Biography

Stephen Roddy is a Researcher and Lecturer working at the intersection of engineering and the creative arts at the Radical Humanities Lab and the Department of Digital Humanities at University College Cork. He has a background in sound and music computing (SMC) holding a Ph.D. in sonification: the use of sound to perceptualize data and convey information. Stephen’s research explores the application of auditory display/sonification, artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), and sensor networking techniques in SMC, human-computer interaction (HCI), and creative arts contexts. This work is approached primarily through the perspectives of embodied cognitive science and cybernetics and is methodologically grounded in both computational and practice-based research methodologies.

Stephen’s previous projects have involved the design of auditory display solutions for large-scale IoT networks and investigated the integration of sonification and AI/ML techniques in generative music, sound art, and digital art applications. Much of this work was carried out under an IRC Postdoctoral Fellowship at CONNECT: the SFI Research Centre for Future Networks and Communications, at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), and subsequently at the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering at TCD. His work is widely disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications, book chapters, and conference proceedings.

Stephen maintains a vibrant and diverse creative arts practice which forms a core component of his research activity. His creative projects span a variety of media and styles, including music composition and performance, generative and data-driven music and art practices, digital art, and sound art. His creative work, described as majestic and sweeping yet beautifully unsettling, is frequently performed and installed at home and abroad. His most recent musical work Leviathan is available through Fiadh Productions. Previous events have included the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, IMMA’s Earth Rising Festival, and the Helicotrema Recorded Audio Festival in Venice.

Affiliations

Current

• Researcher in the Radical Humanities Laboratory at University College Cork.
• Lecturer in the Department of Digital Humanities at University College Cork.
• Member of the IEEE Committee for Ethically Aligned Design in the Arts.
• Member of the International Community for Auditory Display.
• Member of the Internet of Sounds Research Network.
• Member of the Irish Sound Science and Technology Association.
• Member of the International Computer Music Association.
• Member of the Irish Music Rights Organisation.

Previous

• Assistant Professor (Digital Arts) in the Department of Film at Trinity College Dublin.
• Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering at Trinity College Dublin.
• Lecturer on the Music and Media Technologies course at Trinity College Dublin.
• Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow at the Irish Research Council.
• Postdoctoral researcher at the CONNECT Centre, Trinity College Dublin.
• Board member of the Irish Sound Science and Technology Association 2016-2019.
• Board member for the Interference Journal 2018-2019.

Journal Articles

• Roddy, S. & Parmar, R. (Forthcoming 2023). Commentary: AI/ML in the Sonic Arts - Pitfalls and Pathways. Resonance: The Journal of Sound and Culture, 4(4).
• Roddy, S. (Forthcoming 2023). An Interview with Nao Tokui. Resonance: The Journal of Sound and Culture, 4(4).
• Roddy, S. (2023). Signal to Noise Loops: A Cybernetic Approach to Musical Performance with Smart City Data and Generative Music Techniques. Leonardo, 56(1).
• Roddy, S. (2023). The Kyoto School and Sound Art: A Nothingness of the Absolute. Resonance: The Journal of Sound and Culture, 4(1).
• Roddy, S. (2020). Using Conceptual Metaphors to Represent Temporal Context in Time-Series Data Sonification. Interacting with Computers.
• Roddy S., & Bridges. B. (2020). Mapping for Meaning: the Embodied Sonification Listening Model and its Implications for the Mapping Problem in Sonic Information Design. J Multimodal User Interfaces.
• Roddy S., & Bridges B. (2018). Addressing the Mapping Problem in Sonic Information Design through Embodied Image Schemata, Conceptual Metaphors and Conceptual Blending. The Journal of Sonic Studies. 17.
• Roddy, S., & Furlong, D. (2014). Embodied Aesthetics in Auditory Display. Organised Sound, 19(01), 70-77.

