Susan Lim On Turning Science, Space, And Storytelling Into Cosmic Pop Rhapsody

From pioneering breakthroughs in surgery to building entire musical universes, Susan Lim’s creative world feels anything but ordinary. Blending Broadway-style theatre, astrophysics, AI, and cinematic storytelling, her latest project Cosmic Pop Rhapsody pushes far beyond the boundaries of a traditional album.

We spoke to Susan about the inspirations behind the ambitious project, working with Broadway talent, recording at Abbey Road, and why humanity’s future might depend on the relationship between science and emotion.

From Surgery To Storytelling

Your journey from pioneering surgeon to creating experimental music projects is pretty extraordinary. What sparked that transition from medicine into music and storytelling?

“The spark was an invitation to speak at the 2010 INK conference alongside James Cameron and Deepak Chopra in India. My talk, From Organs to Cells, explored transplanting cellular life rather than whole organs. Sharing a stage with master storytellers made me realise I was one too — just with lyrics instead of textbooks.

Meeting composer Joi Barua there became the catalyst for my move into music. In surgery, I worked with the physical body. Through the ALAN Trilogy, I explore companionship, humanity, and the relationship between humans and machines.

Whether through a scalpel or a song, my mission remains the same: bridging scientific discovery with the human heart.”

Turning Astrophysics Into Pop Theatre

Cosmic Pop Rhapsody blends Broadway-style theatre with astrophysics and space-opera world-building. Where did the original idea come from?

“The idea came during a period of global crisis — the California wildfires and the pandemic. It felt like humanity was being forced to look upward at the same time space exploration was suddenly becoming exciting again.

The project evolved into a 17-track narrative that now serves as the soundtrack for our upcoming animated feature film, Cosmic Rhapsody. It follows a desperate mission into space to save a dying Earth.

At its core, it’s a story about survival, sacrifice, and transformation.”

The Universe As Music

The album is inspired by the Cosmic Baryon Cycle. What made you want to translate that concept into music?

“The Cosmic Baryon Cycle is essentially the universe breathing — galaxies releasing the elements of dying stars so new life can form.

I wanted to turn that into music because it’s the ultimate story of resilience. From destruction comes rebirth.

One of the tracks, Star Among the Cosmic Clouds, mirrors this idea through sacrifice and transformation. We partnered with the team behind NASA’s COSI mission to help turn these scientific ideas into something emotional and cinematic.”

Building A Universe Together

You created the project with Christina Teenz Tan. What was your creative dynamic like?

“We describe our collaboration as ‘Brain meets Machine’.

Christina brings the analytical perspective of a neuroscientist, while I approach things through surgical precision and futuristic technology. Together, we built a universe exploring companionship between humans and AI, especially in the context of environmental challenges and space exploration.

Creating something scientifically grounded yet emotionally expansive has been incredibly rewarding — especially as a mother-daughter team.”

Casting Voices For The Cosmos

Did you already imagine specific voices and performers while writing the music?

“Absolutely. Because the tracks are tied so closely to the animated film, we needed performers who could fully embody the characters emotionally.

Killian Donnelly was the perfect choice for the ‘Voice from the Void’ because of his commanding Broadway presence. Lucy St. Louis brought incredible emotion to the role of Lavvy, while Daniel Bellusci captured ALAN’s sincerity perfectly.

Every voice became part of the storytelling. We wanted the cold scale of astrophysics to always feel balanced by human emotion.”

Why Abbey Road Mattered

The record was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. What did bringing the project to life there mean to you?

“Abbey Road has become the heartbeat of the ALAN Trilogy.

We first recorded there in 2019 with the London Symphony Orchestra, and over time we worked across Studios 1, 2, and 3. Returning after the pandemic felt especially emotional because it represented musicians coming together again after such an isolating period.

There’s something incredibly powerful about blending live orchestration with these huge cosmic ideas inside such an iconic space.”

Beyond Just The Music

The physical release includes an animated Cinetrope vinyl. Why was expanding the storytelling visually so important?

“The ALAN Trilogy was always designed as a multi-sensory experience.

Our animation artist, Samudra Kajal Saikia, created such a vivid visual world that we wanted the physical release to feel alive too. The spinning Cinetrope vinyl literally animates the characters as the record plays.

It transforms the listening experience into something cinematic and immersive. We wanted people to feel like they were stepping inside the universe itself.”

Humanity, Technology, And Hope

At its core, Cosmic Pop Rhapsody explores humanity, technology, and our place in the universe. What do you hope listeners take away from it?

“I hope people come away feeling hopeful.

The project asks us to see technology not as something cold or threatening, but as a partnership that could help humanity survive and evolve. By looking outward into space, we also reconnect with Earth and with each other.

Ultimately, I want listeners to feel a sense of cosmic responsibility — the understanding that we all play a role in protecting life and shaping the future.”

Living Inside The Story

If you could step into one moment from Cosmic Pop Rhapsody for a day, which would it be?

“It would be The ALANaut Song.

ALAN ventures into space not for glory, but out of selfless determination to save Earth. That sincerity really resonates with me.

The track was inspired by the urgency of the pandemic, the California wildfires, and humanity’s renewed fascination with space travel after NASA’s Crew Dragon mission. Recording it at Abbey Road with Daniel Bellusci was one of the most emotional moments of the entire project.”

Blending science, music, film, and futuristic storytelling into one immersive experience, Susan Lim is creating something that feels completely outside the norm. Cosmic Pop Rhapsody doesn’t just explore space — it explores what it means to be human in a world increasingly shaped by technology, uncertainty, and imagination. And somehow, through all its cosmic ambition, the project still feels deeply personal.