Myco-Music is an interdisciplinary event which aims to provide an engaging, educational, and exploratory experience centering biodata-sonification with modular synthesizers and mushrooms. This event comprises two distinct components—an interactive installation and an array of performances.
Biodata-sonification…What’s that?
Biodata-sonification is a process that involves translating galvanic signals (real-time electrical data) from organic materials into MIDI data and controls. This data can then be sent to musical devices such as modular synthesizers to allow unique sonic exploration with living mushrooms.
This process will be integrated in various ways throughout the installation, illustrating the creativity of the artists involved and providing an opportunity to connect and interact with the natural world through music.
I. Installation
The Myco-Music installation features an immersive environment resembling underground mycelial networks, where attendees can experience sonified mushrooms using the Instruo Pocket Scion and various other modular hardware. This installation is a collaborative effort between installation artist Emily de Smidt, Mike Berry (aka Karnblack) of Colorado Modular Synth Society, and Sam Allen (aka exiel0001) of UC Mycological Society.
II. Performance
The Myco-Music performance features several musicians specializing in a wide variety of instruments—from handpan and electroacoustic mulatar, to synthesizers and modular hardware. The through-line between all these performances is the integration of sonified mushrooms using the Instruo Pocket Scion.
A special thanks to these individuals, who have offered their time and effort into making Myco-Music happen:
Mike Berry aka Karnblack (organizer)
Jon Forshee (organizer)
Shirp aka Data.Bunny (musician)
Chris Vinci (speaker/organizer)
Emily de Smidt (installation artist)
Dustin Bluhm (musician)
Colten Peed (musician)
Lana Heath (advertiser/designer)
Produced by Sam Allen