What Makes Singular Dust Unique

As an artist, I create to explore the complex intersections of humanity, nature, and technology. My work is rooted in a deep curiosity about what it means to be human in a world that is constantly evolving, shaped by both the organic and the digital. It is a search for beauty in our ever-increasing artificial and digital world.

It is a search for connection, for the threads that bind us to each other, to nature, and to the technologies shaping our world. My debut album, Singular Dust, is a reflection on the universal rhythm that connects us all, creation, love, disruption, and the defining singularities that mark our individual and collective journeys.

Through seven chronological and interconnected tableaux, I’ve sought to capture the tension between the natural world and the digital frontier, inviting listeners to reflect on the fragile beauty of existence. Each tableau offers a reflection on a key aspect of our shared journey, from the first pulse of creation (Pulse) to the introspective reckoning with technology (Digital Dust).

Throughout this process, questions about authenticity and sincerity arose. What does it mean to be authentic in a fully digital world? How do we define what we share online as 'authentic'? Like anything we create, I used a variety of tools and instruments, testing and integrating them in a co-creative process.

This project was crafted with a spirit of experimentation, embracing innovative creative tools to mirror its themes of singularities. We are in an era where we can think something and create it directly online, a reality that raises profound questions about the boundaries of creativity and authenticity. These tools can also tremendously help unlock new creative potential, through brain-computer interfaces, for instance. My artistry will undoubtedly evolve alongside these tools, reflecting the ongoing dialogue between creator and medium.

In crafting the universe of Singular Dust, I thought, designed, imagined, orchestrated, curated, prompted, and integrated lyrics, music, visuals, videos, graphic design, and storytelling into a cohesive narrative that feels deeply personal yet universal. The technical tools I used were finally good enough for my story to begin, through my own singularities allowing me to bring to life something I had envisioned for a long time (15+ years). While the output is far from perfect and could have taken infinite forms, this version connects sincerely and authentically to my own story.

The process was as much about discovery as creation, working in dialogue with digital tools to shape something that feels profoundly human. Much of my thematic inspiration stems from my doctoral research on the ethics of human enhancement and our relationship with technology. Several songs are directly inspired by poetry I published during that time, making this album both a continuation and an evolution of my reflections on existence and progress. It is also informed by my previous documentary work on brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for people with disabilities, exploring how emerging technologies can reshape human potential and creativity.

Even in a fully digital world, I believe we can uncover moments of beauty, fleeting, fragile, but deeply meaningful. Singular Dust is my attempt to show that the artificial and the organic are not separate, but intertwined in ways that can inspire wonder. Through this album, I invite you to join me in exploring these questions, finding beauty where it is least expected, and reflecting on what it means to be human in this shared moment.

Avery Lake