Cyborg Reading Room

Made with Claude and Midjourney

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Example

For the interview with the lead singer of helium punk band The Departed Coils, the following prompting approach was used:

Grounding

1. Requested list of the ways helium is embedded into everyday life today, which might look very different in a post-helium world
2. Requested list of the characteristics and traditions of punk countercultures

Exploring

1. Requested list of behaviors, trends, slang words, markers, and some of the other cultural aspects of helium punk that a cultural anthropologist in a post-helium world might be interested in
2. Requested a list describing what some of the core beliefs and attitudes of this group might be

Building

1. Requested list of band names and genres that might exist in a post-helium world*
2. Requested an interview with a lead singer from The Depleted Coils for Helium Punk zine

*Here’s the list, in case anyone needs to start their own post-helium musical experiment:

The fusion of music with resource radicalism and repurposed MRI tech could lead to some fascinating and provocative band names and genres. Here are some ideas:

Band Names:

1. Magnetic Resonance
2. The Depleted Coils
3. Helium’s Ghost
4. Superconductor Revolt
5. Quench Zone
6. Cryogenic Dissent
7. Gradient Echo
8. The Floating Resistance
9. Spin Flip
10. Liquid Nitrogen Riot

Genres:

1. Cryo-core: Harsh, cold sounds using liquid nitrogen cooling systems
2. Float-wave: Dreamy, ethereal music evoking the sensation of floating
3. Magnet-punk: Aggressive, politically charged music using electromagnetic sounds
4. Quantum Beat: Experimental music based on principles of quantum mechanics
5. Resonance Rock: Heavy use of frequencies associated with MRI technology
6. Helium Harmony: Vocal-focused music with artificially pitched-up voices
7. Gradient Grind: Fast-paced, intense music with rapid tonal shifts
8. Superconductor Synth: Electronic music using repurposed superconducting materials
9. Quench Metal: Extreme metal inspired by the violent quenching of superconducting magnets
10. Echo Chamber Pop: Pop music heavily utilizing the echo and reverb of MRI chambers

A band like “Superconductor Revolt” playing “Magnet-punk” might be at the forefront of the resource radical movement, with lyrics criticizing the waste of helium and the corporate greed that led to its depletion. Their concerts could be held in abandoned hospitals, with the audience encouraged to bring pieces of old medical equipment as admission “tickets”.