Emmy The Great creates machine that invents music video plots, makes vid from results

09 March 2016, 09:32 | Written by Laurence Day

(News)

(Emmy The Great)

Emmy The Great has shared her video for "Algorithm", created using a specially created Music Video Machine that spits out plots.

Speaking about the video's unusual creation, Emmy The Great says: "[We] began with shopping and dating algorithms, then moved on to narrative software - such as Wordsmith and Narrative Sciences - which takes data and turns it into narratives for e-commerce and reporting. Artist Daniel Swan and I decided to 'ask' an algorithm to write the video for us.”

Artist/programmer Nicolas Seymour-Smith helped the pair create the Music Video Machine.

Emmy The Great continues: “[It] generates music-video treatments USING NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING ALGORITHMS. We taught the machine what a music video plot was by feeding it synopses of music videos - classics like 'Thriller' and 'Scream', and modern favourites from Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. The machine began generating ITS OWN plots based on what it had learned and 'Algorithm' was born.”.

Make up your own video on Emmy The Great's website.

Second Love is out 11 March via Bella Union

Watch the video for "Algorithm" below. Check out Emmy The Great's upcoming UK shows after.

March

11 - Academy 2, OXFORD
12 - Bodega, NOTTINGHAM
13 - Cluny, NEWCASTLE
15 - Stereo, GLASGOW
16 - Belgrave Music Hall, LEEDS
18 - Thekla, BRISTOL
19 - Temple, BIRMINGHAM
20 - Band On the Wall, MANCHESTER
22 - Arts Centre, NORWICH
23 - Joiners, SOUTHAMPTON
24 - Islington Assembly Hall, LONDON