The Microsoft Powered Installation Realiti – Inside the Music of Grimes
Opens to Festival Goers at Moogfest 2016
(Durham, NC) – May 11, 2016 – Opening May 19, Realiti – Inside the Music of Grimes is an interactive installation, powered by Microsoft Kinect technology, that allows participants a chance to go inside the music of Canadian electronic musician and producer Claire Boucher (a.k.a. Grimes). The installation will run from May 19-22 at Moogfest, an annual music, art and technology festival inspired by the late inventor of the Moog synthesizer, Robert Moog.
Grimes is one of the artists headlining Moogfest, a destination for artists, musicians, inventors, designers, and entrepreneurs.
The immersive installation will feature the track Realiti from Grimes’ fourth album Art Angels. Microsoft’s Kinect technology will allow festivalgoers and fans to manipulate the music as they physically interact with the environment. The innovative hardware recognizes and tracks each interaction with the installation, translating data into unique sounds and visuals. The result is a dynamic and immersive environment that blurs the line between creator and audience.
Amy Sorokas, Director of Brand Partnerships at Microsoft Brand Studios stated “Moogfest is a destination for innovative creators to share new ideas, so it felt natural to bring Realiti – Inside the Music of Grimes to the festival. With this installation we’re exploring the unexpected ways that technology can enhance the music experience and are hoping to inspire the community with their future endeavors.”
The first project to use the installation’s system was DELQA, an installation at the New Museum in New York City that invited the audience to participate in a collaborative experience by going inside the music of critically acclaimed artist and producer Matthew Dear.
Realiti – Inside the Music of Grimes will be the latest artist collaboration featured as part of the Music x Tech program. Curated by Microsoft, Music x Technology is an initiative that celebrates forward-thinking artists who are using Microsoft technology to transform the way we create and experience music. With monthly artist collaborations, the program seeks to empower artists with unique opportunities to create one-of-a-kind experiences for their fans.
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Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile- first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
ABOUT MOOGFEST
Moogfest is the synthesis of music, art, and technology. Since 2004, Moogfest has brought together artists, futurist thinkers, inventors, entrepreneurs, designers, engineers, scientists, and musicians. By day, Moogfest is a platform for conversation and experimentation. By night, Moogfest presents cutting-edge music in venues throughout the city. This mind-expanding conference attracts creative and technology enthusiasts for three days of participatory programming in Durham, North Carolina. Performing artists include early pioneers in electronic music, alongside pop and avant-garde experimentalists of today.
ABOUT GRIMES
Grimes’ ‘Art Angels’ had prime placement on basically every 2015 End of Year list, with #1 spots from NME, Stereogum, Gorilla Vs. Bear and others. Jon Pareles of the NY Times called the album “a solo tour de force,” Stereogum said, “In 2015, nothing sounded better,” and Rolling Stone called it a “triumph.” Time Magazine named “Flesh Without Blood” the #1 song of the year while iTunes named ‘Art Angels’ the #1 Indie Album of 2015 and it finished out the year at #1 most added on CMJ Radio. Within the past year, Grimes graced the covers of The FADER, Nylon, Teen Vogue, AnOther Magazine, Dazed and Confused, NME, London’s ES Magazine, Flare and more.
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