Bridging the Gap: When Strings Meet Synths at Rifflandia

In a world where division often seems more common than unity—socially, politically, or even musically—it’s easy to forget how powerful it can be when two different worlds come together in harmony. On Thursday, September 11, Rifflandia’s main stage will host a performance that dares to do just that: The Victoria Symphony plays Daft Punk. This show doesn’t just span genres—it bridges them. It’s electronic meets orchestral. Robotic futurism meets classical tradition. In many ways, it’s a sonic metaphor for what happens when seemingly separate forces unite to create something truly magical.

Daft Punk’s legacy is already legendary. The French duo—Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter—didn’t just make electronic music cool; they redefined it. With a sound that fused house, funk, disco, techno, and pop, and a visual brand that turned anonymity into iconography, Daft Punk didn’t just break barriers—they made them irrelevant. From the gritty grooves of Homework to the disco-drenched nostalgia of Random Access Memories, their work wasn’t just innovative—it was connective. Their music drew in ravers, hip-hop heads, indie kids, and mainstream pop fans alike. And for all their synths and machines, their songs always pulsed with very human emotion.

So what happens when you take that catalog of futuristic bangers and run it through the warmth of a full orchestra? You reveal the bones beneath the robot suit. Strip away the vocoders and sidechain compression, and what’s left are compositions rich in melody, structure, and harmony—musical qualities that shine even brighter when expressed through live instrumentation. Tracks like “One More Time” and “Something About Us” become almost cinematic in this setting, their grooves translated into swelling strings, bold brass, and intricate woodwind flourishes. It’s Daft Punk as you’ve never heard them—and maybe as they always intended to be heard.

Enter the Victoria Symphony: one of BC’s cultural gems and no stranger to crossing musical lines. While rooted in the classical tradition since 1941, the Symphony has built a strong reputation through its Pops Series, offering symphonic takes on everything from The Beatles to film scores. These concerts have consistently opened concert hall doors to new audiences—inviting fans of popular music into the world of orchestral performance, and vice versa. With arrangements crafted by Principal Pops Conductor Sean O’Loughlin, the Symphony demonstrates a keen ear for bridging the classical and contemporary, delivering performances that are both technically masterful and emotionally resonant.

Their tribute to Daft Punk feels like the natural next step. After all, this isn’t just a mashup of genres—it’s a thoughtful reimagining of what music can be when we stop putting it into boxes. The fact that Daft Punk themselves embraced orchestration in their Tron: Legacy soundtrack only strengthens the connection. This isn’t a novelty act; it’s an evolution of the musical ideas the duo planted over their 28-year career.

And let’s not ignore the spectacle. Watching a full orchestra reinterpret electronic anthems is not just aurally satisfying—it’s visually stunning. There’s something about seeing a string section groove through “Lose Yourself to Dance” or a timpani thunder through the drop of “Robot Rock” that ignites a very different kind of energy. This isn’t background music. This is bold, ambitious, and unapologetically fun.

In a festival known for eclectic lineups and genre-blurring sets, this performance is a highlight—not only for its musical novelty but for the deeper symbolism it offers. At a time when polarization feels like the default, what better reminder of unity than a stage full of musicians playing in concert (literally and figuratively), merging analog warmth with digital cool, and classical form with electronic freedom?

So if you find yourself on the Matullia Lands during Rifflandia this September, carve out space on Thursday night to witness something rare: not just a performance, but a collaboration between two musical languages speaking fluently to one another in front of a crowd ready to dance, dream, and feel.

Because when strings meet synths, and when the old world shares the stage with the new, something bigger than music happens. A bridge is built.

– Bryan Capistrano. While Bryan Capistrano (a.k.a. DJ Boitano) can also be seen as a performer at this year’s Rifflandia Music Festival (playing on Sunday in the Dome), the role he loves most when it comes to the festival is that of a genuine music fan. A DJ, former broadcaster, and music programmer, Bryan has never missed a Riff. From vibing out to Jurassic 5 at Royal Athletic Park to the live impromptu Acres of Lions rock show in the middle of Discovery Street, Bryan has no shortage of Rifflandi-memories and stories.