Machine listening, musicological analysis and the creative process : the production of song-based music influenced by augmented listening techniques

Abstract

The creative process of making recordings in the popular music sphere is impossible to disconnect from the concept of influence. Whether practitioners are influenced consciously or subconsciously, and push toward, or away from their influences, they are shaped by the music they hear. This research-led practice project augments the influencing factors in the creation of an album of song-based music by foregrounding the listening process. This is approached by conducting an in-depth analysis of a set of tracks using a combined methodology integrating traditional popular music analysis techniques, with music information retrieval (MIR) tools. My methodology explores the novel applicability of these computational tools in a musicological context, with one goal being to show the value of machine listening in popular musicological research and the processes of composition and production. The emerging field of Digital Musicology takes advantage of big data and statistical analysis to allow for large scale observation and comparison of datasets in a way that would be unrealistic for one person to attempt without the aid of machine listening. Setting aside the intention and reception components of musicology, the goal of musical output suggests a feature-based approach is well suited to the task of investigating these methods. Utilising the musical ideas generated through the combined analysis of tracks compiled from the Billboard Alternative, year-end charts of 2011-2015, the songs written and recordings produced for the album Stay Still | Please Hear are a result of allowing a conscious subversion of my usual creative process through the expansion of my field of musical influence. This discursive component shows the development of my combined analysis methodology, highlights the points where creative influence occurred in the arrangement and production of Stay Still | Please Hear, emphasises the value of MIR tools in expanding the scope of musicological analysis, and demonstrates a unique approach to the development of artistic practice from the perspective of a creative practitioner.

Date of Award	2020
Original language	English