What makes us dance? Why do we sing the blues? Could there be a formula for the perfect hit? Whether it’s a pop song or country ballad, musicians and record producers want to capture listeners; individual styles may vary but they’re all searching for just the right lyric, melody, or seductive guitar chord. A few manage to turn out hit after hit – “hooking” our brains with irresistible beats. These songs become part of our collective identity. Years may pass, but as we all know, a song has the power to rekindle memories and emotions long forgotten. Can science illuminate why we respond the way we do?
Moderated by Joe Levy, Editor-in-Chief, MAXIM. Panelists include: neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux (NYU), Dave Katz (Sluggo) of the hit songwriting/producing duo S*A*M & SLUGGO, and John Leventhal, Grammy Award-winning musician, producer, and songwriter.
Why does a minor chord sound sad? Is there a formula for the perfect hit? Whistling, dancing, finger-snapping, and toe-tapping—what makes us do it? Find out when music and science join forces in an interactive bazaar of beats, sounds, and rhythm in the exhibition BIORHYTHM, created by the Science Gallery and presented at Eyebeam as part of the World Science Festival. Learn what drives sound manipulation and discover how different types of music evoke different emotions. Trace the power of an impactful pop hook in a song, measuring the way our brains and bodies react, down to the responses in our fingertips.