Book Chapters

• Roddy, S. (2023) Creative Machine-Human Collaboration: Towards a Cybernetic Approach to Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Techniques in the Creative Arts. In: Filimowicz, M. editor AI and the Future of Creative Work. Algorithms and Society Series. Routledge, Focus.
• Roddy, S. & Bridges, B. (2021) Meaning-making and Embodied Cognition in Sound Design Research. In: Filimowicz, M. editor Doing Research in Sound Design, Routledge.
• Roddy S., & Bridges B. (2018) Sound, Ecological Affordances and Embodied Mappings in Auditory Display. In: Filimowicz M., Tzankova V. (eds) New Directions in Third Wave Human-Computer Interaction: Volume 2 - Methodologies. Human–Computer Interaction Series. Springer, Cham.

Reports & Policy Documents

• IEEE Committee on Ethically Aligned Design for Artists. (2022) The Voice of the Artist in the Age of the Algorithm. IEEE Ethically Aligned Design Series.

Peer Reviewed Conference Proceedings

• Roddy, S. (2022). A Technique for Controlling the Proportion of Information in the Sonification of Complex Time Series Data. The 27th International Conference on Auditory Display.
• Roddy, S. (2022). Creating Signal to Noise Loops v4. In the Proceedings of the International Conference on Auditory Display, ICAD 2022.
• Roddy, S., & Bridges, B. (2021). The Design of a Smart City Sonification System using a Conceptual Blending and Musical Framework, Web Audio and Deep Learning Techniques. In the Proceedings of the International Conference on Auditory Display, ICAD 2021.
• Roddy S. (2021). The Body in the Machine: Indices Online. In Proceedings of xCoAx 2021, Online (+ Graz) 12th-16th July 2021.
• Roddy, S. (2018). Ambient Data Monitoring w/Generative Music Systems using Evolutionary Computing & Machine Learning Techniques. CSMC 2018, Dublin, August 2018.
• Roddy, S. (2018). Signal to Noise Loops i++ Live. xCoAx 2018, 11-13 July, Madrid.
• Roddy, S., & Furlong, D. (2018). Vowel Formant Profiles and Image Schemata in Auditory Display. In Proceedings of HCI 2018 4-6 July 2018, Belfast.
• Roddy, S. (2017). Composing The Good Ship Hibernia and the Hole in the Bottom of the World. In Proceedings of Audio Mostly 2017 23-26 August 2017.
• Roddy, S. (2017). Absolute Nothingness: The Kyoto School and Soundart Practice. In Proceedings of Invisible Places 2017.
• Roddy, S., & Bridges, B. (2016). Sounding Human with Data: The Role of Embodied Conceptual Metaphors and Aesthetics in Representing and Exploring Data Sets. In Proceedings of the Music Technology Workshop 2016 June 10th, Michael Smurfit Business School, University College Dublin, Dublin, (pp. 64-76).
• Roddy, S., & Furlong, D. (2015). Embodied Auditory Display Affordances. In Proceedings of the 12th Sound and Music Computing Conference: National University of Ireland Maynooth (pp. 477-484).
• Roddy, S., & Furlong, D. (2015). Sonification Listening: An Empirical Embodied Approach. In Proceedings of The 21st International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD 2015) July 8–10, 2015, Graz, Austria. (pp.181-187).
• Roddy, S., & Furlong, D. (2013). Embodied cognition in auditory display. In Proceedings Of the 19th International Conference on Auditory Display, July 6-10 Łódź, Poland ( pp. 127-134).
• Roddy, S., & Furlong, D. (2013). Rethinking the Transmission Medium in Live Computer Music Performance. Presented at the Irish Sound Science and Technology Convocation, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

Abstracts & Talks

• Roddy, S. (2023). Signal to Noise Loops A Cybernetic Approach to Musical Performance w/Smart City Data and Generative Music Techniques. The Irish Human-computer Interaction Symposium. Dundalk Institute of Technology.
• Roddy, S. (2018). IoT and AI-Driven Audio in the Smart City: A Rhythmanalysis Inspired Approach. The Irish Sound Science and Technology Association Conference. Ulster University, Magee Campus, Derry/Londonderry.
• Dormer, A., & Roddy, S. (2016). Sound, Place & Multiplace. The Irish Sound Science and Technology Association Conference. Ulster University, Magee Campus, Derry/Londonderry.
• Roddy, S. (2015) Sonification and the Digital Divide. Digital Materials. The National University of Ireland Galway.

