The Lost Futures is a innovative multimedia art, film and music performance project developed by Sydney based artist, composer and filmmaker, Luke Burton.

The sources below provide a chronological overview of Luke Burton’s career, highlighting how his experiences have shaped his artistic output. This is also Luke’s longform bio.

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Showing keen interest in music, synthesiers and performance since the age of 9, Burton's early interest in music production was later nurtured by his parents' introduction to Rick Brewster, guitarist of the Australian rock group The Angels.

This mentorship provided him with a foundational understanding of music technology and recording.

His first thrash metal group, Divinity, with best friends Lance Whitworth and Peter Teys, recorded its self titled EP in 1996 to acclaim and the band performed a range of shows at underground settings as teenagers.

Forming The Chaos Technicians in 2001, Burton expanded into electronic music, immersing himself in Sydney's underground music scene across a range of performances, some at Sydney's now legendary (and eradicated) Graffiti Hall Of Fame.

His creative exploration continued in 2005 with The Strange, an industrial avant-garde band formed in collaboration with artist Alex Wain.

In 2010, Burton shifted his focus to documentary filmmaking, working with prominent organizations like World Nomads, National Geographic and Lonely Planet. This period honed his storytelling skills and exposed him to the power of visual media.

A near-fatal staph infection contracted during a Tokyo documentary shoot in 2016 served as a turning point in Burton's life. This experience led him to dedicate himself fully to his artistic vision.

In 2019, a transformative psychedelic experience ignited a new wave of creativity, leading to the creation of his audiovisual project, The Vidiot. Burton's performances, which fused visual punk with chaotic soundscapes, captivated audiences Australia wide, culminating in performances at Hobart's Dark Mofo, and with TISM frontman Damian Cowell.

His research into hauntology, a concept popularized by philosopher Mark Fisher, significantly influenced his artistic direction, particularly his reflections on unfulfilled potential, and the idea of lost media and discarded broadcasts as fuel to create reconstituted meaning.

In 2023, Burton's exploration of documentary, experimental visual design and realtime live composition performance culminated in the "Televisual Memory of Our Lost Futures," show, a precursor to his project, The Lost Futures.

The Lost Futures also stands as a testament to Burton's multifaceted artistic journey. The project blends digital punk, electroclash, and futuristic pop, influenced by a diverse range of artists like John Maus, Devo, Midnight Oil, Depeche Mode, and Aphex Twin.

Beyond its musical innovation, The Lost Futures incorporates "cyberdelic hyperloops," a synthographic technique using AI and machine learning to generate visuals. This controversial method - polarizing due to the ongoing debate around AI ethics in creativity - has drawn attention for its ability to create bizarre and otherworldly imagery in a vivid style.

The project, a wide commentary on late stage capitalism and the crunch of modernity, also critiques the cultural restrictions imposed on Sydney's nightlife and the detrimental impact of poker machines on live music venues.

This social commentary underscores Burton's longstanding advocacy for artistic freedom and the preservation of cultural spaces.

Luke Burton's artistic trajectory reveals a profound connection between his personal challenges, creative explorations, and evolving worldview.

His work is not merely a reflection of his artistic skills but also a testament to his resilience and his commitment to pushing boundaries in music, visual art, and social commentary.