Darius Syrossian cancels his entire US tour in a statement on freedom, borders, and the culture beyond the club. In a moment that blurs music, politics, and personal conviction, the Iran born DJ and producer Darius Syrossian has announced he is withdrawing from all his upcoming US tour, citing concerns over current U.S. travel policies as the decisive factor behind the cancellation.
The news landed as a shock to dance fans across Los Angeles, New York, Miami and San Diego — cities where he was scheduled to perform — but his decision comes with a clear message: music doesn’t exist in a virtual space separated from the realities people face.
Syrossian took to social media earlier this week to explain his reasoning, openly expressing “serious concerns” about traveling to the U.S. under current travel restrictions tied to nationality and immigration policy. Despite holding a British passport and a valid U.S. work visa, the DJ said past stories of fellow creatives being denied entry have made the risk too unpredictable and the silence surrounding it too concerning.
He framed his choice not as a retreat from performance but as a conscious act of solidarity with people affected by discriminatory policies, adding that “remaining silent or carrying on as if nothing is happening is not an option when discrimination is being normalised at the highest levels of government.”
Syrossian’s statement didn’t shy away from the broader context: the travel policies he referenced have roots in measures tied to former U.S. administration decisions that continue to complicate border entry for artists with connections to certain nations. In fact, this isn’t the first time he’s been forced to pull out of U.S. shows for similar reasons — he previously withdrew from a San Francisco event in 2017 under comparable circumstances.
But this time feels different. His message wasn’t just logistical — it was moral.
“Art should stand for freedom, dignity and equal rights,” he wrote, positioning his cancellation as part of a larger cultural conversation about belonging, mobility, and access to artistic expression in a global community.
📷 : Cover Photos Credits / Courtesy of Darius Syrossian
