For this composition I set out to create a song that has a story that humans have been writing since the industrial revolution. This story is told through the lens of technology evolving towards everyone having a computer in today's day in age. For this song I used a combination of heavily edited acoustic samples of guitar, bass, vocals, and drums I recorded myself, as well as samples available through my DAW, and through creating a unique synth sound in the Vital Synthesizer VST. The heavily edited and sampled recording was from an archived interview from 1974 in which science fiction writer Arthur C. Clark ponders what the future will hold for the fate of computers.
The plot starts with a sample of me playing slide guitar with a spreader plug-in to add depth on an acoustic 12 string guitar. Furthermore, this composition is composed of three main sections (excluding the slide guitar intro).
The first section is meant to introduce the listener to the idea that in 1974, it was hard for people to conceptually think that the computer is so dominant in today's society. I spent quite a bit of time shaping the synth sound through the Vital plug-in in which I built my own sine wave synthesizer sound. Specifically, I wanted to emulate the sound of the FM synthesizer that was used to create Radiohead's song Idioteque. That specific synth sounds like a representation of capturing the emotional attention of the listener to feel like this is a new, strange, and complex technology that has a lot of potential; both good and bad. I implemented a technique in which I was playing harmonics on my guitar while twisting my tuning pegs to create a ghostly harmonic presence. This combined with electronic drums that change rhythms through the first movement and an underlying repeated bass line creates a soundscape of mystery and intrigue.
Section two of this composition is supposed to capture the idea that this technology can get out of control and take over our society. The recent panic and introduction of AI into our world presents an element of unease. It scares us humans as it has since the industrial revolution. Everyday human tasks have been constantly replaced by technology and the power of AI is frightening for some. I implemented heavy use of melodic chromaticism to create the sense of unease and discomfort that collectively our culture is feeling. Changing the speed and pitch of the narration as well as spatially changing directionally where the voice is coming from, left to right, captures our search for not knowing where to search for answers and find clarity in modern times. We find ourselves thinking, “Where is solace?”.
Finally, movement three of this piece is meant to represent the embrace and the accompanying benefits that this new technology brings and how we've used that technology to metaphorically shape our own future. We realize we can harness technology to our benefit. So much so, that in 1974, ordinary people had no idea how far the computer would come. Today, talk to anyone on the streets in an American city and they will have a smartphone in their pockets. We are able to use technology in ways that 200 years ago- smartphones would be considered witchcraft. This idea that almost everyone in a given country could have access to all the information they could ever desire, good or bad, would never have been thought possible. To have the ability to connect in real time both with people and information is something that uniquely my generation and I have witnessed take shape. This profound shift in how we operate in the digital information age will continue to determine how we interact and choose to use technology will determine our collective future.
The plot starts with a sample of me playing slide guitar with a spreader plug-in to add depth on an acoustic 12 string guitar. Furthermore, this composition is composed of three main sections (excluding the slide guitar intro).
The first section is meant to introduce the listener to the idea that in 1974, it was hard for people to conceptually think that the computer is so dominant in today's society. I spent quite a bit of time shaping the synth sound through the Vital plug-in in which I built my own sine wave synthesizer sound. Specifically, I wanted to emulate the sound of the FM synthesizer that was used to create Radiohead's song Idioteque. That specific synth sounds like a representation of capturing the emotional attention of the listener to feel like this is a new, strange, and complex technology that has a lot of potential; both good and bad. I implemented a technique in which I was playing harmonics on my guitar while twisting my tuning pegs to create a ghostly harmonic presence. This combined with electronic drums that change rhythms through the first movement and an underlying repeated bass line creates a soundscape of mystery and intrigue.
Section two of this composition is supposed to capture the idea that this technology can get out of control and take over our society. The recent panic and introduction of AI into our world presents an element of unease. It scares us humans as it has since the industrial revolution. Everyday human tasks have been constantly replaced by technology and the power of AI is frightening for some. I implemented heavy use of melodic chromaticism to create the sense of unease and discomfort that collectively our culture is feeling. Changing the speed and pitch of the narration as well as spatially changing directionally where the voice is coming from, left to right, captures our search for not knowing where to search for answers and find clarity in modern times. We find ourselves thinking, “Where is solace?”.
