Reflection is a data-driven electronic music piece inspired by the psychological and emotional nuances of mirror reflection. This fixed-media version is adapted from my live performance setup, which uses Syntien on iPhone and Max/MSP for sound design. The source material consists of everyday recordings, which were transformed through real-time digital processes to explore the expressive potential of interactive electronic systems.

The piece investigates how our “other self” appears under different psychological states and perspectives, revealing unexpected facets with each shift in perception. These emotional variations are reflected in the evolving timbres, textures, and spatial depth of the sound.

Reflection (2023): for data-driven live electronics

Xinyuan Deng is a composer, pianist, sound artist, and educator originally from Henan, China. Beginning piano studies at age five, she developed a deep connection to music early on. Her compositions blend traditional Chinese aesthetics with contemporary sounds, creating immersive sonic worlds where memory, movement, and stillness intertwine.

Xinyuan’s work spans acoustic, electroacoustic, and multimedia forms, reflecting a broad palette of textures and expressive possibilities. Her music has been performed internationally by ensembles such as Austria’s PHACE Contemporary Ensemble, The Rhythm Method String Quartet, Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra, and Harbin Symphony Orchestra.

Recent highlights include her role as a Composition Fellow at the National Orchestral Institute + Festival, where her chamber orchestra piece BAN-NA, inspired by the landscapes and dances of Xishuangbanna, premiered. She was also a featured composer for the American Composers Orchestra EarShot Readings in 2025. Her multimedia piece Whispers in Motion, integrating kalimba, live electronics, and dance, earned the Morris and Sheila Hass Award in Computer Music.

Xinyuan holds degrees from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she is pursuing a Doctor of Music with minors in Music Theory and Electronic Music.