What if anyone could create music and visuals - just by moving?
Symphonasia is a collaborative project that puts that question at its centre. Developed in Cardiff with support from Media Cymru, it brings together artist Joao Saramago, composer Dr. Owain Llwyd, and Steve Banbury of Campfire Digital.
The idea
The premise is simple but radical: use body movement as the sole input for generating real-time music and visual art. No instruments required. No prior training. No barriers to entry.
AI interprets movement and translates it into coherent sound and imagery - creating a genuine creative experience for anyone who steps into the space.
I'm really excited to be working on a project that combines immersive technologies and traditional art making in a way that is inclusive and celebratory. I hope that Symphonasia will contribute to the vibrant landscape of Cardiff.
- Joao Saramago
Symphonasia lets anyone create music and visuals intuitively through movement. I'm excited to explore how AI can break creative barriers, making artistic expression more immersive and accessible to all.
- Dr. Owain Llwyd, Composer
AI as a creative bridge
In Symphonasia, AI is not the point - it's the infrastructure that makes the point possible. The system interprets movement in real time, mapping gesture to musical phrase and visual response in ways that feel intuitive rather than mechanical.
This matters particularly for people who don't have access to traditional artistic forms - whether due to physical or cognitive differences, or simply because they've never had the opportunity to learn an instrument or work with digital tools.
Campfire Digital's role
Steve Banbury leads Campfire Digital's involvement in the project, bringing technical depth in immersive and interactive development to a creative collaboration rooted in Cardiff's arts community.
Symphonasia sits alongside our work with Ysgol Y Deri and the Openality project as part of a broader commitment to building immersive technology that opens doors rather than closes them. Cardiff's creative and academic ecosystem makes it a natural home for this kind of work - and Media Cymru's support makes projects like this viable.
If you're interested in experiencing Symphonasia or exploring a collaboration, get in touch.