Popular Science & Technology Writing

• 'Technology Trends Transforming the World' for Impakter January 2019.

Musical Performances & Sound Art Installations

Recent/Forthcoming Performances & Installations:

• opening to the ambient light, Becoming-Machine Pavillion at The Wrong Biennale 2023. Curated by Isil Ezgi Celik, CapitArt. November 2023-March 2024. Physical exhibition at Artsect Gallery, London in November 2023.
• Signal to Noise loops V5, Metatopia - Hybrid Spaces Pavillion at The Wrong Biennale 2023. Curated by Luciana de Paula Santos, Aisthesis Lab. November 2023-March 2024.
• Thonis-Heracleion, peaceful beneath the waves @ the Leviathan Album Launch, the Radical Humanities Laboratory, October 6th 2023.

The Signal to Noise Loops Project: Data-driven Generative Music w/AI&ML.

• Signal to Noise loops V5.1, UbiMus2023 International Symposium on Ubiquitous Music, Ulster University, Derry. November 2nd-4th 2023.
• Signal to Noise Loops v5: Breathing Space @ Earth Rising Eco Art Festival , Irish Museum of Modern Art:IMMA, 21-23 October, 2022.
• Signal to Noise Loops v4 @ The International Conference on Auditory Display 2022.
• Signal to Noise Loops v4 @ S3 of the Video Sound Archive, February 2022.
• Signal to Noise Loops v4 @ Culture Night Dublin, September 2021.
• Signal to Noise Loops v4 @ Audio Mostly, Trento, Italy, September 2021.
• Signal to Noise Loops v4 @ The International Computer Music Conference, Santiago, Chile, July 2021.
• Signal to Noise Loops v4 @ The New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival 2021, New York, July 2021.
• Signal to Noise Loops 3++ @ ISSTA 2018, Derry, September 2018.
• Signal to Noise Loops i2+: Noise Water Dirt @ CSMC 2018, Dublin, August 2018.
• Signal to Noise Loops i++ Live @ xCoAx 2018, Madrid.
• Noise Loops for Laptop, Improvised Electric Guitar and Dublin City Noise Level Data @ Sonic Dreams 2017, Sonic Arts Waterford, September 30th 2017.

The Body in the Machine: Music Composition & Computer Art w/AI/ML

• Roddy (2022). The Body in the Machine: Indices Online. The International Computer Music Conference, Limerick Ireland.
• Roddy (2021). The Body in the Machine: Indices Online. In Proceedings of xCoAx 2021, Online (+ Graz) 12th-16th July 2021.
• Indices Online (UX & ML) @ NIME 2020, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, 21-25 July 2020.
• 58 Indices On The Body: A Reflection on Translations through Language, Technology and Sounds - Selected Indices Soundworks and Musical Pieces w/Sentiment Analysis. @ ISSTA 2019, Cork School of Music October 2019.
• Jean Luc Nancy Indices 21 7 and 3 w/AMAE/De Pinto and Jean Luc Nancy @ Helicotrema Recorded Audio Festival, Pinault Foundation, Punta Della Dogana/Palazzo Grassi, November 4th 2015.

The Zones Project: Immersive & Reactive XR Environments

• Zones 1.5 w/Alan Dormer @ The International Digital Empathy Workshop @ Ulster University October 31st 2016.
• Zones 1 w/Alan Dormer @ Irish Sound Science and Technology Convocation @ Ulster University September 7th-9th 2016.

Music Composition for Dance & Stage

• Hear This Dance for @ Dance House for Dance Ireland Residency w/Niall Vallely and Sibeal Davitt, September 14th 2017.
• Fógraím/I Proclaim w/Sibéal Davitt & Tristan Rosenstock @ Embodied, The GPO Witness History Centre 20th -22nd of April 2016.
• Fógraím/ I Proclaim w/Sibéal Davitt & Tristan Rosenstock @ The Cube, NUIG, September 22nd, 2016.
• Eleven w/ Amy Prendergast @ The Irish World Academy Limerick, 2011.
• (You)th Share w/ Legitimate Bodies Dance Company w/Cristina Golletti & Nick Bryson @ Birr Theatre & Arts Centre 2010.
• Romeo & Juliet w/ Legitimate Bodies Dance Company w/Cristina Golletti & Nick Bryson @ Birr Theatre & Arts Centre 2010.
• Pinocchio - Dance of the Long Nose w/ Legitimate Bodies Dance Company w/Cristina Golletti & Nick Bryson @ Birr Theatre & Arts Centre 2009.

