Modular Dream
A performance project by Anee Molly and Bart Bell

Modular Dream is a transdisciplinary performance project developed within the CNM x IRCAM Inside residency program, in close collaboration with the research teams of the IRCAM.

The project brings together the practices of Anee Molly and Bart Bell, exploring the relationships between brain activity, sleep states and generative musical composition through a collaborative and transdisciplinary approach.

During the performance, a participant lies down wearing an EEG headset that captures brain activity in real time. Signals associated with different states of consciousness are analyzed and translated into parameters that drive a generative musical system connected to a modular synthesizer.

As the participant gradually approaches a sleep state, fluctuations in neural activity shape evolving sonic textures and immersive sound environments. The resulting soundscape becomes a sensitive and dynamic reflection of the invisible processes of the dreaming brain.

System

EEG headset
Real time brainwave analysis
Generative music system
Modular synthesizer

Research context
CNM x IRCAM Inside program

Artistic direction and concept

Anee Molly & Bart Bell

Dramaturgy

Anee Molly & Bart Bell

Music and live performance

Anee Molly (modular synthesizer)
Bart Bell (sound design and spatial sound)

EEG research and signal processing

Anee Molly

Sound system design and spatial sound

Bart Bell

Scenography

Amalia Jaulin

Light design and interactive electronics
Arthur Grignard

Interaction design and system development
Léo Mercier

Spatial sound
Dionysios Papanikolaou

Project supervision and system development
Guillaume Piccaretta