Gadi Sassoon
Live at the UN
Classically trained composer and transmedia electronic artist Gadi Sassoon has released Modes of Vibration: Live at the UN, a live audiovisual work recorded at the closing ceremony of the 2025 AI For Good Summit at the United Nations in Geneva. The release documents a performance that places human musicianship and machine interpretation in direct conversation, challenging conventional ideas of what a live recording can represent.
At the centre of the performance is TEAL, short for Transmodal Emotional Amplification Listener, an AI driven system developed by Sassoon to interpret musical gestures in real time. Rather than following pre programmed cues, TEAL observes elements such as melody, harmony and phrasing as they unfold, responding with dynamic audiovisual output that actively shapes the performance as it happens.
At the centre of the performance is TEAL, short for Transmodal Emotional Amplification Listener, an AI driven system developed by Sassoon to interpret musical gestures in real time. Rather than following pre programmed cues, TEAL observes elements such as melody, harmony and phrasing as they unfold, responding with dynamic audiovisual output that actively shapes the performance as it happens.
Sassoon’s setup draws on a wide range of tools, including MaxMSP, Ableton Live, JavaScript, computer vision frameworks and generative systems, allowing TEAL to analyse movement, sound and structure simultaneously. The system does not function as a backing track or visual overlay. Instead, it reacts to specific musical decisions, influencing the direction of the improvisation and positioning the AI as an active participant in the compositional process.
Despite the complexity of the technology involved, Sassoon maintains a clear artistic hierarchy. The system is designed to support and extend human intention rather than replace it, reinforcing the emotional and physical presence of live instrumental performance. The result is a performance shaped by listening on multiple levels, human and machine responding to one another in real time.
Modes of Vibration: Live at the UN is derived from Sassoon’s earlier album Modes of Vibration and forms part of his ongoing research into emotional sovereignty in the age of artificial intelligence. The live work blends piano, violin and Sassoon’s sculpture based synthesiser, with TEAL acting as both interpreter and collaborator.
The release is available now on Bandcamp and more right now. A filmed version of the performance is also available to watch online.
Despite the complexity of the technology involved, Sassoon maintains a clear artistic hierarchy. The system is designed to support and extend human intention rather than replace it, reinforcing the emotional and physical presence of live instrumental performance. The result is a performance shaped by listening on multiple levels, human and machine responding to one another in real time.
Modes of Vibration: Live at the UN is derived from Sassoon’s earlier album Modes of Vibration and forms part of his ongoing research into emotional sovereignty in the age of artificial intelligence. The live work blends piano, violin and Sassoon’s sculpture based synthesiser, with TEAL acting as both interpreter and collaborator.
The release is available now on Bandcamp and more right now. A filmed version of the performance is also available to watch online.