Sonification & Musification for Performance & Installation

• Idle Hands- A 31-Part Exploration Of Irish Unemployment From 1983 - 2014 In G Major @ the premiere of TIDES: An ISSTA Anthology.
• The Good Ship Hibernia @ Audio Mostly Queen Mary University London 23-26 August 2017.
• The Good Ship Hibernia @ The 2017 ICAD Concert, Playhouse Theatre, Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA 20-23 June 2017.
• Doom & Gloom @ Irish sound Science & Technology Convocation, UL & MIC, Limerick, Ireland August 12-13 2015.
• Doom & Gloom @ Sound and Music Computing Concert, NUI Maynooth, Ireland: July 30th -August 1st, 2015.
• Doom & Gloom @ International Community for Auditory Display Concert, Forum Stadtpark, Graz, Austria: 8-10 July 2015.
• Extensive Structure no 1, The Human Cost, Doom & Gloom @ Contemporary Music Centre Spring Salon Series, National Concert Hall, Kevin Barry Room March 24th 2015.
• Idle Hands- A 31-Part Exploration Of Irish Unemployment From 1983 - 2014 In G Major @ Irish Sound Signal and Technology Convocation @ NUI Maynooth, Ireland August 2014.

Fixed-Media Musical Compositions for Performance & Installation

• Symmetric Relations and Hidden Rotations @ Irish Sound Science and Technology Convocation @ Ulster University September 7th-9th 2016.
• Symmetric Relations and Hidden Rotations @ Sonorities Festival of Contemporary Music @ Belfast November 24-26 2016.

Other/Earlier Projects

• Public Demonstration of Gestural Control System for UAV (Drone) Flight Trinity College Dublin Open Day 2019.
• Deslitary The Ghost of Lochmarne w/Daniel O'Connor, Online Video/Music, 2013.
• Will & Implementation @ DAWN 2011, DMARC, University of Limerick, 2011.
• Bike @ DMARC, University of Limerick, 2010. Shifting Sands @ DMARC, University of Limerick, 2010 .
• Fúsball @ DMARC, University of Limerick, 2009.

Discography

Label Releases

• 2023. Leviathan. A dark ambient exploration of our impending climate catastrophe. On Fiadh Productions
• 2021. Idle Hands [...] featured on Tides: An ISSTA Anthology. On the Stolen Mirror Label.
• 2019. Der Kardinal featured on Dead Leaves - Charity Compilation (Out of Print). By Brutal Resonance.

Independent Releases

• Signal to Noise Loops (2023) is a series of human-machine collaborations made possible through cybernetic musical systems that unite human performance and composition with techniques and technologies from artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the internet of things.
• Darkness Visible (2022): Generative music EP in an industrial and ark ambient style.
• 30-Epoch Opus (2021) A short 4-track EP of AI-driven music.
• Jupiter (2021) A Doom infused, Blackgaze love-letter to everybody’s favourite gas giant using traditional doom, post-metal and industrial metal instrumentation. 10-track album.
• Wave Grid (2019) A Synth-heavy tribute to the classic sci-fi and horror soundtracks of the 1980s.10-track album.
• Le Son Du Corps Et Un Corps de Sons by Stephen Roddy feat. Jean-Luc Nancy, AMAE & DePinto) (2016) Sound works, experimental guitar and electroacoustic compositions based on 58(+1)/63 Indices on the Body. 16-track album.
• Stardust Sonata (2016) Experimental guitar instrumentals converge with computer music and electroacoustic techniques in a tribute to David Bowie. 6-track album.
• The Human Cost: A Sonification of Ireland's Economic Crash (2016) Includes sonifications and data-driven musical works exploring the socioeconomic data from Ireland’s 2008 financial crash. Includes works composed for my Ph.D. 5-track album.
• Purple Waves (2016) Experimental guitar with computer music techniques composed in tribute to Prince. 9-track album.
• Untitled #1. (2015) Contemporary music compositions with traditional instrumentation. 20-track album.
• Natural Drift (2015) A collection of compositions and soundworks across a wide range of styles encompassing contemporary, experimental electronic and soundart. 10-track album.
• Terminus Abruptus (2014) Lively synth heavy electronic music concept album. 9-track album.
• Line-In: R (2014) Computer music, electroacoustic and minimalist compositions. 10-track album.
• Alethia (2013) Melodic guitar driven and electronic pieces. 11-track album.

