Alexis Kirke is a composer known for his interdisciplinary practice. He has been called "the Philip K. Dick of contemporary music." Alexis is British and lives in Plymouth, in South West England. Alexis says he takes his inspiration from both the arts and science/engineering - and has completed two doctorates - one in each field. In particular his highest profile work has been motivated by interests in quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...

, marine science, architecture

Architecture

Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...

 and artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...

. Alexis is a member of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research at the University of Plymouth

University of Plymouth

Plymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...

, and is composer-in-residence for the Plymouth Marine Institute.

Recent premiers include Sunlight Symphony - which turned the University of Plymouth's iconic Roland Levinsky Building into a musical instrument played by the rising sun; Fast Travel - in which a saxophonist interacted with live artificially-intelligent whale schools; and Cloud Chamber - with a violinist playing a duet with subatomic particles in real-time.

Current projects include Drive-in Deco with Anita Sullivan and Cathy McCabe, a composition with Lola Perrin

Lola Perrin

Lola Perrin is a minimalist composer and pianist with jazz influences. She is American and lives in London. She is the sister of jazz and world music composer and pianist Roland Perrin. Lola says she takes her inspiration from artists such as Edward Hopper, Ansel Adams, Rachel Whiteread, Carsten...

 and Jonathan Bonnici for performance at the Southbank, a piece for MIDI bodysuit and wave analysis tank for the opening of the Plymouth Marine Institute building, and a "reality opera" set on a financial trading floor, in which performers trade real money by singing. Alexis regularly collaborates with composers and artists such as Lola Perrin

Lola Perrin

Lola Perrin is a minimalist composer and pianist with jazz influences. She is American and lives in London. She is the sister of jazz and world music composer and pianist Roland Perrin. Lola says she takes her inspiration from artists such as Edward Hopper, Ansel Adams, Rachel Whiteread, Carsten...

, John Matthias, Eduardo Reck Miranda

Eduardo Reck Miranda

Eduardo Reck Miranda, Ph.D, , is a Brazilian composer of chamber and electroacoustic pieces but is most notable in the United Kingdom for his scientific research into computer music, particularly in the field of human-machine interfaces where brain waves will replace keyboards and voice commands to...

, Nick Ryan, and Andy Visser.