Live Metaverse Music as Magic Performance Art

This is a live music performance in Second Life by Soleil, a collaboration between Tasuku Ghost and ColeMarie Soleil (who also covers SL's arts scene for this blog.) To be exact, the audio performance is from the live show, but the performance was reshot after the show for the audience, to account for lag. I'm slightly biased, but I think it's gorgeous, dreamy, with just enough magic to seem perfect for the holidays. As with Grace McDunnough's shows, I also think Soleil's performance suggests a great way of doing live performances in 3D worlds:

Instead of a realistic avatar standing in front of a microphone, the performance expands and evolves to fit the music. "It's SL, the avatars aren't really playing even if the people are so," as ColeMarie explains their thinking. "Let's make our avatars like act out performance stuff." (That approach will be even more evident in future shows.) "During the show I will be singing while at the same time regulating the sound levels and effects and also simultaneously setting off particle effects, while casting magic spells with a variety of HUDs and wands. My stage mates are also working at the same time doing various things to the stage to cause effects to happen." That includes the performer herself, who morphs toward the end.

Comments

[Jon Brouchoud]

WOW! Absolutely stunning.

[Remington Soup]

almost captures the magic of a live Soleil show!