Available on: Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | Google Play | Amazon | Deezer | Tidal

Funding and Awards

• Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 2017-2019.
• Best use of Sound in a Concert Piece or Demonstration, The International Community for Auditory Display 27th International Conference on Auditory Display 2022.
• Trinity College Dublin Postgraduate Research Studentship 2012-2015.
• Trinity College Dublin Travel Grant 2015
• Trinity College Dublin Postgraduate Travel Grant 2013.

Invited Talks & Panels

• In Practice: PhD conference on creative research and careers. Ulster University, Derry, 2021.
• "Whose Music?": Panel Discussion on AI in Music Composition at Music Current 2019, CMC Dublin.
• IoT and AI-Driven Audio in the Smart City: A Rhythmanalysis inspired approach. ISSTA 2018, Derry.
• Data-driven Sound for Raising Awareness, Public Outreach and Insight Generation in Complex Data Sets @ I.NY Creative Education Symposium, Irish World Academy, University of Limerick, October 11th 2017.
• Embodied Sonification @ D.A.T.A: Dublin Arts and Technology Association, The Connect Centre, November 3rd 2016.
• Sounding Human with Data: The Role of Embodied Conceptual Metaphors and Aesthetics in Representing and Exploring Data Sets @ The International Digital Empathy Workshop, Ulster University, October 31st 2016.
• Sound Place and Multi-place @ The Irish Sound Science and Technology Association Conference, Ulster University, September 7th 2016.
• Sonification @ The Connect Centre for Future Networks and Communications, Trinity College Dublin, August 2016.
• Sounding Human with Data: The Role of Embodied Conceptual Metaphors and Aesthetics in Representing and Exploring Data Sets @ Music Technology Workshop 2016, Michael Smurfit Business School, University College Dublin, June 10th 2016.
• Data Listening @ Discover Research Dublin 2015, Trinity College Dublin.
• Sonification and the Digital Divide @ Digital Material Conference, National University of Ireland Galway, May 21st 2015.
• Sonification, Soundart & IoT @ The Arts and Technology Research Lab, Trinity College Dublin, December 12th 2016.

Seminars

• Usability Testing Methods, March 2018-2021 @ Music and Media Technologies, Trinity College Dublin.
• Embodied Cognition and Sonification Research Methods, 2016 @ Music and Media Technologies, Trinity College Dublin.
• Empirical Research Methods in Music and Media Technologies, 2015 @ Music and Media Technologies, Trinity College Dublin.
• Csound & Synthesis, 2013 @Music and Media Technologies, Trinity College Dublin.

