Zeynep Özcan's info, publications, music, selected presentations.
INFO
Dr. Zeynep Özcan is a sonic artist, singer, and author. She holds a Ph.D. in Music, an M.A. in History of Architecture, and a B.A. in Philosophy. Her works have been performed and presented throughout the world in concerts, exhibitions, and conferences. Her work focuses on the design and composition of interactive virtual sound environments and the applications of animal behavior to sound art works. As a musician, she plays piano and electronics and performed with several bands and choirs. She is currently a lecturer at the Department of Performing Arts Technology at the University of Michigan.
Research Interests
Sound Art, Multi-sensory approaches in art, Creative Ecosystems, Biologically inspired musical creativity, Interactive, Immersive and Generative Environments, Aural Augmented and Virtual Realities.
Skills
Max/MSP, Java (Processing), C++ (openFrameworks), Unity, Arduino, Ableton Live
Contact
ozcanz@icloud.com
PUBLICATIONS
Book Chapters
Özcan, Z. 2019. "Polytopes" in İnci Aslanoğlu İçin Bir Mimarlık Dizimi (eng: An Architectural Index for the memory of İnci Aslanoğlu), Middle East Technical University Faculty of Architecture Press, Ankara, Turkey.
Conferance Articles
Özcan, Z and Çamcı, A. 2019. “Compositional Considerations in the Design of an Interactive Agent-based Musical Ecosystem”. Proceedings of the 45th International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), New York, NY, US.
Özcan, Z. and Çamcı, A. 2018. “An Augmented Reality Music Composition Based on the Sonification of Animal Behavior”. Proceedings of the AES International Conference on Audio for Virtual and Augmented Reality, Redmond, WA, US.
Özcan, Z. 2015. “A History of Future Art From Xenakis to Wagner”. Continuum 2015-16: From Xenakis to the Present Day: The Continuum in Music and Architecture. University of Rouen, France.
Çamcı, A., Özcan, Z., and Pehlevan, D. 2015. “Interactive Virtual Soundscapes: A Research Report”. Proceedings of the 41st International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Denton, TX, US.
Thesis and Dissertation
Özcan, Z. 2018. Proprius: Sonification of Animal Behavior in an Autonomous Interactive Musical Ecosystem. (Doctoral dissertation). Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Özcan, Z. 2013. Intersection of Architecture and Music as Gesamtkunstwerk in Iannis Xenakis’s Selected Works. (M.A Thesis). Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
Literature
Özcan, Z. 2012. Değiş-Tokuş. TMMOB Mimarlar Odası Ankara Şubesi, Ankara. (Children’s Literature)
Music Releases
Özcan, Z. upcoming. As If I didn’t. Istanbul Soundscape Project.
Özcan, Z. 2019. Connotation. MIAM Electroacoustic. Lila Müzik.
Özcan, Z. 2019. Zone. A noise compilation. Sanri Zine.
Periodicals
Özcan, Z. 2013-2015. Various articles in architectural magazines. Boyut Publishing Group.
Özcan, Z. 2013. “Mahallenizin galerisi: Torun” (Galery Review), Radikal.
Özcan, Z. 2013. “Tiyatroda Ankara atağı: Stüdyo Cer” (Modern Arts Center Review), Radikal.
Unpublished Literature
under review. Beşinci Madde. (eng: Fifth Matter) (Scary, science fiction and fantasy, dystopian fiction stories for early teens).
under review. Kavin’in Yolculuğu. (Eng: Kavin’s Journey) (Fantasy Fiction Children’s Litterature).
MUSIC
Proprius (2015-2018)
Proprius is an autonomous interactive sound environment, where the sonification of animal behavior within an ecological simulation is used to create an interactive augmented reality music composition. The consecutive layers of a food chain are used as movements that dictate the temporal progression of the composition. The listener explores a physical space augmented with Proprius to experience the compositional unfolding of the ecosystem. The listener’s presence in the system affects nearby organisms; the listener is thereby situated as an interactive agent that contributes to the progression of the work.

Fixed Pieces (2013-2015)
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
Upcoming
March 2020. Artist Talk/Guest lecture – Soundscape Composition – University of Michigan, Department of Anthropology, College of Literature, Science. Sonic Cultures Class.
2020
Soundwalk Workshop. Ann Arbor District Library Secret Lab Coding Program.
2019
Inconnu. ICMC-NYCEMF: International Computer Music Conference and New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival.
Connotation. New Music Central – Electronic Music from Turkey. University of Canterbury School of Music, New Zealand.
Proprius. The Comfy Show with Trixie Light and Dental Drill. UK Radio Podcast.
Proprius. Processing Community Day: Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor District Library, Michigan.
2018
As If I didn’t. Istanbul Soundscape Project: Haydarpaşa’da Bir Gar. Istanbul, Turkey.
2017
As If I didn’t. ISEA: International Symposium on Electronic Art. Manizales, Colombia.
Monad v0.3 by Cem Çakmak. ALGORAVE 2017: Algorave (Algorithmic rave) 5th birthday live stream. performed with Cem Çakmak.
As If I didn’t. NSEME: The National Student Electronic Music Event. Louisiana State University, US.
As If I didn’t. Istanbul Soundscape Project‎: Haydarpaşa’da Bir Gar. Istanbul, Turkey.
2016
Connotation. MIAM Surroundscapes Quadrophonic Sessions. Istanbul, Turkey.
Connotation. ICIT SYMPOSIUM 2016 New Expressions: Women in Music Technology University of California, Irvine, CA, US.
2015
Inconnu. Norient exhibition: Seismographic Sounds – Visions from a New World ZKM in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Vertigo match#2 by Maya Felixbrodt. Sa.ne.na + Korhan Erel IDM Project (Berlin Preview) + MIAM Experimental Performed by The Team: Ivan Arion Karst – Euphonium, Amy Salsgiver – Vibraphone, Boran Mert – Baglama, Sibil Arsenyan – Conductor, Zeynep Özcan – Electronics, Maya Felixbrodt – Viola.
Inconnu (20-channel acousmonium). MIAM Sonic Arts Acousmonium. Istanbul, Turkey.
2014
As If I didn’t. Limerick Conference: Urban Soundscapes and Critical Citizenship. Echo-Locations: Sounds of Elsewhere Sound Installation. Limerick University, Ireland.
Artist Talk/Guest lecture – Istanbul Technical University, Department of Architecture. Urban Sound: Design Experiments for Sound Augmented Spaces Class.
Guest Lecture – History of Soundscape – Bogaziçi University, Department of Fine Arts. Sensing Cities Class.
Guest Lecture – Workshop: Hearing Cities- Soundwalk – Bogaziçi University, Department of Fine Arts. Sensing Cities Class.
Suck Your Blood. Journey of Sound 7: Young Composers Festival. Süreyya Opera House. Istanbul, Turkey.
Hearsay. Identities – An interdisciplinary approach, International Graduate Student Conference. Istanbul, Turkey.
Connotation. Ogen/blik #2. Het Nutshuis, The Hague, Netherlands.
Connotation. Electrosonic City 4.0 Akbank Art Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey.