ako: All Watched Over by Algorithms of Loving Grace
Experimental. Thought-provoking. Explore AI’s capacity to hurt or help.
All Watched Over by Algorithms of Loving Grace is a concept album by ako (alias of Simeon Soden) created during his time as a 2024/25 Artist in Residence at The Glasshouse. Join ako in exploring our growing relationship with AI and its potential to enhance or disrupt human experience at an unforgettable live, immersive audio-visual performance of the album this June.
Need to know
Venue: Sage Two Cabaret Layout
Price: Pay what you decide.
Stage Times: Announced nearer showtime.
Age: Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
About All Watched Over by Algorithms of Loving Grace
All Watched Over by Algorithms of Loving Grace is named after Richard Brautigan’s poetic work on technological utopias (‘All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace’) as a nod to AI algorithm’s potential for positive change.
Its themes include AI’s impact on creativity and creative work, labour, economies, warfare, and the environment—forming a musical ‘essay’ on the ethics of AI integration.
On the one hand, AI has potential for harm. It could create unemployment and inequality. Increasing AI automation could lead to artforms including music becoming oversaturated and devalued. Plus there are ethical concerns about how it could be used in warfare and its environmental impact from resource and consumer demand.
However, AI offers opportunities—boosting productivity, enabling wealth redistribution to improve equality, and supporting climate solutions through advanced data analysis. The project imagines AI’s potential to redefine work, allowing individuals to engage in socially valuable pursuits beyond traditional labour.
About ako
ako is a North East-based electronic musician, producer, and performer who blends vaporwave influences with experimental dance music. His performances are an audiovisual experience, incorporating creative coding, modified game consoles, VHS manipulation, analogue video equipment, and CGI. He often repurposes obsolete tech as a statement against hyper-consumerism.
ako’s music has been released through international labels and featured on BBC 6 Music, Spotify editorial playlists, Tom Robinson’s ‘Fresh on the Net,’ and BandCamp Daily. He co-founded Kaneda Records, Northern Electric Festival, and Linebreak Records—the world’s first cryptocurrency label as part of his PhD research. In 2021, ako was commissioned to produce a remix for ‘Eyeliner’ (aka Luke Rowell / Disasteradio) as part of a project and new collection by New Zealand National library.
He’s also a member of Badger, a collaborative spoken word, no wave and noise pop project who’ve had a track remixed by Andrew Fearn (Sleaford Mods) and have an upcoming debut album. He previously completed a Masters in Music at Newcastle University.