Media Coverage

Reviews & Coverage Online

• Bandcamp: New and Notable - Leviathan September 16th 2023.
• Avant Music News: Leviathan Review (2023; Fiadh Productions).
• Industrial Complexx: Stephen Roddy - Leviathan.
• Avant Music News. Picks of the Week: Worrell, Blackman & King / Stephen Roddy / Dronal / Gdanian / John Zorn.
• Tome To The Weather Machine: Thonis - Heracleion, Peaceful Beneath The Waves. 18th September 2023.
• Queen City Sound and Art: Darkness Visible EP.
• ICAD Community Spotlight: Stephen Roddy.
• Bandcamp: New and Notable - Darkness Visible March 13th 2022.
• Tome To The Weather Machine: opening to the ambient light. 31st January 2022.
• Brutal Resonance: Darkness Visible.
• Visual Ateiler 8: 61Years.
• Underground N' Proud: Darkness Visible..
• Underground N' Proud: No Light, But Rather.
• Last Day Deaf: Darkness Visible.
• The Journal of Music: TIDES: An ISSTA Anthology.
• Underground N' Proud: Jupiter Video.
• Roadie Metal: Jupiter Video.
• Indie Criollo: Jupiter Single.
• Last Day Deaf: Jupiter Single.
• Rock Era Magazine Jupiter Single.
• Brutal Resonance: Jupiter Album.
• Son of Marketing: Jupiter Album.
• A Closer Listen: Jupiter Album.
• Last Day Deaf: Ignite the Core.
• Postcard Elba: Connemara Chaos.
• Underground N' Proud: Ignite the Core.
• Synthpocalypse: Search Party Review.
• Sez Hoo (Aer Music): Search Party Review.
• Roadie Metal: SIGIL.
• METALPERVER: SIGIL.
• The Golden Plec: Search Party Recommendation.
• The Golden Plec: SIGIL.
• EBM Radio: Wave Grid.
• Synthpocalypse Wave Grid Review.
• Brutal Resonance Wave Grid Announcement.
• Nightride.fm Wave Grid Review.
• Pure Mzine: The Life and Death of Terminus Abruptus.
• The Metaphorical Boat: Terminus Abruptus.

Radio

• Thonis-Heracleion, peaceful beneath the waves. Ears Have Eyes - PHONOSTALGIA: from other times and places, 11th October 2023.
• Leviathan. No Place Like Drone, Dublin Digital Radio, October 5th 2023.
• Piteraq Over Tasiilaq. Brainvoyager Electronic Fusion Episode #419, Modul303, SCIFI.radio & Radio Dark Tunnel 16-17 Septtember 2023
• Leviathan. Popular Culture Process Filter w/ Chuck Nicklow. WRUW FM 91.1 Cleveland, 11th October 2023.
• v5: Breathing Space, The Dylan Hunter Show CKCU-FM 93.1. February 24th 2023.
• opening to the ambient light, Ridgewood Radio with David Weinstein. January 4th 2023.
• Interview about AI in Music Composition on Gwaith Sŵn's Sonic Darts on Resonance.fm, June 6th 2022.
• 100 Epoch Opus, Gwaith Sŵn's Sonic Darts on Resonance 104.4FM, February 7th 2022.
• No Light, But Rather. Monthly Diatribe, Dublin Digital Radio, January 20th 2022.
• Signal to Noise Loops: A Quiet Year. Monthly Diatribe, Dublin Digital Radio, October 27th, 2021.
• Search Party - The Noisy Plug Episode 7
• Sketch 2, Improvised Guitar Take 1 - Glór Mundo 17th October 2018 - Glór Mundo - 93.7fm.
• The Good Ship Hibernia and the Hole in the Bottom of the World - Glór Mundo St Patricks Day Session 2018 - Glór Mundo - 93.7fm.
• Symmetric Relations and Hidden Rotations - Nova Sunday 13 September 2015 - Nova RTÉ lyric fm.
• No Output: Cellular Storm Nova Sunday 11 October 2015 - Nova RTÉ lyric fm.
• Extensive Structure No 1 - Nova Sunday 8 November 2015 - Nova RTÉ lyric fm.
• Excerpts from Fógraim/I Proclaim - Arena Tuesday 5 April 2016 - Arena - RTÉ 1.
• Fógraim/I Proclaim - RTÉ 1.The Good Ship Hibernia and the Hole in the Bottom of the World - Glór Mundo 27th September 2017 - Glór Mundo - 93.7fm.
• Cellular Storm [Excerpt] & The Good Ship Hibernia and the Hole in the Bottom of the World - Glór Mundo 29th September 2017 - Glór Mundo - 93.7fm.
• Sketch 2, Improvised Guitar Take 1 - Glór Mundo 4th October 2017 - Glór Mundo - 93.7fm.

Newsprint

• Irish Independent - ‘It’s great to be out again’ – Culture Night brings joy back to young and old, plus relieved artists.
• Newspaper Article "Offaly man prepares for 'unique' musical performance in London". The Offaly Express, 17 August 2017.
• Irish Times (Collaborative project)
• The Examiner (Collaborative project)
• TN2 (Collaborative Project)

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