What is the origin of music? Is non-human life only the evolutionary basis of our music, or is "music" a more fundamental feature of using the acoustic channel for communications - an implicit phenomena (or epiphenomena) of bioacoustics?

These questions are central to my current approach to music making. Rather than appropriating biological systems as template for experimentation, I use the structures and aesthetics in non-human musical systems to play the music of Nature. More specifically, bioacoustic algorithms are implemented as software, and executed in realtime on computer hardware.

We might in fact argue that the truly potent texts of our time are certainly not texts like this book, or even true scientific theories, but computer programs. Here, the religious or mystical potency with which the medieval text was imbued has been replaced by actual physical efficacy. For the text of a computer program can act on the world through associated electronic and mechanical hardware, to make the world anew

Trevor Wishart, "Audible Design"

(2007) Michael, David M., Artificial Anuran Choruses, Proceedings of the Workshop on Music and Artificial Life, Eighth Annual European Conference on Artificial Life.

(2006) Michael, David M., Musical automata as dynamical systems, Adaptive Behavior, Vol. 14, No. 2, 139-146 (2006)

(2005) Michael, David M., Experimental synthetic birdsong, musical automata as dynamical systems, European Conference of Artificial Life supplemental materials.

(2005) Michael, David M., "Evolved neural dynamics for synthetic birdsong", MSc Thesis, University of Sussex, Brighton UK.

The Scientific Forestry Service, 2008

The Scientific Forestry Service is an audio label releasing long-form natural soundscapes, documenting the Earth's biophony, and exposing the musical structures of non-human organisms using the acoustic channel.

The Beaver Ponds in Clanton, SCIFY002

Its early June in Clanton, Alabama. Huge choruses of frogs and toads soak the early evening with syncopation against the backdrop of cicadas and evening songbirds.

American Toad Chorus, SCIFY001

American Toads harmonize around a small pond in Ithaca, New York. The chorus is joined by Green Frogs and Spring Peepers. Pickerels are hiding in the reeds

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  SCIFY002 excerpt
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  SCIFY001 excerpt

Artificial Anuran Chorus, 2007

An artificial anuran chorus is built by simulating a population of signalers and their spatial distributions. This project emphasizes of the use of Artificial Life models in music as a literal imitation of nature.

Pine log, embedded computer, custom software.

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  Artificial Anuran Chorus

Céline: "Elapsed Time", M-tronic/U-pop, 2006

A pop-electronic collaboration between vocalist Céline Lambert and a battery of producers including Nate Harrison (NKH), Funckarma, Ulrich Schnauss, EU, Mr Projectile, Displacer and David Michael. Produced between 2001 and 2004 with support from The Record Camp Label and Töshöklabs.

The following tracks were composed, written, recorded, and produced by David Michael with vocals written and performed by Céline Lambert unless otherwise noted.

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  Colors
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  Lovely
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  In The Sun Music by Mr. Projectile, vocal recording and production by David Michael
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  Daydream Music by Xela, vocal recording and production by David Michael
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  Interlude 1
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  Interlude 2

I'm OK, You're OK, !hksint'l, 2004

An album of linear electronic works that make it OK.

All tracks produced at the Sideman Estate and Hablab, STP Studios Brooklyn 2001-2003.
© & P 2003 !hksint'l/DanzAmerica ASCAP

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  Say Yes
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  The Growth Imperative
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  A Shrinking Ocean Appeared on MTV's The Real World
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  Untitled Composed for the Bitstreams Exhibition, Whitney Museum of American Art
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  Snow
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  Sonya and Charlie
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  The Goon
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  Rosebud
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  His Name is Dave, Too

All Over Me: The 3-Way Maxi-Single, 2003

R&B before JT. Original version available on The Record Camp Label's "Brooklyn Keeps on Takin It"
© & P 2003 !hksint'l/DanzAmerica ASCAP

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  Unisex Featuring Justin G. Recorded and produced by Danz99.
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  All Over Me Featuring Danz99. Recorded and produced by Danz99.
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  All Over Me (instrumental) Original version, written and produced by David Michael.

Jay Salino : "Here Is", Statra Recordings, 2001

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  Here Is: Adult Contemporary Remix

Co-produced with Nick Chacona (Pool Party, Statra, Mood Music)
Produced at 262 E 2nd. Mixed and mastered at the Sideman Estate.
© & P 2001 Statra Recordings ASCAP

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