The Audio Alchemist
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audioalchemist.bsky.social
The Audio Alchemist
@audioalchemist.bsky.social
Living at the intersection of sound science, sound art, and sound thinking, where I work to harness the power of sound to shape perception & behavior.

Steve Keller
Sonic Strategy Director
Studio Resonate | SiriusXM Media

Opinions my own.
Pinned
Hello, Bluesky!

I'm hoping to make the transition from X. It's a bit daunting to think of building a new community here, but it's time.

In my next few posts I’ll share examples of content related to my interests: #SonicStrategy #MusicScience #SonicDiversity #SonicBranding
#BehavioralScience
Hats off to all who helped with our online experiment re: sound/scent associations. I presented the findings (along with our lab experiment) at the Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium. Check out my post here: www.linkedin.com/posts/stevek...

#SonicStrategy #Pangborn2025 #MusicScience #crossmodalism
September 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Thanks to those who have responded to my request for help with our "sound/scent" research. Hoping to boost our sample size a bit more.

Link to survey if you haven't responded: pandora.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Feel free to share. NOTE: No responses from SiriusXM Media colleagues, please.
pandora.qualtrics.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Working some research into sound/scent associations and need your help with a quick survey, listening to two soundscapes and subjectively rating associations with various aromas.

Here's the link - and thanks! pandora.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

#MusicScience #Crossmodalism
#BehavioralScience
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
pandora.qualtrics.com
July 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM
One last push!

Thanks to everyone who's responded!

If you haven't, please take about 10 minutes to answer some survey questions as we explore sonic interventions that could make our workplaces more healthy and humane.

hks.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

#MusicScience #Neurodiversity
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
hks.qualtrics.com
April 29, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I need your help!

We're exploring the impact of sound in the workplace on focus, creativity, & group work.

If you could answer some survey questions, I'd appreciate it!

Access via this link. Takes about 10 minutes - please share:

hks.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

#MusicScience #Neurodiversity
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
hks.qualtrics.com
April 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Won’t be long now…

Join GM’s Jay Kapadia and me today at 4PM(CDT) for our #SXSW2025 fireside chat, diving deep into the power of sound and its implications for sound design for EVs.

You’ll find session details here:
schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/...

#SonicStrategy #SXSW #EV
Soundscapes of the Future: Safety and Harmony in EV Sounds
SXSW 2025 Schedule | For a century, much of vehicle engineering was about masking sounds. In the EV revolution and its absence of internal combustion engines, vehicle engineers are challenged with bri...
schedule.sxsw.com
March 12, 2025 at 7:28 PM
When it comes to the emotional connection between humans & automobiles, sound has always been in the driver’s seat. EVs represent an opportunity to take that connection further.

Jay Kapadia & I will dive deep into the world of EV sound at @sxsw.com.

Join us!

schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/...
Soundscapes of the Future: Safety and Harmony in EV Sounds
SXSW 2025 Schedule | For a century, much of vehicle engineering was about masking sounds. In the EV revolution and its absence of internal combustion engines, vehicle engineers are challenged with bri...
schedule.sxsw.com
February 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Respect.
Given developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO.
Not for me.
It’s been a wonderful 8 years working with Kennedy Center President Deb Rutter, fellow artistic advisor Renee Fleming, NSO artistic administrator Justin Ellis, and the entire NSO
February 13, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Kicking off #CES2025 in Vegas!

We've got a busy week, exploring #TheFutureOfAudio with Studio Resonate's "Super Sonic Sound Summit," a Sonic Sommelier wine/sound pairing, a floor tour with friends from Razorfish, and participating in an "AI House" panel.

Catch me if you can 😏

#SonicStrategy
January 6, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Happy New Year!

Welcomed 2025 at a wonderful dinner with friends at one of our new favorite NYC restaurants. The food is consistently great & the venue small & cozy - which was a problem last night: They hired a DJ & by 10:30PM, the volume at our table averaged 96dB & 114dB closer the speaker.
January 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
2025 is almost here!

Rather than yet another "Audio Trends Report," I'm offering six suggestions I think will help brands & agencies unlock audio's potential & maximize ROAS in the year ahead.

Link to the @adweek.bsky.social article here: www.adweek.com/partner-arti...

#SonicStrategy #Marketing
6 Ways to Unlock Audio’s Potential in 2025
Audio’s future is full of possibility, but realizing its full potential requires a fundamental shift.
www.adweek.com
December 23, 2024 at 7:38 PM
Sunday #vinyl Sessions: Holiday Edition

This year's favorite spin is @actualbenfolds.bsky.social latest gem, "Sleigher,"
serving up a playful blend of wit, melancholy, longing, & hope (with a pinch of Guaraldi & a dash of Bacharach thrown in for good measure).

