For his musical opus and the creative use of new technologies Peter Gabriel has been symbolically awarded the Golden Nica for Computer Music by the Prix Ars Electronica 87 Music jury.

Statement
Peter Gabriel

It is often argued that technology dehumanizes. In my work its influence has been the other way. By offering so many possibilities it has required many more decisions to be taken, so encouraging me to explore new ways of doing things. This had led me to a more personal language and style.

I have always enjoyed working with the unfamiliar. For many years, I have dreamt of a device that would allow me to manipulate natural sounds and was very excited when I was introduced to the first Fairlight. With current technology, so many parameters of sound, rhythm, harmony, acoustic environment and performance are under the composer's control that the chief limitations are those of imagination.

Much research effort is now focused on the interface with the artist; such problems as how we store, identify, remember and access all the varying options. It is some of this thinking that has encouraged me to analyse the ways in which I work.

I have observed two modes in which I work best that seem to represent different ways of interacting with technology. With energy "A", the analytical, I use the technology as a tool for slow and detailed work. This approach allows for very accurate crafting but can create distance from original ideas and feelings. This other mode, I call, energy "Z" - "Zen", spontaneous and instinctive, so the artist can catch improvisation, physical reflexes and flashes of inspirations (should there be any), performing as if the red light was on. This approach tends to catch more bold strokes and performance magic but can miss the finer points. An example of the "A" and "Z" approaches would be in audio mixing: The "A"; a bar by bar computer-based mix and the "Z"; a dub mix.

The next generation of equipment should incorporate both approaches maybe more fully and at the studio, we have been working to develop a "layered" performance in which the parameters of an idea are gradually built up: a spontaneous "Z" layer followed by an analysed, corrected and developed "A" layer to be followed by the "Z" layer of another parameter and so on. it is hoped that this will make the best use of the strength and weakness of man and machine.