The Body Electric: A NIME designed through and with the somatic experience of singing

Kelsey Cotton, Pedro Sanches, Vasiliki Tsaknaki, Pavel Karpashjevich

Research output: Conference Article in Proceeding or Book/Report chapterArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This paper presents the soma design process of creating Body Electric: a novel interface for the capture and use of biofeedback signals and physiological changes generated in the body by breathing, during singing. This NIME design is grounded in the performer's experience of, and relationship to, their body and their voice. We show that NIME design using principles from soma design can offer creative opportunities in developing novel sensing mechanisms, which can in turn inform composition and
further elicit curious engagements between performer and artefact, disrupting notions of performer-led control. As contributions, this work 1) offers an example of NIME
design for situated living, feeling, performing bodies, and 2) presents the rich potential of soma design as a path for designing in this context.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression
Publication date2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Soma Design
  • Biofeedback Signals
  • NIME (New Interfaces for Musical Expression)
  • Physiological Changes
  • Performer's Experience

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