Bulb.em

This project is an exploration of Electromagnetic Interference/signals and how modern life is constantly saturated with these invisible/inaudible waves. This work started off as a slightly simpler concept, making music using different types of light bulbs (Hence the name 'Bulb.em'). I built/put together quad E27 socket mounting rig on a goose-neck lamp arm to accommodate this idea. However, after much experimentation, I decided to expand the piece to involve the use of other common electrical devices to help add texture and expand the timbre and sound as a whole. This also goes some way to help put across the findings of my explorations into the all encompassing nature of electromagnetic signals and electrical interference. Using an EM coil pick-up, (sometimes advertised as a 'phone tap pick-up') the EM signals are captured and sent through a Max patch where by they are processed and transposed. The piece uses a multitude of common electrical devices such as, Smart Phone (changeable noise), Computer Monitor (constant tone and slight noise) Bluetooth Headset (constant tone), Bike Lights (high constant/rhythmic tone), Plugs (rising noisy tone) , Battery Charger (changeable noise & tone) and of course, Incandescent light bulbs (constant tone). The concept for the '.em' series of work was, in part, instigated by the following piece from my 'Experiments with Time' series.