Bubble Bath is a web-based interactive ambient music generator and sound art project by Baltimore instrumental duo Peals with artist Dina Kelberman.
Based on a suite of 20 audio loops created by Peals, Bubble Bath allows listeners to build their own ambient musical arrangements or listen to soundscapes randomly generated by the app.
Using instruments as varied as walkie talkies, xylophones, guitars, synthesizers, bells, saxophones, and more, Peals recorded a diverse palette of textures and tones that can be used to generate endless versions of the piece. The interactive format makes each listener’s experience unique, as they select the sounds, volumes, loop combinations, and play times. Additional features let users play the piece for a specified length of time (for listening in bed while waiting to fall asleep) and auto-randomization, where the app itself creates dynamically changing compositions from practically endless combinations of the loops (roughly 2,432,902,008,176,640,000 variations).
The Bubble Bath app was created in collaboration with new media artist Dina Kelberman, who programmed the app and designed the mesmerizing color shifting visuals as a meditative graphic complement to Peals’ audio.
Bubble Bath was originally conceived and recorded for the Fermata contemporary sound art exhibition at Artisphere in Arlington, VA, where it first appeared as a 12-channel sound composition. Fermata was curated by Cynthia Connolly, Hays Holladay, and Ryan Holladay and featured new works by artists including Ryuichi Sakamoto, The Books, Jarboe, Richard Chartier, Annea Lockwood, and others.
Credits
Conceived, written, and recorded by Peals, 2014
Peals are:
William Cashion – floating guitar, muted guitar, effects loops, utensils
Bruce Willen – bells, synthesizers, walkie talkies, toy piano
Design by Dina Kelberman & Bruce Willen
Programming by Dina Kelberman
