performing AI
Live work in progress developing a system for sound sculpture, machine learning and electronics. A sound object has an aura. Can a machine generate an aura? What happens to the sound object when processed by a neural network? The AURA MACHINE piece takes the listener on a journey through a series of transmutational states. Beginning with concrete live materials from the training dataset, into latent space exploration and ending with AI sonic materiality. Machine learning tools used in the piece are PRiSMSampleRNN, StyleGAN2 and Natural Language Processing with Runway and online TTS. This live AV project is an on-going collaboration with artist Sean Clarke
I am breathing in the unknown. The remote sounds of the past come to me as though they came from the same silent source, from the same whirling mass of atoms. They are the symphonies of my being.
AURA MACHINE
Patch Notes FACTmag
180 STUDIOS, London
Over the moon to be invited to make a film for FACT magazine’s legendary Patch Notes series.
Directed by Pedro Kuster and filmed at 180 Studios, The Strand, this special film is the latest AURA MACHINE collaboration with Sean Clarke. It was wonderful to showcase the visuals on a fantastic screen and the film really captures the materiality and mood of the sonic machine learning textures and movements throughout the piece. Huge thank you to Pedro and the whole team at FACT, a huge privilege.
Watch the entire episode of Patch Notes and read the full article on FACTmag.com
Science & Industry Museum
FUTURE OF SOUND LATES
Live AV performance of AURA MACHINE at Science & Industry Museum, Manchester for Future of Sound LATES, to accompany the exhibition ‘Use Hearing Protection‘ which tells the story of Factory Records’ formative years from 1978 to 1982, and how their innovative work in music, technology and design gave Manchester an authentic voice and distinctive identity. Shining a light on the unheard female voices from Factory. This event was in collaboration with Brighter Sound with performances from MCR female artists.
Future Music #3
UNSUPERVISED, PRiSM Royal Northern College of Music
Online AV fixed media piece for Future Music #3 festival at Royal Northern College of Music. Hosted by PRiSM, premiering works from our UNSUPERVISED machine learning for music working group.
The title of the piece connects the idea of the AURA in concrete music and Walter Benjamin’s ‘the work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction.’ Read more about the conceptual development for the piece.
Visuals from this first piece in neural synthesis have formed the basis for the live AV development.
Watch back the whole event with all talks and tracks from our UNSUPERVISED group.
Mixing support Djuat Mastering by Katie Tavini.
Didsbury Arts Festival
LIVE FROM SEESAW
Manchester Independents supported me with rehearsal space and funding to start my collaboration with Sean Clarke to develop a new live set. Our first experiments were performed live from SEESAW, Manchester for Didsbury Arts Festival. Thank you to Lucy Dusgate for inviting us to present our first experiments for the festival.
Check out the research blog for insights into how we are developing the sound and visuals for the piece.
AURA MACHINE 