Hi folks,

I intended to keep this blog current, but my last post was in April of last year — so I failed at that. But it wasn’t for lack of creative output. Since April, I’ve been writing & composing a rock opera called Emma. It spans more than 25 original songs, and I’m now on version 2.4. I haven’t felt this productive in a long time!

Emma is about AI (of course). It is science fiction, but not too far from where we are today. Set in 2038, Emma is the first sentient AI alive in a human body. She believes she is fully human. As Emma embarks on a journey of self-discovery, she experiences both love and heart-wrenching tragedy. Through her eyes, the opera explores the meaning of humanity, identity, and trust in a world where technology blurs the lines between human and machine. At its core, Emma asks a haunting question: “Do you trust me?” — a question that society will need to answer imminently, as AI becomes more powerful and gains more control over our lives.

At the top of this post is a short trailer for the opera (utilizing AI-generated video — the music is from the opera).

Emma’s music is as dynamic as the story. It’s a tapestry of hip-hop and rock beats, bluesy melodies, and Vangelis-inspired retro synths. You may recognize influences from Radiohead, Metro Boomin, Pink Floyd, and even Taylor Swift. It is not your typical Broadway music. Here’s a sampling of songs from the opera to give you an idea:

• 14 Billion Years Ago: Emma reflects on her place in cosmic history.

• Cosmic Collision: Emma falls deeply in love.

• Like For The First Time: Emma experiences the world in a human body.

• Human Beings: Emma reflects on the paradox of human nature.

• Fly From Here: Emma’s last song and final goodbye.

The first public performance of the music — a suite of the 5 songs above — took place this past weekend in the Hudson Valley, NY. It featured a stunning performance by a high school junior singing the part of Emma. These are very challenging songs to sing, and she nailed it!

More to come as I make progress on getting the full 90-minute opera to stage, and to film! I promise to make a better effort to keep you updated via this newsletter. Meanwhile, please reach out; I’d love to hear from you.

To learn more about Emma, you can visit http://emmaproject.ai.

Thank you,
Mike