Alex Lowe
Nostalgia-Informed Composition: A Compositional Investigation of Contemporary Temporalities (working title)
Bio
Alex Lowe is a composer and researcher investigating the compositional application of nostalgia. Lowe’s early work identified the use of musical borrowing to convey nostalgia and related temporalities. He seeks to expand upon this foundation to creatively deploy nostalgia-informed compositional techniques for diverse emotional and aesthetic effect. This extension has led to investigations into contemporary conceptions of temporality and their deployment in composition.
Analysis of bespoke theories (e.g., Hauntology) and cultural outputs (e.g., Vaporwave) inform this research and shape Lowe’s diverse creative output, which ranges from contemporary classical to cutting edge electronica. His compositional presentations utilise immersive technologies such as projected visuals, lighting, and surround sound to create unique and effective nostalgic experiences. Beyond his own practice, Alex also runs Sonic Developments, a non-profit events group which showcases experimental electronic music.
Teaching and learning
Graduate teaching assistant for:
Foley and Sound Design
Popular Composition 1
Outputs
- Anemoia’ [Quadraphonic AV performance] – University of Liverpool, January 2024
- ‘Temporal Dislocation’ [8-channel AV performance] – University of Liverpool, September 2024
- ‘Recapture’ [8-channel composition] – ICCaT PGR Composers Concert, December 2024
- ‘Immersive Nostalgia’ [paper presentation] – RMA/BFE Research Students Conference, University of Aberdeen, January 2025
- ‘Ephemeral Simulation’ [public performance] – Sonic Developments Showcase 4, Commune Liverpool, July 2025
- ‘Nostalgia-Informed Composition: A Compositional Framework’ [paper presentation] - Performativity(ies) of Memory(ies) Interdisciplinary Conference, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, October 2025
- ‘Illegal Sounds and Elitist Ears: Plunderphonics, Piracy and Prejudice in the Academy’ [paper presentation] – wildpop, University of Newcastle, November 2025
- ‘Ersatz Memories’ [8-channel composition] – RMA/BFE Research Students Conference, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, January 2026
Supervisors
Dr. Jonathan Crossley, Dr. Ben Hackbarth, and Professor Kenneth Forkert-Smith