The music industry is full of creative people whose work extends far beyond the artist on stage. Continuing this series on the people behind the artist, we sat down with Carmen Aguirre, also known as VJ Neurite, the visual artist and creative director for Virtual Riot.
Carmen has built an incredible career, and it is clear from the moment you talk to her how passionate she is about her craft. That passion extends beyond her own work. She runs a free Patreon with beginner tutorials because she wants the knowledge to be accessible. For aspiring VJs, she recommends shadowing others who are performing, since it is the best way to learn, and she emphasizes the importance of respecting peers rather than undercutting them.
Designing Virtual Riot’s Shows
Carmen and Virtual Riot have an extremely collaborative relationship, working side by side on all aspects of show design. They plan everything, from visuals, lasers, and SFX to (yes) even the smells in the room. They love experimenting with new techniques and finding ways to make each show unique.
At Mission Ballroom, they added rose scent into the haze for the last song. The visuals were pink and soft, creating a dreamy, moody atmosphere. “We love adding those sensory layers,” Carmen shared, “but we are careful. There are not many scents that work well for shows, so we are still experimenting. I would love to build more interactive elements like that, experiences that start the moment fans walk in.”
That attention to detail shows. At Mission Ballroom, they also created a printed backdrop and photo booth as a fun way for fans to engage with the show. These small touches help the experience feel complete from start to finish. Carmen also wanted to shout out their laser designer Big Red Beams and lighting designer Dacean, who were both instrumental in bringing that show to life.
When speaking about why Virtual Riot has been her favorite project, she said, “The creative freedom and trust Val gives me means everything.” The Mission Ballroom set at the end of the Stealing Fire tour was a highlight. “We filmed it from nine angles, and I edited the multicam video myself. It is one of the proudest moments of my life.”
Bringing the VJ On Stage
In a move unique to Carmen and Virtual Riot, she has been performing on stage with him for over two years. They first tried it at a show in China where they were told the VJ would be on stage, so they went with it. “It was so much fun that Val looked over mid set and said, ‘We need to do this more.’”
Being on stage came with technical challenges. Performing live meant troubleshooting in real time, especially when venue teams didn’t always understand their setup. Over time, she grew more confident, but the goal was never to say every VJ should be on stage.
“It was to bring awareness to how many people make shows happen,” she said. Fans often don’t realize how many creatives are behind what they see. Hearing people say they “didn’t even know what a VJ was” until they saw her makes it all worth it.
While on stage, Carmen does a lot of live mixing and chopping. She prefers live visuals and times every clip manually, matching BPMs the same way a DJ would beat-match. “I love the challenge and energy of doing it live. Live timing allows me to respond in real time and show the full range of what visuals can do.”
Visibility has come with many positive comments, but also criticism. She has had people doubt her or misunderstand what she does, but some of those same people have later come back to say they were wrong after seeing the impact she has. Those moments mean everything to her.
Mindset, Growth, and Early Beginnings
Carmen shared that mindset and overcoming fear of failure has played a big role in her growth. Being one of the few people doing what she does, she knew failure was inevitable, and she failed many times. Her biggest learning is that what matters is how you recover. Learn from it, own it, and move forward. “For new VJs I always say: be honest about your limitations.”
How did Carmen transition into becoming a VJ? She actually started out acting in musicals. In high school, she began working backstage, painting sets, designing lighting, and running sound. She fell in love with the production side and later found her way back to that creative world through visuals. Her style still draws from that theatrical and cinematic foundation.
When she first started VJing, no one was sharing information. There were no tutorials, and things like XML maps were treated like secrets. Now she wants to change that. She believes knowledge should be shared and that if everyone grows together, the art form grows too. Seeing young VJs innovate inspires her, and she wants to be part of that cycle of learning.
Creative Inspiration
Outside of EDM, Carmen finds inspiration everywhere. She loves running around with a camera, filming anything that looks cool, from waves and trees to textures and tiny moments most people overlook. She also loves watching other artists’ sets and taking notes on what she likes, what she would do differently, and what she wants to explore in her own work.
She approaches inspiration with the same philosophy as production: learn from others, honor what moves you, and transform it into something that is uniquely your own.
Final Thoughts
Carmen ended the conversation with a reminder for fans everywhere:
“So many amazing people put shows together. Go to shows and stop by front of house. Tell the visuals, lasers, and lighting teams they are doing an amazing job. It takes five seconds, and it means the world.”
I want to say a big thank you to Carmen Aguirre for sharing her story with us. It was an honor to be able to do this interview. I also want to thank Shayn Hotton for connecting us and for continuing to help shine a light on the incredible work being done by creatives in the EDM space.