Inside the Psychedelic Universe of Simon Ward and Jess Johnson
When you step into the world created by Simon Ward and Jess Johnson, you’re entering a space where visuals, sound, and immersive technology collide in profoundly imaginative ways. Their collaborative project, XYZZY, has evolved over many years, blending psychedelic art, music, and virtual reality into experiences that are as moving as they are visually stunning. In a recent conversation, Simon Ward provided a candid look at the creative journey, the challenges of working in new media, and the intricacies of translating music and vision for audiences in unique settings like planetariums.
The roots of the partnership date back over a decade, sparked at a mutual friend’s birthday inside an artist’s studio in Melbourne. Both Simon and Jess were already familiar with each other’s work, and their styles Jess’s surreal, psychedelic drawings and Simon’s video and VR expertise seemed destined to merge. What began as an experimental collaboration has grown into a relationship characterised by deep trust and creative freedom. As Simon puts it, “It’s kind of like old friends; it’s kind of like… you’re in a relationship, but you’re not in a relationship.”
Over time, the working relationship has become one of mutual respect, with Jess trusting Simon Ward to interpret and expand on her visual universe. “It’s mostly me turning her work into stuff. So it starts with her and then I kind of, it’s put through my brain,” Simon Ward explains. This trust has allowed them to create a distinctive, ever-evolving world that feels unlike anything else.
Working together wasn’t always smooth sailing. Simon Ward, who cut his teeth making music videos, is quick to point out just how important sound is to what they do. “I knew the music would play a big part of it,” he says. Most of the time, the music comes first, as in classic music videos, and the visuals are built to fit the vibe and tempo. Sometimes, though, Simon likes to flip the script and start with the visuals, just to see what happens, and the results can be pretty wild.
Turning Jess’s art into something that moves and changes over time isn’t just about knowing your way around 3D graphics or spatial design, though Simon’s got that covered. It’s just as much about gut feeling as it is about skill. “It’s a combination between the music and Jess’s world that she’s created, and then whatever I do is… form it into something that adds time to it,” Simon Ward explains.
After years of making music videos, Simon Ward knows how easy it is to get lost chasing perfection. “It’s very easy to get lost in a thing, and then suddenly you’ve spent a whole year on this project,” he reflects. He’s learned that sometimes you just have to call it done, put it out there, and see what happens. That’s how you grow and how you make sure your work actually gets seen.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Simon Ward and Jess’s recent work in XYZZY is their use of planetarium domes as a canvas, a space that dramatically changes how audiences engage with audiovisual art. Unlike traditional cinema, where the director controls the viewer’s focus through cuts and close-ups, planetariums offer a 360-degree environment where the audience’s gaze is free to wander. “You have to use tricks to kind of lead their eye into things, and then hope that they’ll… stay there,” Simon Ward says. He enjoys planting “little nest eggs” for attentive viewers to discover, accepting that not everyone will see the same thing.
Making something for a planetarium means slowing things down and letting the visuals breathe. Fast cuts just feel weird in that space, so everything flows together, giving you the feeling you’re drifting through a psychedelic universe.
After years of pairing their work with custom soundtracks available only to live audiences, Simon Ward pushed to release the music more widely. “I requested it myself; I was like, oh, we need this, I love this music, we should definitely put it out.” In a world where music is instantly available online, the scarcity of these soundtracks made them even more coveted. Now, with the music released, XYZZY itself becomes the rare experience that fans eagerly anticipate.
How does Simon Ward describe the result of all this collaboration and experimentation? “A slow roller coaster through Jess’s artwork,” he says. The experience is immersive and emotional, taking viewers on a journey through alien worlds and surreal landscapes, all set to music that is as integral to the visuals as the visuals themselves. His hope is simple: that audiences leave feeling moved, having experienced something genuinely new.
Simon Ward and Jess’s creative partnership is proof of what happens when you mix trust, big ideas, and a healthy dose of experimentation. Their work isn’t just something you watch or listen to; it’s a whole universe you get to step into, shaped by sound and vision and always changing. Every new project is a fresh adventure, whether you’re sharing it with a friend or just soaking it in yourself.
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