The Use of Technology to Realize the Performance Arts Vision
To bring the Mammchooses vision to life acoustically the 100% lyrically written show, by yours truly, had nearly all of the composition performed by the Generative AI platform SUNO. There was certainly a lot of prompt engineering, iterations, editing, multi-tracking, mixing, mastering, etc. involved but I could never have got this project to where it is now without it or a brilliant human composer on board. As the show explains, I have always had a strong interest in computers, software and engineering and so that’s the career I chose.
Almost a year ago today I leaned on the AI tools available as they matured. At the same time, at RIT I took an environmental concentration where I studied sustainable development. AI can bring great societal benefits but can also bring environmental risks we must be wary of and disruptive industry shifts we must prepare for. I am happy to report this site is not only hosted at a data center that’s located right in the Commonwealth, but most importantly achieves 100% energy offset for the electricity it consumes. This local data center will offer low latency to the local fanbase, while offsetting any reliance on fossil fuels.
The featured image on this post is conceptual, not the hosting data center but an illustration of taking a green approach beyond balancing energy give and take. I hope a groundswell rises up locally and globally to embrace the civics focus we need to have to bring change where it is needed not just for our natural environment but also our legal, social and political ones. Just as our mission is to shoot for the moon in what systemic change we want to see Google is leading the charge in setting moonshots for its sustainability goals to also spearhead systemic change in sustainability. Other titans of the industry are also taking responsible steps.
As to the disruptive nature artificial intelligence technologies can create, we see this evolving everyday across nearly every industry. I use it myself as an enabler and empowerment tool from answering everyday questions, planning and performing analysis, to creating among other things, graphics, code, and beautiful music to lend further emotion to the tale I tell. But, I have been anxiously awaiting the day that the creation of this concept would lead me to assembling a full creative team. A team of PEOPLE to truly bring this to LIFE and complete the company with the live actors, dancers, musicians and technicians. Together we’ll make the show a fully human production born from the concept that has formed its foundation, which in turn was born from what I’ve LIVED through.
To abandon people’s culture, talents, skills and work is to forfeit ourselves that part of our humanity and the enrichment they provide. Many people bless us by sharing theirs with us and they may even make their livelihood doing so. This must continue, and thank you to all that do. We must never take for granted how every individual is spectacularly unique, and has gifts to share that make our world a better place. I look forward to sharing the collective work this project continues to produce with all who I am fortunate enough to collaborate with and to whatever positive impact it can bring.
“Stand up now if you are with us.”
Ryan M. Daley