Josh Deu

Josh Deu
Birth name	Joshua Deu
Genres	Indie rock
Years active	1999-2003
Labels	Merge Records
Associated acts	Arcade Fire

Joshua Deu is a Film & New Media Professor and musician, best known as the co-founding member of Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. Deu founded the band in 2000, with classmate Win Butler, and departed from the band in late 2003. Since 2007, Deu has taught Film & New Media at one of the top schools in the country Marlborough School in Los Angeles.

Deu co-wrote the tracks, "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" and "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)", on the band's debut studio album, Funeral (2004), and the song, "Headlights", from the band's debut EP, Arcade Fire (2003). Deu and Butler co-wrote over 50 songs that remain largely unreleased.

Josh Deu and Win Butler, began to work on both visual and musical collaborations. Positive feedback subsequently led to formation of Arcade Fire, with Deu and Butler initially sneaking into a practise space at McGill University to write and rehearse. Whilst practicing there, they met music student Régine Chassagne, whom Butler had previously seen performing weeks before. Deu noted, "Win and I played guitar. Everyone played guitar. We had no music to show her, but she ended up saying yes to joining us, and I don’t know why. Maybe there was a little spark with Win." Deu subsequently designed the band's initial website alongside Win's brother and future band member, William Butler.

After a "profound spiritual experience" Deu began to prioritized film and fine art projects and collaborations, Deu departed from the band, in late 2003, stating: "It just didn’t feel like it fit me anymore." Deu, however, continued to collaborate with the band on its promotional materials, web content and music videos, noting in 2010: "Not everyone gets to have these experiences with a famous rock band. I’m so blessed to have been part of who the band was at the beginning, and who they’ve become now."

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