ALGORAVE : WHEN CODING MEETS ELECTRONIC MUSIC

There is a new movement in electronic music. And no, it doesn’t come from unearthed talent from mega cities or unknown towns. This new movement is heralded by coders (yes you read that right, coders!) , who probably have no musical background creating sounds of the future by manipulating codes creating a whole new world. “Live-coding” parties are becoming a growing phenomenon in underground electronic music culture. Derived from ‘Algorithm’ and ‘Rave’ Algorave is an event where people dance to music generated from algorithms, often using live coding techniques. Alex McLean of Slub and Nick Collins coined the word “algorave” in 2011. They made their first event under such a name in London, UK.] It has since become a movement, with algoraves taking place around the world.

The Concept

An algorave is an event where people dance to music generated from algorithms, often using live coding techniques. At an algorave the computer musician may not be the main point of focus for the audience and instead attention may be centered on a screen that displays live coding, that is the process of writing source code, so the audience can not just dance or listen to the music generated by the source code but also to see the process of programming. By building up tracks through programming code producing generative music, algorave producers are among the underground’s most daring and new breed of artists that will likely to influence the future of electronic music in the years to come.

The algorave network around DIY production using mostly open-source live coding environments like SuperCollider, TidalCycles, Gibber, ixi lang and Extempore

Algorave in India

Soundcodes, a sound research lab based in Mumbai founded by Akash cataloguing Acoustic Signatures of heritage structures across India, has been the frontrunner in pioneering the Algorave movement. One of the algorithms used to capture these Acoustic Signatures is convolution reverb. In an attempt is to capture, preserve and make available the acoustic imprints of these historic spaces, steeped in the knowledge and rich culture of the past. Sound.Codes is experimenting constantly with electronics and algorithms making certain Hardware like Kaan (A Binaural Microphone), A Hackable synthesiser (8knobs). Sound.Codes is also actively engaged in hosting workshops and curated seminars. As an artist, Akash is engaged in creating experiences via sound art installations and performances – driven by research into newer ways of integrating music with technology.

According to Akash ‘The first event was held at Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan as part of the Open Codes exhibition on 12th May 2018. It was fronted by mother Dhanya Pilo, Khoparzi, Joshua Thomas, Becky and myself. We ended up doing two sessions at Goethe. The second being on 9th Feb 2019.

Post this event; me and Khoparzi thought to bring it out of this institutional environment to reach the public at large and started doing it independently in an attempt to reach this creative programming community spread all across india. As of now we have done these events in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Delhi. Algoraver’s I think are spread all across the nation. The Internet is the connecting thread‘