Literary Nonfiction. Music. Multimedia. Limited Edition with CD. Can language be evolved from randomness? Can fire listen and respond to melody? Do you need an surf band to make surf music? Composer Joel Mellin explores questions like these. Since leaving his job as a NASA satellite engineer, he's used computers to create innovative digital music systems with Genetic Algorithms & sonar-based instrument controllers, taking computer music beyond simple loop-making. His works have been heard at Dublin Dance Festival and notable NY venues such as the Kitchen and the Feldman Gallery. This full-color book with companion CD is more a chronicle of a dream than an academic tome, pairing stream-of-conscious abstracts with dreamlike images by award-winning photographer John Soares. Includes introduction by Holly Faurot and Sarah H. Paulson, commentary by Dr. Hans Foote, discography of Mellin's work, and details of original performances.

Author Hometown: BROOKLYN, NY USA



About the author: Former rocket scientist Joel Mellin began his career as leader of the go-go band, the Oscillators. He left NASA to study with avant-garde composers Nick Didkovsky and Morton Subotnick at NYU, where he worked on innovative digital musical systems using Genetic Algorithms. He's the Senior Information Architect for Gotham Writers' Workshop and co-founder of Stereorrific Records and the non-profit Waxfruit Arts Media, Inc.