DJ Beatmatching – A Study in How Mind and Body Coordinate Rhythms
In August 2023, the Centre for Systems Modelling & Quantitative Biomedicine were seeking artists for their residency programme.
I applied and was paired with a DJ beatmatching project.
When DJs mix music, they are synchronising diverse polyrhythmic patterns that are playing out of phase and at different speeds. This intricate skill relies on the seamless coordination of mind, body, and turntables.
Twenty eight DJs were asked to beat match in a laboratory while data on brain activity, sound, and movement was collected. When analysed, the data begins to reveal how the mind, body, and music synchronise.
In photography, narrative language is conveyed by deploying an array of visual semiotic codes. The indexical connection between signifiers and signifieds becomes the message.
This series of photographs deconstructs the scientific study and showcases its key components. Viewers are encouraged to interpret the meaning by assembling the components.
My work aims to convey a message about the magical influence DJs have on the dance floor.
The components
The team
The tools
The sounds that make tracks A & B
The scientific language
The club
The DJ
The dancer
The team
These portraits capture the research team.
The heads that think and the diligent and skilled hands that bring ideas to life.
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF9617 Dr Maria A. G. Witek f6.4 1/100 sec ISO 50 110 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF9574 Dr Patti Nijhuis f6.4 1/100 sec ISO 50 110 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF9656 Prof. Rob Sturman f6.4 1/100 sec ISO 50 110 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF9635 Dr Daniel Galvis f6.4 1/100 sec ISO 50 110 mm. [Photograph]
Prof. Sturman, R (2024) DSF9696 Simon Peter Green f6.4 1/100 sec ISO 50 110 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF0187 Interview with Dr Maria A. G. Witek f7.1 1/125 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF0188 Interview with Dr Patti Nijhuis f7.1 1/125 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF0189 Interview with Prof. Rob Sturman f7.1 1/125 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF0191 Interview with Dr Daniel Galvis f7.1 1/125 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF0192 Interview with Simon Peter Green f7.1 1/125 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
The tools
The data collection tools are essential components intricately integrated into the exploration process, much like an artist’s palette imbuing meaning into the investigation.
Green, S. P. (2024) DSCF9286 Dr Maria A. G. Witek Holding a DJ Controller 80 mm 1/100 sec f4.5 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2024) DSCF9288 Dr Maria A. G. Witek Holding DJ Headphones 80 mm 1/100 sec f4.5 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2024) DSCF9295 Dr Maria A. G. Witek Holding a MacBook Pro 80 mm 1/100 sec f4.5 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2024) DSCF9307 Dr Daniel Galvis Holding an EEG Heaadcap 80 mm 1/100 sec f4.5 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2024) DSCF9307 Dr Daniel Galvis Holding a Mocap Camera and Markers 80 mm 1/100 sec f4.5 ISO 50. [Photograph]
Green, C. B. (2024) DSCF9489 Simon Peter Green Holding a Fuji Camera and Sekonic Light Meter 80 mm 1/125 sec f4.0 ISO 50. [Photograph]
The sounds that make tracks A & B
I aimed a laser beam at a tiny mirror attached to a loudspeaker cone. The resulting play of light danced onto a material screen.
The patterns represent the harmonics of each instrument. They form a unique alphabet, featuring logograms reminiscent of Chinese characters and syllabic kana.
A language spoken by the music.
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8012 Laser Projection Track A 130 BPM KICK16 Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.010 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB f1.7 1/30 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8105 Laser Projection Track B 135 BPM 000_BD Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.010 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB f1.7 1/30 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8018 Laser Projection Track A 130 BPM RIM22 Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.000 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB f1.7 1/30 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8107 Laser Projection Track B 135 BPM HANDCLPA Start: 0:00.444 End: 0:00.450 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB f1.7 1/30 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8071 Laser Projection Track A 130 BPM jungle4closedhh Start: 0:00.230 End: 0:00.240 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB f1.7 1/30 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8215 Laser Projection Track B 135 BPM HC00 Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.000 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB f1.7 1/30 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8080 Laser Projection Track A 130 BPM 000_01 Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.000 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB f1.7 1/30 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8124 Laser Projection Track B 135 BPM OH00 Start: 0:00.221 End: 0:00.231 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB f1.7 1/30 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8096 Laser Projection Track A 130 BPM HC50 Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.000 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB f1.7 1/30 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8171 Laser Projection Track B 135 BPM 18088_daven_13-sb-bass-hit-c Start: 0:00.000 End: 0:00.000 Duration: 0:00.010 60 dB f1.7 1/30 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
The scientific language
Words derive their meaning from the context of a living conversation, and understanding is established through a silent agreement among participants in the discourse.
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF0194 Eves Drop Word Salad Pt 1 with Dr Maria A. G. Witek, Dr Patti Nijhuis, Prof. Rob Sturman, Dr Daniel Galvis f7.1 1/125 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF0195 Eves Drop Word Salad Pt 2 with Dr Maria A. G. Witek, Dr Patti Nijhuis, Prof. Rob Sturman, Dr Daniel Galvis f7.1 1/125 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
The club
The mirror ball hanging gracefully above the dance floor has become an iconic feature in a club environment.
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8704 Mirror Ball Loudspeaker f7.1 1/60 sec ISO 2000 80 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S. P. (2023) DSCF8596 Mirror Ball Camera f7.1 1/60 sec ISO 2000 80 mm. [Photograph]
The DJ
A DJ plays recorded music for audiences, typically at venues such as bars, clubs, or parties, and cues, combines, and plays songs from various formats like vinyl records, CDs, or digital audio files.
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF95916 Vanessa Freeman f7.1 1/125 sec ISO 100 23 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF0193 Interview with Vanessa Freeman f7.1 1/125 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
The dancer
Dance is a multi-sensory pursuit that connects human beings. It integrates intellect, reason, cognition, and collaboration, and emphasises emotions.
Dancers move together, allowing a shared aesthetic that brings a heightened state of consciousness.
“a special kind of exercise of sensory, communicative and cooperative powers that is as fundamental to the making and remaking of human nature as speech”. – John Blacking (Anthropologist)
Dance is powerful.
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF9999 Emmeline Frost f10 1/125 sec ISO 800 23 mm. [Photograph]
Green, S.P. (2024) DSF0186 Interview with Emmeline Frost f7.1 1/125 sec ISO 50 80 mm. [Photograph]
On completion of the artist residency, Birmingham University filmed this exit interview.
Thank you colleagues and friends. Your energy and kindness have made a significant difference to the outcome.
Maria, Rob, Daniel, Patti, Cheryl, Vanessa Freeman, Emmeline Frost, Laina Hatcher, Caroline Gillett, Rebbeca Ward, Rebbeca Wycherley, Aileen Delaney, John Terry, Manuel Harlan, Richard and Centrala, all the artists at SMQB, Joeleen Lynch, Jackie Sarafopoulos, The Lights Andover and many others.
I am grateful.