What does Sputniko! mean?

Sputniko! comes from the Russian satellite Sputnik. My nickname in high school was Sputnik because apparently I looked more half Russian than half English because I’m tall and pale – so Sputniko! comes from that. The “!” at the end is important but people forget it all the time. It’s officially Sputniko! – like Neu! the band. I did that just to be silly and cause pain in people’s lives.

What was your first thought when you decided to form Sputniko! ?

It actually happened from my university homework. I was taking music tech classes and I never made music before. I made 5 songs for this course and I tried really hard… because the teacher was hot. My friends seemed to like the songs a lot so they told me to do a gig – they were Ai and Usman. They liked my idea for the armpit instrument so for the first gig we made the armpit instrument too. That’s how it started.

How was it made?

The first version was made using Arduino and Proce55ing. It detected light. I put those under my armpit and moved my armpit up and down. The light coming in the armpit will trigger the sounds. The version I have now is different though.

I now use the Wiimote controller with Flash. I detect the Wiimote’s pitch, roll and yaw (the 3d orientation) to detect my armpit moving up and down. I also detect the acceleration in some cases. The Wiimote is hidden inside Wakki, the armpit monster, which is a knitted monster with 6 long legs. They grab onto your arms nicely, so it’s quite easy to put this instrument on now…

WAKKI is one of your creations, are you proud of him?

YES, VERY! He is my proud boy… and there are new ones being born right now – Wakki’s brothers and sisters. They will be showcased in my next Armpit Symphony Orchestra, where I ask the audience to participate using the new Wakkis other than Wakki.

I Remember You

What is your favourite project so far?

My favourite projects are Bunny Tree and I Remember You. Its hard to choose… hmm. They are both interactive sound pieces, which react to the performer in some ways.

My favourite unrealised project is the computer baby. It’s a way of having babies without having to be biologically pregnant – CODE THEM. I started building the concept because I have IMMENSE period pain and I thought women were going through too much biological sacrifice to leave their genes!

Do you think you need 9 months to code them?

HAHAHA That might be good!!!!! but after its coded, you can compile as many a day to have lots of babies.

What do you intend to do with them later?

I’m planning to make a simple neural network AI (an artificial intelligence which simulates the brain) for her and have her learn to sing some melodies in my gig. The melodies will be unexpected but a learnt outcome.

How long does it take?

It’s taking me 6 months since I first thought of it!! I think I need a couple more months.
I’m trying to make something simple so that it doesn’t take forever!

Bunny Tree

Tell me more about Bunny Tree and “I remember you”.

Bunny Tree is a 3D soundscape, which means that different sounds are placed in 3D, so if you go near them or move around them, the volume and pan of those sounds change, as if you are hearing them in real 3D space. Also the music structure (chorus/verse/ending, etc) are triggered by the user moving near certain animals in the forest. So it’s music generated by the user moving through the 3D space.

The overall piece is about a bunny lost in the woods, who tries to find her mother. The user explores the forest with her, and talks to different animals, as if s/he is looking for her mother too. It was made based on fears of losing your family, especially your mother. It’s got a grim, mysterious feel.

You sound like you are full of “motherly love” here.

Haha I’m her big fan! She’s a programmer too so she’s a great role model.