Guaranteed to warm the heart.
December 22, 2024 at 5:31 PM
Lend them your ears...
Do you like listening to and moving to music?
Help us out with our research on musical interactions onsite in Aarhus, Denmark!
sites.google.com/view/musical...
December 20, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Sunday #vinyl session:

William Shatner’s “Has Been” is brilliant. Really.

It sucks you in with its writing, its wit, its swagger, & its moments of beautifully brutal vulnerability.

Produced by @actualbenfolds.bsky.social & supported by a wonderful cast of contributing characters.
December 8, 2024 at 5:21 PM
When it comes to brand design, you shouldn't ignore the #crossmodal relationships between sound and our other senses.

Check out this issue of Transform Magazine for more on the topic (with a few bits and bobs from moi)

transformmagazine.net/articles/202...

#SonicStrategy #Multisensory
https://transformmagazine.net/articles/2024/…
December 7, 2024 at 8:59 PM
Sunday #vinyl Sessions:

Skinny Puppy: "Empire Central"

The band's ode to Dallas is full of swampy, funky, improvisational goodness.

With 12 musicians, 16 tracks, 3 discs & over 1.5 hours of live recorded music, it's a bit of a slog - but when they hit the mark, it's pure bliss.
December 1, 2024 at 3:30 PM
It's #Thanksgiving here in the States.

Beware the dangers (or advantages) of mixing lavender and pumpkin pie (with apologies to cranberries): aanos.org/human-male-s...

#Sensehacking
Human Male Sexual Response to Olfactory Stimuli | American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons
Folk wisdom has it that various aromas are sexually enticing but no data exist demonstrating effects of specific odors on arousal (Human Male Sexual Response).
aanos.org
November 28, 2024 at 2:25 PM
1) I've spent a great deal of my career focused on how sound can shape brand perception & consumer behavior. Happy to have three publications cited into this new ARF white paper on #sonicbranding : thearf-org-unified-admin.s3.amazonaws.com/ARF%20Counci...

#SonicStrategy #Branding
#Advertising
thearf-org-unified-admin.s3.amazonaws.com
November 27, 2024 at 9:41 PM
Sunday #vinyl sessions: “Sable” - original soundtrack by Japanese Breakfast.

Languid, evocative soundscapes befitting of the video game, “Sable,” with a few lovely pop tunes sprinkled in for good measure, all pressed up on two clear vinyl discs (one blue and one gold).

Beautiful.
November 24, 2024 at 1:44 PM
I've always been interested in how #bias can influence #perception.

A few years ago @manuelangladatort.bsky.social and I explored how source effects impact the evaluation of music for #advertising. Interesting results - with cost implications.

research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/29...

#MusicScience
November 21, 2024 at 10:23 PM
I'm exploring the intersection of sound & #neurodiversity - surprised to find there's not as much academic research on the topic as I expected.

Hit me with any relevant #MusicScience papers - particularly re: impact on flow, restoration, & focus.

#MusicSkyence
#Neurospicy
#SonicInterventions
November 20, 2024 at 11:30 AM
I'm drawn to research that intersects with my passion for audio, marketing, strategy, & the behavioral sciences.

Here's an example of how those interests come to life practically: Using #SonicSeasonings & #crossmodal associations to drive brand experiences.

www.frontiersin.org/journals/psy...
Frontiers | Commercializing Sonic Seasoning in Multisensory Offline Experiential Events and Online Tasting Experiences
The term “sonic seasoning” refers to the deliberate pairing of sound/music with taste/flavour in order to enhance, or modify, the multisensory tasting experi...
www.frontiersin.org
November 18, 2024 at 2:23 PM
Sunday #Vinyl Sessions:

“Jazzmatazz, Volume 1”

Hip-hop/jazz fusion from Guru (one half of the duo Gang Star). He’s joined by jazz greats like Branford Marsalis, Roy Ayers, & Ronnie Liston Smith, along with Brand New Heavies’ N’Dea Davenport.

Released 31 years ago, but still as fresh as ever.
November 17, 2024 at 3:54 PM
Hello, Bluesky!

I'm hoping to make the transition from X. It's a bit daunting to think of building a new community here, but it's time.

In my next few posts I’ll share examples of content related to my interests: #SonicStrategy #MusicScience #SonicDiversity #SonicBranding
#BehavioralScience
November 15, 2024 at 1:41 PM