Fuzzy Creativity: Composing with Uncertainty in Incerta

Incerta is an electroacoustic composition that explores the artistic potential of fuzzy logic as a tool for creative decision-making in music. Rather than relying on data-driven generative models, the piece is structured around a rule-based fuzzy inference system designed by the composer, allowing for nuanced, interpretable control over spatial and temporal processes. The system governs the activation and diffusion of 21 sound sources across an eight-channel setup, using dynamic Gaussian functions whose parameters evolve according to fuzzy logic rules. By adjusting the behavior of these functions, the composer can shape multiple distinct performances of the piece, each emergent, yet bounded by aesthetic intent. This paper situates Incerta within the broader discourse on algorithmic composition and creativity, highlighting how fuzzy systems offer a compelling alternative to black-box AI approaches. Through an “artist-in-the-loop" methodology, Incerta foregrounds uncertainty as a compositional force, enabling complexity, variation, and control to coexist within a human-guided creative process.