---
title: Music Video ‘Immerses’ Viewers in Virtual Performance
date: 2024-09-04T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/music-video-immerses-viewers-in-virtual-performance"
section: Articles
---
# Music Video ‘Immerses’ Viewers in Virtual Performance

*September 4, 2024* — by [Maryland Today Staff](/author/maryland-today-staff)


> Faculty Member Evokes Sensory Crossovers With Local Indie Band

[Feature Video: Music Video ‘Immerses’ Viewers in Virtual Performance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9uyTX8gvMA)



A technician and instructor in the University of Maryland’s Immersive Media Design (IMD) major is dropping viewers right into the middle of a virtual reality performance by an area band—with “spacy” twists to convey his unique way of viewing the world.  
  
“I’ve got … spatial sequencing synesthesia, where I'm able to see sequences like music or the calendar or the alphabet, but I see them in distinct visual ways and space,” says Ian McDermott, immersive media technician. “I’m visualizing this song as I see it in my mind's eye, to kind of convey at least that feeling I get whenever I'm thinking of sequences.”  
  
McDermott’s experimental [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Muxd68CVoS4) portrays swirling, pointillistic views of members of The North Country swooping comet-like through space. The D.C. band—self-described “indie-pop futurists”—includes Andrew Grossman ’09 and Kirk Kubicek ’10.

In addition, McDermott is a mentor and technician in the IMD major's [New Works Incubator](https://imd.umd.edu/get-involved/new-works-incubator) program, and facilitates the exhibition of student work in the New Works Incubator showcase at the NextNOW Fest, a weeklong arts experience that kicks off Wednesday around campus.

Enjoy this latest installment of UMD’s “Peer Review” video series highlighting remarkable UMD faculty, staff, students and alums, and learn more about [IMD](https://imd.umd.edu/) and [NextNOW](https://theclarice.umd.edu/nnf).




**Topics:** [Arts & Culture](https://today.umd.edu/tags/arts-culture)


**Tags:** [Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality](https://today.umd.edu/topic/augmented-reality-virtual-reality), [Music](https://today.umd.edu/topic/music), [Immersive Media Design](https://today.umd.edu/topic/immersive-media-design), [Arts](https://today.umd.edu/topic/arts)


**Units:** [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities), [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences)