iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

We need to do a Japan catch up when you're back!

Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Wow, incredibly surreal, amazing experience for my orchestral piece "Exoplanets" to be augmented with lighting during performance by Sinfonieorchester Basel, not to mention expert narrations delivered by the festival resident scientist @henrylegg.bsky.social. Looking forward to sharing video soon!!

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Henry Legg @henrylegg.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

An amazing evening yesterday narrating a composition by Rob Laidlow ( @robertlaidlow.bsky.social ) about exoplanets as part of the Interfinity festival in Basel.

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Making sure we will get it out there*

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Definitely making sure we will make sure we get it out there one way or another. If not directly with LPO label (waiting on that decision) then it's also possible to work with another record label to license their fabulous recording from them and release

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

In Switzerland for European perfs. of "Exoplanets" with basel symphony Orchestra and Interfinity festival. Director warned me the rehearsal hall is cold "like an exoplanet". didn't realise it was an immersive experience - forgot my bag of crushed quartz and big fan! @stellarplanet.bsky.social

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Happy 6th birthday to Ada our silly and wonderful four legged friend

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Prof Katherine Schofield 🇬🇧🇦🇺🇪🇺 @katherineschof8.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

🚨FOUR jobs in Music🚨 @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social Early Career Development Fellowship in Jazz & Popular Music (2 yr): deadline 31 March 18C Music History (permanent!), Screen Composition (18 mo), Performance (2 yr): deadline 12 March Search "Music": www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs

Screenshot of the link and search referred to in the post: ECDF in Jazz & Popular Music, Lecturer in Music for Screen Education (Academic Education Pathway), Lecturer in Music History, Lecturer in Performance (Academic Education Pathway)

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Department of Music @ King's @kingsmusic.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

⭐ 'As we enter a world of countless interactions with AI in all manner of our daily lives, I think it's important to study this relationship and explore what works.' Composer Dr @robertlaidlow.bsky.social has recently joined King's and our department as an AI+ Fellow. Discover his research ⬇️

kcl.ac.uk

Meet: Dr Robert Laidlow

Dr Robert Laidlow is exploring what happens when we stop trying to make AI sound human and start discovering what music can become when we embrace the fundamentally alien ways that machines hear,…

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

You'd be surprised at what we can do with 4 meters of copper wiring and a transistor

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

We recorded this in July with Jack Sheen so its great to have it out there. Thanks to the BBC Philharmonic for commissioning along with the Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin who will premiere it in Berlin in October. Hear it, Radio 3, from Saturday @cyborgsoloists.bsky.social (7/7)

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

The second movement is a cadenza for the "Stacco" instrument, invented by @nicolaprivato.bsky.social and Giacomo Lepri at the @ii-lab.bsky.social in Iceland where I spent a week with Nicola and Victor Shepardson creating new latent space audio models based on the orchestra's archive. (6/7)

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

It's a real journey, especially the third movement which goes on a tour of hundreds of my own formative sonic memories merged with the archive of the BBC Philharmonic. (5/7)

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

The electronics and new instruments are spun out of this rich archive - it’s an audible rejection of the notion that new technology simply can’t function without scraping every piece of music online, whether the creator wants you to or not. Instead we respond to that specific group (4/7)

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

The orchestra granted me access to their archive of recordings which Zubin explores, melts down and reconstructs in many ways. (3/7)

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

This piece was a long time in the making, and features Zubin performing on piano, synthesizers and newly-developed adaptive instruments. "TECHNO-UTOPIA explores human music-making in the age of algorithms and how making and listening to music constructs what it is to be human." (2/7)

"TECHNO-UTOPIA explores human music-making in the age of algorithms and how making and listening to music constructs what it means to be human. It stands against modern techno-utopianism, which reduces culture and music to merely data, and at the same time offers alternative - positive - futures for how new technology might unlock new forms of artistic expression (at least, for me). It is also a highly personal piece, particularly the third movement which is comprised of a patchwork of hundreds of musical quotes, samples and memories from my own life – a dataset a computer could never understand, no matter how powerful it is.

In the first movement, "In My Image," the soloist wields sonic "commands" that progressively transform the orchestra's music into uniform algorithmic patterns. Here, I was thinking about the tendency of algorithms to erase anything they don't understand, homogenising human experience into something "learnable".

The second movement features "stacco," a newly-developed adaptive instrument which responds to the orchestra on stage. The stacco captures the last moments of the first movement, and the soloist uses it to fragment, destroy and reconstitute orchestral sounds. This section is both human and non-human; this highly non-human instrument is controlled, physically and expressively, by the soloist manipulating it with their hands.

"Everything I Have Ever Heard Is Just Data," the final movement, challenges the notion that AI can truly understand music. The music is collaged from approximately 200 personal memories - pieces of music, field recordings, fragments of conversation. I wanted to write something celebrating the fact that our connection with sound and music extends far beyond data. The orchestra performs alongside samples from its own past recordings, blending my own memories with those of the musicians, ensemble and audience."

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

This Saturday my 35-min concerto "TECHNO-UTOPIA" for Zubin Kanga and the BBC Philharmonic will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 New Music Show! Catch it live or for 28 days after. (1/7)

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Wow! What's the astrophysics inspiration?

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

just sent out my January newsletter! news, performances, talks etc coming up if you're interested in following what I'm up to, you can sign up with this link robertlaidlow.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

indeed, it would be deeply ironic and counter-productive were the policy to be enacted by an algorithm judging what is or is not entirely bottom-of-the-barrel AI generated...

