LlamahatStudio
About Me
Karl Clarke is a PhD researcher focused on how virtual environments influence social interaction. He was born in England, grew up in the Middle East, and returned to the UK for university. He holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Audio Technology. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he began exploring virtual reality after getting access to a headset, which led to a shift in focus toward social VR.
He is now part of the Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence (iGGi) doctoral programme, where his research looks at how spatial layouts and group behavior are shaped by virtual environments in free-standing social settings.
Outside of his research, Karl runs SONAR, a music group hosted in VRChat that uses social VR for live performance and shared listening experiences. Through this project, he has independently learned game development skills in 3D modelling, scripting, and a small amount of graphics programming.
He is currently looking to collaborate with VR studios or social platforms working on immersive and social experiences.
What I do
Research
As a PhD student, I study how people connect, communicate, and express themselves through immersive technologies. I’m especially interested in how virtual spaces shape our sense of presence and identity. My research blends hands-on experimentation with thoughtful analysis to better understand the human side of digital worlds.
Virtual Reality
I build virtual reality experiences in VRChat, focusing on social spaces that feel alive, expressive, and welcoming. I also lead SONAR, a community where creators and explorers come together to share ideas and push what social VR can be. For me, VR is both a creative playground and a place to spark real connections.
Music
With a background in music technology, I bring sound and storytelling together in my work. I write music and craft soundscapes that add emotion and depth to the experiences I create, both in and out of VR. Music has always been a core part of how I think, make, and communicate.
Education
PhD. Computer Science
Queen Mary University of London
2023-Ongoing
The focus of this degree is the use of Virtual Reality in social settings. Looking into how users of social VR applications group and cluster in conversations and how the environment of VR effects ours spatial layouts.
Presenting research on social VR at Bialogue2025 in Bielefeld, Germany
MSc Audio and Music Technology
University of York
2020-2021
The academic focus of the degree was towards music education and the creation of a syllabus in the style of the International Baccalaureate.
Reviewing the Conductive Labs: NDLR music sequencer and showcasing its capabilities as part of a youtube video.
BA (Hons) Music and Sound Recording
University of York
2017-2020
The degree program was oriented toward the use of multi-touch interfaces and expressive controllers for music production. Covering topics such as MPE, MIDI 2.0 and Creative Coding.
Practicing mixing as part of a music production module where I recorded, mixed and mastered a variety of genres.
Community Manager & Lead Developer
2023-Ongoing
I am the founder and lead world developer for the social VR music community known as SONAR. We are a group that meets weekly within social VR and performs music in interactive and visually striking worlds.
We try to create easily accessible third spaces for everyone to enjoy and socialise within.
Research Assistant
2022-2023
I conducted research as part of the Architexture Project, covering areas of public engagement, education and acoustic capture of a space.
Research Assistant
2022-2023
Under the Screen Industries Growth Network I wrote multiple reports on how their MOOCs and courses would address the pitfalls in the current industry.
