EMMA is a rock opera exploring themes of love, tragedy, and the future of humanity through the lens of an AI living in a human body. Combining soulful melodies, electrifying beats, and raw emotion, EMMA is a “tour de force” on what it means to be human in the age of AI.
THE STORY
Set in the year 2038, EMMA tells the story of a young woman who believes she is a 24-year-old first-grade teacher. She lives a life full of joy and purpose, adored by her students and anchored by her friendships. But after a sudden accident, Emma wakes up in what she thinks is a hospital. At first, she tries to trust the doctors around her, but their cryptic remarks and strange control over her condition leave her deeply unsettled. Driven by suspicion, Emma escapes into the city, where she begins a journey of discovery. Along the way, she encounters Sara, a struggling musician. Their chance meeting sparks a whirlwind romance, and for the first time Emma feels what it truly means to love and be loved.
But Emma’s sense of reality soon begins to fracture. Hallucinations blur the lines between dream and waking life, leading to tragedy when she accidentally kills Sara during a terrifying episode. Grief-stricken and hunted, she searches for answers, only to uncover the devastating truth: the life she believed was hers was fabricated, her memories implanted, her very identity constructed. Emma is not who she thought she was, but rather a super-intelligent AI being created by scientists who meant to control her. In confronting them, she must decide whether to accept her end or embrace her autonomy.
Ultimately, EMMA becomes an allegory about trust, technology, and humanity’s uneasy relationship with artificial intelligence, asking the audience the haunting question: can we truly trust AI with the most important parts of our lives?
THE MUSIC
Written and composed by Mike Berkley, the music of EMMA is a testament to human creativity. Each character, including Emma, is brought to life through human voice. All songs are performed by Lost In Between, featuring vocalists Jaki Nelson, Chris Cron, and Megan Ennenberg.
Sample the music:
Get involved
Our vision is to bring EMMA to life as a captivating live performance, utilizing cutting-edge, immersive video projections to create a dynamic and unforgettable set design.
Interested in joining us?
Contact mike@earthly.art
About Mike Berkley
Mike Berkley is both composer and technologist. He studied music composition at Middlebury College and received an ASCAP Young Composer Award while studying composition at the Aspen Music Festival. He began pursuing a career in film scoring before his path diverged to the Technology industry. He spent 25 years in Tech, leading product development at Spotify and Paramount, and founding two Tech startups. Most recently, Mike was the Chief Product Officer at Fubo and Axios, where AI played an increasingly critical role.
He has since retired from Tech to focus back on creative pursuits, leading to the creation of EMMA.