C4DM Seminar: Designing Interactive Generative Music Systems for Emotional Wellbeing
QMUL, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science
Centre for Digital Music Seminar Series
Seminar by: Ariana Pereira
Date/time: Wednesday, 15th July 2026, 15:00 - 16:00
Location: G2, Engineering Building, Mile End Campus, Queen Mary University of London
Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/334354605658587?p=WNR8WomZNdTdQR3eoA
Title: Designing Interactive Generative Music Systems for Emotional Wellbeing
Abstract: Within music therapy, the act of making music, exercising creative control, and developing a sense of ownership over a musical work has been proven to amplify the efficacy of music as a wellness solution over consuming static content. Yet receiving these enhanced benefits typically requires technical expertise and years of experience to achieve.
Generative music platforms have been marketed as making music creation more accessible than ever before. However, many of the trendiest systems require minimal user input and are designed for a broader open-context rather than intentional creative and emotional expression, giving them little utility in music therapy context. So how can we design generative music interfaces that preserve user autonomy, emotional expressivity, and creative intent, while also making music creation more accessible through the power of technology?
Musitopia is a web-based music technology platform, developed in collaboration with music therapists to address this specific need, to empower users to shape their own musical experiences with emotional intent rather than simply consuming static content. As a case study, this talk will present the design of MoodSwing, an interactive generative music interface that enables users to shape an emotional musical journey by drawing on a two-dimensional emotion canvas, and discuss computational approaches to translating emotional intent into musically meaningful harmonic structures.
Explore MoodSwing on Musitopia here!
Bio: After spending more than 4 years on Wall Street working as a business strategist and financial analyst, Ariana transitioned into music technology research, pursuing a Master's in Sound and Music Computing at Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Her research focuses on music perception, generative music systems, and computational approaches to designing personalized music technologies for health and wellbeing. Her current work spans emotionally conditioned music generation, neural responses to functional music using EEG, and the development of human-centered AI interfaces developed through Musitopia, a research spin-off of the Music Technology Group. Alongside her research, Ariana is an active performer, songwriter, and recording artist who has collaborated with bands and musicians throughout the New York City music scene. Her work is driven by a passion for exploring the therapeutic potential of music and sound, bridging artistic practice, scientific research, and technology to create more expressive, accessible, and impactful musical experiences.