digressions in latent space: my first album as multi-media + multimodal+ multi-model artist…

From the app BlackBox Hyper-objects https://hyperelement.vercel.app/

Embarking on the creation of “Digression on Latent Space” has been a journey into the depths of my own creative process, generative AI, and and the multimodality of my own exploration and artistic practice. This avant-garde, electronic experimental album is a sonorous exploration that parallels my multimedia lecture performance, “Duets in Latent Space,” diving into the intricate dance between composing soundscapes and the generative capabilities of artificial intelligence. Inspired by the concept of latent space — a high-dimensional, abstract domain where the intrinsic, hidden features of data are compressed and represented — this album manifests the bridge between humans and AI, showcasing the generative potential of this collaboration. So, I am a multi-media artist.

Each track on “Digression on Latent Space” offers a unique auditory experience, mirroring the project’s exploration of unseen data dimensions, cultural memory, and language. These compositions were born from my dynamic interactions with advanced generative AI models and machine learning algorithms, aimed at uncovering hidden emancipatory narratives and evolving soundscapes. So, I am a multi-model artist.

The journey began with the use of MusicGen model developed by Facebook, utilized and made available on platforms like Replicate, combined with the intricate sound design capabilities of many other models and of course a sound editing software (Audacity). This blend of tools enabled me to sculpt the audio landscapes that define this project. Each track reflects a facet of my exploration into the symbiosis of my creativity, artificial intelligence models and more traditional editing tools.

“In Pursuit of Stolen Ghosts” employs the theremin like sounds to evoke a sense of SciFi wonder, perfectly complementing its exploration of uncovering lost ancestors erased by colonialism. This track uses the mysterious outputs of AI’s “blackbox” to create a haunting atmosphere, inviting listeners to contemplate the complexities of identity shaped by forgotten connections.

“Blackbox Hyper-Objects” muses on the opaque nature of AI models, drawing inspiration from Tim Morton’s concept of hyper-objects. This piece reflects on the enigmatic and complex nature of AI models as entities that are vast, distributed, yet intimately connected to our daily lives. It’s a contemplation on engaging with entities that shape our existence but remain beyond our full comprehension.

“Bauhaus Time Traveler Stripper” imaginatively blends the principles of the Bauhaus movement with speculative future aesthetics, envisioning strippers of the future as time travelers to the past as embodiments of Bauhaus ethos. This track is a dynamic exploration of the mutable nature of future societies, marked by rapid beats and evolving soundscapes that mirror the velocity of technological and societal changes.

As I share “Digression on Latent Space” on Bandcamp, it represents more than an album. Through this project, I aim to challenge listeners to consider the role of AI in art and the potential for these tools to expand our creative horizons. So, I am a multi-modal artist.

This exploration is not just an artistic endeavor; it’s a reflection on the future of human and AI collaboration, the uncovering and poking hidden narratives in an ecosystem of latent spaces of multimodal intelligences.

These three tracks are the soundscapes of their eponymous generative/interactive AI web based pieces and music videos and I will articulate more details in another post:

LIVE APP In Pursuit of Stolen Ghosts

LIVE APP Blackbox Hyper-Objects

LIVE APP Bauhaus Time Traveler Stripper

Here’s a glimpse into what each track holds:

1. Slingshot (01:39) — It kicks off the album, launching us into the thematic essence of our journey. It sets a precedent for the exploration and audacity that follow.
2. In Pursuit of Stolen Ghosts (05:04) — This track goes deeper, reaching into the echoes of memories and the silhouettes of what once was, set against a backdrop of digital specters.
3. Duchampiana (00:45) — A brief homage to disruption and creativity, challenging the conventional separations between music, art, and technology, inspired by Marcel Duchamp’s groundbreaking work.
4. Knives Will Fly (04:00) — Captures the unpredictability of life’s confrontations, the thrill of navigating through chaos and rhythms, embodying the flight of knives in the air.
5. Preemptive Ritual (01:33) — A moment of introspection before the dive deeper, wrapping listeners in ambient textures and the deep hum of preparation.
6. Blackbox Hyper-Objects (03:00) — Tackles the enigmatic nature of generative AI and its learning processes with layers id neural networks, weaving complex rhythms with digital sound processing to illustrate the intricate dance of data within AI models.
7. Extraordinary Alien (01:29) — Reflects on encounters with the unknown, crafting sounds that speak to the heart of discovery and the essence of being an outsider looking in. “Extraordinary Alien” is a deeply personal piece reflecting on my journey to obtaining a U.S. green card, interwoven with the broader narrative of the American dream. This track, through AI-generated soundscapes, delves into the duality of being honored as an “extraordinary alien,” highlighting the paradoxical nature of this designation within the immigration system.
8. Optimism (02:57) — Uplifts with its hopeful melody, showcasing the evolving partnership between human creativity and AI’s generative potential.
9. Dissipating Haiku + Optimism (02:58) — Continues the thread of optimism, blending sparse, AI-generated lyrics with melodic evolution, marrying poetry and music in a dance of possibility.
10. Spiraling Vector (01:30) — Mimics the journey through mathematical spirals, with swirling synthesizers and intricate rhythms painting the complexity of navigating multidimensional spaces.
11. Undercurrents (02:52) — Delves into the unseen forces that shape our existence, mixing deep bass with electronic whispers to reveal the undercurrents of data and memory.
12. Bauhaus Time Traveler Stripper (02:56) — A sonic exploration of time and design, merging minimalist electronic elements with complex rhythms to traverse through the eras of art and design history.

Through this album, I challenge you to reflect on the unseen forces that mold our digital and physical existence, to wander through the gap between the known and the unknowable, and to join me in the latent space of entropic creativity.

Read the post about “duets in latent space” and links and code repositories.