Music and storytelling are central to human societies, but narratives in music differ from those communicated through referential systems, like text or images. Unlike these forms, music is commonly non-referential and showcases non-specific meaning. Novel interactive media utilising generative AI open new avenues for combining music with narrative. I propose to explore opportunities for creative interaction with generative AI enabled by incorporating emergent narratives — a form uniquely supported by AI that originally referred to stories arising through player-game interactions in video games. I will also examine the impact of AI-driven emergent narratives in musical storytelling, and further investigate creative and practical implications of generative AI in music.
In various world traditions, including European and Eastern Mediterranean traditions, contextual and cultural associations provide music with external meaning and narrative, while internal musical narrative frequently unfolds when musical development parallels narrative development. In this light, music’s pliable meaning can shape the perception of emergent narratives that require dynamic adaptation through methods involving improvisation or interactive systems. Generative AI tools support these approaches by enabling adaptive music and emergent narratives through human-system interactions.
I will compose six works involving generative AI, storytelling, and live performance, including adaptations of Thomas Cole’s “The Course of Empire” series of paintings — my current project at Kingston University — and of the Byzantine novel “Drosilla and Charikles.” The music will incorporate influences from my Greek musical heritage, which are underexplored in generative AI studies. With this portfolio, I will investigate creative challenges in engaging with generative AI systems that foster emergent storytelling and musical practices beyond my own. Rather than viewing AI as a social disruptor, my research aims to broaden discussions about AI’s role in the arts by exploring interactive forms of music and storytelling.
