What is Transmutable Music

Transmutable music is a new form of music that changes and adapts in real-time based on various factors like your location, the time of day, the weather, or even your emotions. Unlike traditional recorded music, which stays the same every time you listen to it, transmutable music evolves and offers a unique listening experience each time, making it dynamic and interactive. This is made possible through advanced technology, video game composition, and AI, allowing the music to be as fluid and responsive as life itself.

Imagine a world where music isn’t just a static recording, but a living, breathing entity that changes and adapts, much like a live performance. This is the exciting frontier of Transmutable Music – a new term that captures the essence of music that evolves in real-time based on various data input like location, time, or even your emotional state.

Finding the right language to describe this fluid form of music has been a journey. Initially, I considered the term “fluid,” but it didn’t fully convey the complexities involved in creating such music. “Dynamic Music” was another option, a term I even used in my PhD thesis. However, the word “dynamic” can be misleading because it already has established meanings in the music industry, particularly regarding volume and intensity changes in traditional music.

The term “dynamic” is often tossed around in marketing, especially in the music industry. Companies like Spotify or YouTube may label their platforms as offering “dynamic” experiences, but the music itself remains fixed and static. Even when music is released gradually or through interactive apps, it doesn’t change or respond to external data in the way true Transmutable Music does.

This led me to the term Transmutable Music, which I developed during my PhD studies with the guidance of my supervisor, Prof. Richard Vella. “Transmutable” feels more precise and novel, capturing the idea of music that can transform from one state to another in response to real-time data. This concept goes beyond just being dynamic; it represents a broader category of music that includes interactive, reactive, generative, and AI-driven forms.

But what exactly is Transmutable Music? In essence, it’s a form of music that isn’t fixed. It adapts and changes in response to data, creating a unique listening experience each time. This could be anything from your GPS location to the weather or even biometric data like your heartbeat.
To clarify, Transmutable Music isn’t about replacing traditional, static songs. Instead, it’s about offering a new branch of music that enhances our interaction with it. Think of it as an extension of how technology and music have always evolved together. While fixed songs evoke a sense of nostalgia and familiarity, Transmutable Music opens up new possibilities for creativity and engagement.

In the book “Interactive Technolgies and Music Making: Transmutable Music, I hope to introduce you to the concept of Transmutable Music, explain why it’s different from fixed or static recorded music forms, and explore how data plays a central role in its composition. As I explore the specifics, I’ll also define various forms of Transmutable Music, such as Interactive, Adaptive, Autonomous, and more, providing a framework for understanding how to produce and compose for this innovative approach to music.

Transmutable Music represents a significant shift in how we experience music. It allows for a more personalized, responsive, and immersive experience, making it a powerful tool for both artists and audiences alike. This new form of music isn’t just about listening – it’s about interacting, responding, and engaging with music in ways we’ve never experienced before.