Finally, movement three of this piece is meant to represent the embrace and the accompanying benefits that this new technology brings and how we've used that technology to metaphorically shape our own future. We realize we can harness technology to our benefit. So much so, that in 1974, ordinary people had no idea how far the computer would come. Today, talk to anyone on the streets in an American city and they will have a smartphone in their pockets. We are able to use technology in ways that 200 years ago- smartphones would be considered witchcraft. This idea that almost everyone in a given country could have access to all the information they could ever desire, good or bad, would never have been thought possible. To have the ability to connect in real time both with people and information is something that uniquely my generation and I have witnessed take shape. This profound shift in how we operate in the digital information age will continue to determine how we interact and choose to use technology will determine our collective future.
Lyrics:
I brought along my son, Jonathan, who in the year 2001 will be the same age as I am now. Maybe he will be better adjusted to this kind of world you are trying to portray.
The big difference when he grows up, in fact, if we go to the year 2001, he will have in his house- not a computer as big as this, but at least a console through which he can talk to his friendly local computer and get all the information he needs for his everyday life.
His bank statements, his Theater reservations- all the information you need over the course of living in a complex modern society. This will be in a compact form in his own house. He’ll have a television screen like this here and a keyboard and he’ll talk to his computer and be able to get information out of it; and he’ll take it as much for granted, as we do the telephone.
I wonder though, what sort of a life would it be like in social terms- I mean if our whole life is built around a computer, do we become a computer dependent society and computer dependent individuals?
I wonder though what sort of a life would it be if our whole life is built around a computer?
Computer dependent individuals. We become a computer dependent society. Our whole life is built around a computer. We become a computer dependent society. Our whole life is built around a computer. Our whole life is built around a computer. Built around a computer.
In some ways but they’ll also enrich our society because-
Our whole life is built around a computer. Built around a computer. Built around a computer. Built around a computer. Built around a computer. Built around a computer.
In some ways but they’ll also enrich our society because- because- because- because- because- because-
Because it will make it possible for us to live really anywhere we’d like. Any business man and executive could live, almost anywhere on earth, and still do his business through a device like this.
And this is a wonderful thing. It means we won't have to be stuck in cities and live out in the country or wherever we please- and still carry on complete interaction with human beings as well as with other computers.
The big difference when he grows up, in fact, if we go to the year 2001, he will have in his house- not a computer as big as this, but at least a console through which he can talk to his friendly local computer and get all the information he needs for his everyday life.
His bank statements, his Theater reservations- all the information you need over the course of living in a complex modern society. This will be in a compact form in his own house. He’ll have a television screen like this here and a keyboard and he’ll talk to his computer and be able to get information out of it; and he’ll take it as much for granted, as we do the telephone.
I wonder though, what sort of a life would it be like in social terms- I mean if our whole life is built around a computer, do we become a computer dependent society and computer dependent individuals?
I wonder though what sort of a life would it be if our whole life is built around a computer?
Computer dependent individuals. We become a computer dependent society. Our whole life is built around a computer. We become a computer dependent society. Our whole life is built around a computer. Our whole life is built around a computer. Built around a computer.
In some ways but they’ll also enrich our society because-
Our whole life is built around a computer. Built around a computer. Built around a computer. Built around a computer. Built around a computer. Built around a computer.
In some ways but they’ll also enrich our society because- because- because- because- because- because-
Because it will make it possible for us to live really anywhere we’d like. Any business man and executive could live, almost anywhere on earth, and still do his business through a device like this.
And this is a wonderful thing. It means we won't have to be stuck in cities and live out in the country or wherever we please- and still carry on complete interaction with human beings as well as with other computers.
credits
Released December 12, 2022
Produced and performed by Noah Renken-Kapatos
Produced and performed by Noah Renken-Kapatos