aaamusic | On 09, Aug 2011

Björk continues to roll out Biophilia with today’s release of the “Virus” single through One Little Indian and as a special feature of the Biophilia App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, available through In-App Purchase. Both are available exclusively on the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) and the App Store (www.itunes.com/apps/biophilia).

“Virus” is an original song and new feature of the Biophilia App that explores the relationship between biological virus as part musical instrument, part sonic artwork, and part scientifically informed educational animation. It may be played in song-mode to watch the life cycle of a virus or played in instrument-mode to create music. In “Virus” infectious agents attack a central cell. Biological and musical processes unite as with each stage of the virus’s life cycle a new song section is heard. The app feature starts with a large cell surrounded by others floating on screen. Small viruses appear, latch on to the cell, and inject their DNA. The strands amass and penetrate the large cell’s nucleus, then the viruses replicate. The song is complete once the cell is destroyed. The user may watch the animation of the song to see and hear the viruses multiply or touch the viruses, flick the nuclei in the cells, play sounds from the song and create original music.

In addition to the song the “Virus” feature includes the linear animation of the virus life-cycle, the musical instrument, an animation of the music, scrolling notation that can be used karaoke-style, and a written analysis by Sheffield University’s Nicola Dibben that explores Björk’s inspirations for “Virus.”

“Virus” was created by Björk in collaboration with interactive artist and app developer Scott Snibbe. “Virus” is also available as a single, exclusively on iTunes.

Biophilia is Björk’s most interdisciplinary project to date, comprising a studio album, an app, a new website, custom-made musical instruments, live shows, and educational workshops. The complete Biophilia album is due worldwide on September 27. Björk recently completed her residency at this year’s Manchester International Festival where Biophilia received its world premiere. She will return to the U.K. to headline Bestival on September 11 before taking the Biophilia show to Iceland, where she undertakes a residency of eight shows at the brand new Harpa Concert Hall, including two nights as part of the Iceland Airwaves Festival starting October 12.

The four physical versions of the Biophilia album—on CD, vinyl, and two custom-made editions—may be pre-ordered in the One Little Indian shop. This is the final week to order the two custom-made editions: the Biophilia Manual, which presents the music on two CDs in a 48-page cloth-bound, thread-sewn hardback book, and the Ultimate Edition, which includes the Manual along with 10 tuning forks, each representing the tone of a track on the album. They must be ordered by the end of the day Thursday, August 11 at www.indian.co.uk

Björk has collaborated with app developers, scientists, writers, inventors, musicians, and instrument makers to create a unique multi-media exploration of the universe and its physical forces—particularly those where music, nature and technology meet. The project is inspired by and explores these relationships between musical structures and natural phenomena, from the atomic to the cosmic.