Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · 23h

I’m off to Leeds with briefcase modular synth in tow for a performance of ‘Machine Time’, inspired by the spacetime-distorting cybernetic soundscapes of Roland Kayn.

Also giving a paper w/ @stephenroddy.bsky.social on some media archaeology of Kayn & Jaap Vink’s pioneering musical cybernetics.

Title ‘Machine Time’ with blurred modular synthesiser with feedback loops in background

3 6

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Aug 22

Great to see growth in Leaving Cert music numbers: this from today’s Irish Times:
‘Music saw the largest increase … rising 21 per cent from 6,503 last year to 7,877.’

And spread the word, you can study music (BMus) & music tech (BSc Creative Audio) at Ulster Uni, Derry!

1

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Jul 31

I think some of that cuts to the heart of the music visualisation problem and music video problem. Was just discussing this with @adammelvin.bsky.social the other day.

To my mind, sometimes too much focus on synchronisation and local level taking away from more structurally/affectively satisfying

1 1

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Jul 31

You can always just do ‘enigmatic silhouette’. Long tradition in our field

1 1

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Jul 31

Delighted to see this published; in the time between the writing & publication, it’s become more relevant & urgent (looking at you, Meta)!

‘Cybernetic Resurgences: Machine Music Beyond AI Slop’ shows how an ethically grounded cybernetics of ML can help us resist AI slop & discourse of replacement

Stephen Roddy @stephenroddy.bsky.social · Jul 30

I’m loosing the battle to reclaim Machine Learning from the “AI” movement as it comes to music and the creative arts. But regardless, our new piece now seems to be up online today and we do give it another very whole-hearted try!!
Won’t be backing down anytime soon and all that.

Stephen Roddy @stephenroddy.bsky.social · Jul 29

Our (@bridgesbb.bsky.social) piece developing a Musical Cybernetics as an antidote to gen-AI slop music goes online this week. DM for pre-print access: doi.org/10.1007/978-...

2 3

Reposted by Brian Bridges

Stephen Roddy @stephenroddy.bsky.social · Jul 29

Our (@bridgesbb.bsky.social) piece developing a Musical Cybernetics as an antidote to gen-AI slop music goes online this week. DM for pre-print access: doi.org/10.1007/978-...

Cybernetic Resurgences: Machine Music Beyond AI Slop

This chapter explores contemporary trends in the application of machine learning technologies in music composition and performance contexts. It argues that there is a resurgence of cybernetic approach...

doi.org

3 6

Reposted by Brian Bridges

Stephen Roddy @stephenroddy.bsky.social · Jun 20

We finalised our proofs for the Cybernetics Music VS AI Slop chapter. Going to need a short breather from all the AI stuff for a few weeks now. In our defense, it wasn't so all-pervading when we started working on it @bridgesbb.bsky.social

1 6

Reposted by Brian Bridges

Adam Melvin @adammelvin.bsky.social · Jun 6

@bridgesbb.bsky.social doing a spot of field recording from outside the Art Gallery of Alberta.

1 5

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Jun 6

Wonderfully diverse paper topics yesterday, at @scsmi.bsky.social SCSMI 2025, and a very high standard of discussion throughout. Looking forward to continuing discussions about how the soundtrack influences our experiences of the moving image

With @adammelvin.bsky.social

2 4

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Jun 5

Not-so-wee buns here in Canada (but everything else is ‘wee buns’ in the figurative sense)!

Yes, for scale, the diameter is your standard modern paper plate size!

With @adammelvin.bsky.social

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Jun 5

Just a sliver of the massive University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Jun 5

Enjoying SCSMI @scsmi.bsky.social
at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, CA, with my UU buddy and collaborator @adammelvin.bsky.social. Here’s our paper on our model for the embodied-electronic soundtrack.

2 2

Reposted by Brian Bridges

Adam Melvin @adammelvin.bsky.social · Jun 4

In Edmonton AB and after a productive afternoon record shopping with @bridgesbb.bsky.social on Whyte's Ave (what a marvellous spot) it's time for the SCSMI conference.

1 2

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · May 17

Nice day for a scenic shortcut through campus

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Apr 26

I often think of this when I see that page on the passport with the pious text implying that we still have birthright citizenship. Our misrecognition extends to our passport design choices.

1 2

Reposted by Brian Bridges

Stan Ó hOireachtaigh 🍉 @stane.bsky.social · Apr 26

+1000.
Very difficult for us to see around our inflated opinion of ourselves sometimes.

Miriam @miriamboosh.bsky.social · Apr 26

Just a fun reminder that birthright citizenship was revoked in Ireland in 2005 with 80% of people voting to remove it. It’s easy to get on our high horse and believe we’re morally superior but meh

1 3 7

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Apr 26

I’m all set up for tomorrow’s first ever Signal Flow festival at the Playhouse Theatre, Derry, courtesy of @peterodoherty.bsky.social and his Northern Lights Project.

11 am to 9 pm tomorrow, with coffee and croissants for the early risers

Full details here

www.northernlightsproject.org

2 10

Reposted by Brian Bridges

Northern Lights Project @nolightsproject.bsky.social · Apr 20

*** FULL PROGRAMME ***

Signal Flow – A One Day Festival of Experimental and Electronic Music

Sunday 27th April, 11am - 9pm
Playhouse, Derry

Starts at 11am (including coffee and croissants!) with laidback listening with Vincent O'Callaghan and Gavin McCarron.

2 4

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Apr 25

This Sunday, I’ll be premiering my new piece ‘Machine Time’ at this brand new festival of electronic and experimental music in Derry.

Expect evolving microtonal interlocking feedback loops in a modular synthesiser, influenced by the machine music of Roland Kayn and Jaap Vink.

Signal Flow- one-day festival of experimental and electronic music, Playhouse Theatre, Derry, Sun 27th 2025, 11 am to 9 pm

Part of the modular synthesis system for ‘Machine Time’

1 1 6

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Apr 25

A brief slice of Manchester elegance, from a flying visit yesterday

1

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Apr 11

Great seminar today from Dr Amanda Finch (Drama at Ulster), on Brigid’s Day: a 21st Century Irish Carnival?

1 1

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Jan 17

Enjoying the DCU All Hallows campus in north Dublin today after an in-person Irish Humanities Alliance board meeting; a nice way to bow out, as my colleague Dr Lisa Fitzpatrick (Drama at Ulster) takes over

Dublin City University All Hallows campus

3

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Dec 20

A little Christmas cybernetic music listening in prospect, courtesy of Roland Kayn

Roland Kayn boxed set - Scanning (booklet)

9

Reposted by Brian Bridges

Kerry @kerrylhagan.net · Nov 29

New chapter!
Hagan, K. "Electronics as a Member of the Ensemble." Collaboration, Engagement, and Tradition in Contemporary and Electronic Music: NoiseFloor Perspectives. M Estibeiro, D Payling, D Cotter, eds. New York: Routledge, 2025.
www.routledge.com/Collaboratio...

Collaboration, Engagement, and Tradition in Contemporary and Electronic Music: NoiseFloor Perspectives

Collaboration, Engagement, and Tradition in Contemporary and Electronic Music: NoiseFloor Perspectives illuminates practices at the forefront of modern music-making and is built on a rich collection o...

www.routledge.com

1 2

Brian Bridges @bridgesbb.bsky.social · Nov 27

Managed to grab a few mins in the Ulster Uni Magee studio today to install our new modular synth keyboard and case (Cre8audio Niftykeyz)

A few more modules to be added (some waiting in storage in the treasure chest), but enough to make some noise

7