Weird Algorithms: Computational Songwriting

Description

Songwriting is a fuzzy process with many moving parts. Lyrics and melodies constrain each other. Instrumentation, performance and production add several more degrees of creative freedom. Where in this mess can computers meaningfully contribute? In this one-day workshop, Jamie will present on and lead discussion of algorithms designed to enable, assist, interestingly impede or otherwise affect songwriters. We'll focus on writing pop lyrics, a discipline that is no stranger to computational techniques. If the best lyrics are universal, can autocomplete help us write the perfect song? Topics covered include: • A brief history of algorithms in pop songwriting. • Analyzing rhyme and meter with the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. • Vocabulary constraints with Markov chains. • Found poetry bots: Pentametron and Wiki Titles Singable To TMNT Theme Song. • Correlating words and melody with the Lakh MIDI datast. • Designing interfaces for human-machine and human-human songwriting partnerships. The workshop is open to musicians and non-musicians alike. Experience in programming not required. TEACHERS Jamie Brew (The Onion, ClickHole, Botnik Studios) is a comedy writer and musician. With his creative technology company Botnik Studios, he builds text generation interfaces for use in writing and performance. Todd Anderson (TA) is a digital poet and web artist trying to make the internet strange and surprising. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Code + Liberal Arts at Eugene Lang College of the New School and helps run Babycastles, The Illuminator, WordHack and SFPC.