Thanks to the support of the French Institute, the second stop of the Xp for Live US tour in 2022 took place in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.
Hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), I led a workshop on Xp for Live and spatial sound design at the Music Department’s Spatial Audio Lab. The session introduced students and artists to the creative possibilities of immersive audio performance, using Xp as a real-time tool for designing complex spatial experiences within Ableton Live.
The highlight of the visit was a unique outdoor dome performance, initiated by artist and researcher Jake Metz. The concert took place in a geodesic dome designed specifically for immersive sound experiences and experimental music. The structure provided a remarkable acoustical field, ideal for multi-channel diffusion, improvisation, and spatial composition.
That evening, I performed alongside an inspiring group of musicians and performers, exploring live spatial improvisation and immersive audio dramaturgy using Xp. The dome’s structure, combined with real-time sound spatialization, created a deeply engaging environment where sound moved with intention and physicality.
This event reflected the core spirit of Xp: making spatial sound intuitive, expressive, and performative, while opening new fields for collective and site-specific audio exploration.
