating_under_"Deep_Water")_Westworld_(season_2).html" ;"title="Arcade_Fire_EP.html" "title="Funeral_(Arcade_Fire_album).html" ;"title="Neighborhood 1 (Tunnels)">Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" and "
Neighborhood_#3_(Power_Out)",_on_the_band's_debut_studio_album,_''Funeral_(Arcade_Fire_album)">Funeral''_(2004),_and_the_song,_"Quiet"_"Tremalo"_"In_the_Attic",_"Headlights_Look_Like_Diamonds",_many_the_band's_debut_EP_and_first_album_"Funeral",_''Arcade_Fire_EP">Arcade_Fire
_
Arcade_Fire_is_a_Canadian_indie_rock_band,_consisting_of_husband_and_wife_Win_Butler_and_Régine_Chassagne,_alongside__Richard_Reed_Parry,__Tim_Kingsbury_and__Jeremy_Gara._The_band's_current_touring_line-up_also_includes_former_core_member_...
''_(2003)._Deu_and_Butler_co-wrote_over_50_songs_that_remain_largely_unreleased.
Formerly_in_Declare_Productions_LLC_(BLEACH_FX_LLC)(www.bleachhaus.com)_(Operating_under_"Deep_Water")_Westworld_(season_2)">''Westworld''_Season_3,_''
''_(2003)._Deu_and_Butler_co-wrote_over_50_songs_that_remain_largely_unreleased.
Formerly_in_Declare_Productions_LLC_(BLEACH_FX_LLC)(www.bleachhaus.com)_(Operating_under_"Deep_Water")_Westworld_(season_2)">''Westworld''_Season_3,_''Counterpart_(TV_series)">Counterpart'',_''
''_(2003)._Deu_and_Butler_co-wrote_over_50_songs_that_remain_largely_unreleased.
Formerly_in_Declare_Productions_LLC_(BLEACH_FX_LLC)(www.bleachhaus.com)_(Operating_under_"Deep_Water")_Westworld_(season_2)">''Westworld''_Season_3,_''Counterpart_(TV_series)">Counterpart'',_''The_Magicians_(U.S._TV_series)">Magicians