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

pleased to see Bandcamp making some effort to protect its users from the monotonous, time-consuming, slog of trying to work out what's (not) human art Hopefully, this policy is curated by humans and won't negatively affect the many artists experimenting creatively with machine learning in cool ways

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Thanks, Ray. Brilliant to see you on Saturday and to work with you on many aspects of the science. Fingers crossed it might be broadcast or released publicly another way, so your colleagues in other countries can listen too!

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Thank you Hannah - absolute pleasure to work with you and see you on Saturday

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

AMAZING first performance of "Exoplanets" by @lporchestra.bsky.social this weekend. Huge thanks to all the players, conductor Ed Gardner, my scientific collaborators and interlocutors and the many friends and family who came to see it. Next performance in Basel (with added lasers/light show!)

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ClimateBook @climatebook.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the world premier of The Exoplanets, by composer @robertlaidlow.bsky.social , done by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall. It was a smash hit, thrilling and beautifully executed. To me, it was evocative of a very big Universe with lots

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Hannah Wakeford @stellarplanet.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

This weekend we headed to London for the world premiere of @robertlaidlow.bsky.social’s #Exoplanet suite. The London Philharmonic Orchestra were on fine form bring the amazing worlds we study to life. So grateful to have been a tiny part of the journey. Check out Rob describing the piece 👇 #sciart

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Amazing book - congrats on the new piece!

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

In this video I explain how @stellarplanet.bsky.social and @climatebook.bsky.social research into these classes of planets inspired and informed some of the music. The concert premiere of "Exoplanets" is at 7.30pm on Saturday 29th November at the Royal Festival Hall in London - tickets here:

southbankcentre.co.uk

Sheku Kanneh-Mason Plays Bloch | Southbank Centre

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Holst's planets suite may have its famous "Jupiter" and "Neptune", but my new "Exoplanets" for @lporchestra.bsky.social has HOT Jupiters and SUB Neptunes 🪐🪐🪐 (Saturday 29th at 7.30pm!) youtu.be/kXi3TbD4_VA?...

youtu.be

Robert Laidlow on Exoplanets

YouTube video by London Philharmonic Orchestra

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Hi Mike. Thanks for this, I'd love to! I'll send an email once I've started. Looking forward

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Garrett I somehow missed this many months ago but thanks for sharing!!

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

Thanks Ursula! I don't start until December but hugely looking forward to it. Did I spot you in the Schwarzman centre on Thursday or was I imagining things?

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Hugely appreciate this vital support for a massive project with Peter Brathwaite for 2027 exploring some profoundly challenging topics through new music, archival research and interactive and adaptive music technology. Look forward to sharing more soon

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NMC Recordings @nmcrecordings.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

OUT NOW - @philharmonia Composers' Academy Volume 8 💿 featuring specially commissioned works by the participants of the Philharmonia’s 2024/25 Composers’ Academy programme 💿 music by #ElifKarlidag #SarahLianneLewis #soosanlolavar Buy/Listen now 🔗

nmcrecs.lnk.to

Philharmonia Orchestra - Philharmonia Composers' Academy, Vol. 8

Go to Philharmonia Orchestra - Philharmonia Composers' Academy, Vol. 8.

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Having a wonderful time with Stephen Rinker at BBC Philharmonic HQ mixing my TECHNO-UTOPIA which we recorded in July. Some rarely-seen) instrument tracks in this piece including "stacco", "ROLI" and "big bit of wood". Steve is a genius - it sounds brilliant

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Royal Philharmonic Society @royalphilsoc.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

RPS Composer @robertlaidlow.bsky.social's cosmic tone poem 'Exoplanets' will receive its first performance by the @lporchestra.bsky.social on 29 November at @southbankcentre.bsky.social. A collaboration with astrophysicists, Robert translates their inspiring research into musical ideas.

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

This amazingly high quality music festival is just up the road from me. Well worth a visit for the astonishingly beautiful venue alone let alone the fantastic music. And if you come on the right day you'll find me manning the bar 😊

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

My new piece "Exoplanets" for @lporchestra.bsky.social may not have 6000 movements but I can promise I was aiming for some out of this world music on 29th November at the Royal festival hall 😊 see you there?

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

In the studio in Glasgow recording my Post-Singularity Songs with @slampreasoprano.bsky.social and Alistair MacDonald 😁 coming to an album near you in 2026

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Nice to be asked to contribute to British Council's timely new publication "Why Technology Needs Artists". In the company of some amazing people ☺️ www.britishcouncil.org/research-ins...

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Loved working with Zubin Kanga, Jack Sheen and the BBC Philharmonic last week on TECHNO-UTOPIA - concerto for piano, synths and embedded AI instruments. Look forward to sharing the recording soon. The orchestra were such a nice bunch 😍

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

I asked for a large sheet of metal for this piece but this really takes the biscuit

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Had such a fun time running through the solo part for TECHNO-UTOPIA with Zubin Kanga today. Can you tell I listened to prog rock as a teenager

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Having a great time in Basel talking about my work with Exoplanets and Music at the Space stage of Fantasy Basel comiccon!

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Robert Laidlow @robertlaidlow.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Extremely fun and inspiring to be shown round the diamond light source synchrotron (particle accelerator) this morning 💎🔬

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