Of course there are music streaming services for an almost endless ‘stream’ of music. But if you want to hear something really unpredictable, there is ‘generative music’. In other words: music generated entirely by computer. In app form.
Music ‘invented’ by software is not entirely new. The point is that it previously mainly ended in a cacophony of bleeps and beeps. Not specifically something that made you very happy, at most interesting for a gloomy museum full of serious modern art. However, times change and the concept of artificial intelligence makes interesting things possible. In this way an artist of renown can ‘feed’ his style to a program that then starts composing with that data and within that framework. Nowadays this is even possible in real time, and in app form. There is even enough capacity left for some beautiful graphic fireworks to complement the whole.
EŌN
An example of such an app is EŌN, based on the music of the well-known synthesizer virtuoso Jean-Michel Jarre. Once installed on your iOS / iPadOS device, the fun can start right away. Start the app and sit on the couch. The main thing is: let the app run for a while. The characteristic sounds of Jarre are unmistakably audible. Sometimes EŌN produces a hip fast beat, sometimes it’s slow and almost classic. A track is always accompanied by equally computer-generated animations.
A nice extra is that you can also minimize the app by pressing the home button (or swiping up), while the music just keeps playing. If you don’t like a track, tap anywhere on the screen of EŌN and then tap the restart button at the bottom left of the screen. The app will then restart and come up with something new. You will never hear the same. If you like something, you can also see a red record button on the same screen. And visually you will never get bored (see image at the top of this article).
Ephemeral City
Also for iOS / iPadOS (well, that’s the more ‘creative’ mobile OS after all) Ephemeral City, based on generative sounds from the Canadian group dreamSTATE. This mainly concerns very relaxing ambient music. Ideal for falling asleep, for example, or simply as a musical wallpaper for a more esoteric state of mind. Ideal for taking a break, for example, thanks to the artistic flow of visual pleasure that is fired at your retinas. Tap the screen and you can adjust the ‘weight’ of the music with a slider. A timer is also available.
Piano Motifs
Are you a musician and do you sometimes just need some inspiration or a catchy ‘tune’ that just won’t come? Then check the iOS / iPadOS app Piano Motifs once. The concept is simple but works surprisingly well. Piano Motifs invents short piano loops on the spot. If you like something, the loop can be exported. Including to midi format so that you can immediately continue processing in the rest of your composition. Via an in-app purchase it is also possible to purchase midi-out options, but whether you really need that with the midi-export option is another question.
Bloom: 10 Worlds
A (much) more interactive generative music app – available both for iOS / iPadOS and – finally – Android Bloom: 10 Worldsdeveloped by Brian Eno and Peter Chilvers. With this you start ‘composing’ yourself. But you don’t have to be a musician! In fact, you tap the screen here or there and soon an endless stream of sweet-voiced sounds is created. And all of this enhanced by a beautiful graphic animation. Divided over 10 ‘worlds’ you can quickly put something beautiful together! Advice: let your creation ‘run’ for a while; the musical engine makes it unique.
Creative but no budget prices
Finally: these types of apps are often not extremely cheap (certainly not if you assume an average app price of one and a half euros), but you do get something special in return! Something also, which often hides the input of artists of renown and fame. If you have a taste for it, search your app store for generative music and you will no doubt find even more interesting ones.