EEG visualisation

This project involved the design of a visualisation driven by live EEG data from an audience member's brain, projected as part of a concert performance.

Summary of project

This project involved a large research team from the RNCM and University of Manchester, to design a live brain data visualisation for projection as part of a live concert experience. The design was undertaken initially as part of a collaboration with the professional ensemble Kantos Chamber Choir for their autumn 2024 tour 'In Your Dreams' (RNCM, Huddersfield Smile Bar, The Circle Bacup, Future Yard Birkenhead).

The research team included, along with myself: Dr Josie Kearney, Dr Jason Taylor, Stephen Ball, Sam Roberts, Dan Baczkowski, Alex Chapman, Kate Andrews, Ana Marta Pacheco Aguiar, Jacob Barns

The primary objective of the project was the creative output - a visualisation that could be an effective part of a live multi-modal performance. A portable EEG cap was fitted on to an audience member at each of the four performances as part of the Kantos tour. 4 electrodes were used to map to software designed especially for this project, which recorded alpha and theta wavelengths. Changes in alpha activity resulted in the visualisation changing colour, and changes in theta led to the visualisation undulating more or less.

The team and the project were featured on an episode of the BBC's 'Songs of Praise' in summer 2025, when the visualisation was featured during a string quartet performance by RNCM graduates the Aestus String Quartet, performing a new piece of music by RNCM PhD composer Dan Baczkowski.