Realm

Follow REALM on Instagram for updates

ABOUT REALM

Why does music give us chills?
How does music create imagery in our mind?

REALM explores the causes of these mysteries, using scientific research to inform musical composition and production to create potent, immersive live music experiences.

REALM is an experimental music project that unites audio-engineering with neuroscience to create unique deep listening experiences.

Created by a team including Grammy-award winning producer Eric J, whose credits include Flume, Odesza, St. Vincent and FKA Twigs and Matt Curtin, an ambient music artist with over 50M+ streams.

This debut REALM event at Machine Hall will feature two experiences, performed live, that take leading cognitive neuroscience research and push it to the extreme through composition, production and cutting edge spatial mixing.

These experiences were created in collaboration with Dr. Steffen A. Herff, a cognitive neuroscientist and leader of the Sydney Music, Mind, and Body Lab at the University of Sydney.

REALM EXPERIENCES

Neural Rush

Music for Aesthetic Chills

↳ Engineered to trigger involuntary psychophysiological responses.

↳ Effects include chills, shivers, pupil dilation and an elevated heart-rate.

Dream Hacker

Music for Mental Imagery

↳Engineered to hijack the imagination.

↳ Effects include vivid mental imagery, out-of-body sensations and spatio-temporal warping.
↳Featuring visuals by Melbourne-based visual artist, Justin Ridler.

LAB TEST

Ahead of this event, the Sydney Music, Mind and Body Lab conducted a group experiment using REALM music on a group of 100 international test subjects. The results showed that the music:

↳Increased their ability to create mental imagery

↳Increased the vividness of mental imagery by 35%

↳Increased imagined time by up to 55x and distance up 22x

↳Created consistent themes in the minds of participants

TEST SUBJECT REPORTS:

"I imagined walking along a winding dirt path slowly climbing towards tall pine covered mountains. The air felt cool and clean, and I could almost smell tree sap in the breeze. Birds drifted lazily overhead, and somewhere far off I thought I heard soft bells echoing across a valley. Now and then the path opened to steep drops where I could look out over rolling green hills with little houses and rivers tucked between them. Time in my mind moved ahead in gentle leaps. Summer light faded into warm autumn colours, and later a dusting of snow settled on the branches. Eventually I reached a quiet stone monastery glowing with soft lantern light, prayer flags shifting in the wind. The whole place felt calm, peaceful, and still, like everything had finally slowed down."

"This was such an amazing study. I felt like I was in another realm while using my headphones, it was truly immersive and interesting. I enjoyed the experience.”

"I wanted to thank you because this has been one of the best studies I've participated in. I've been meditating for a few months through apps, and I loved being able to practice my feelings. I even felt as if I was truly traveling through my mind on two occasions during the experiment."

What will you experience?