This year’s finalists are an impressive collection of weirdos. There are amphibious modules, a modular synthesizer that trades interconnect cables for a bowl of salt water. Gajveena, which combines the double bass with the traditional Indian veena. And the Fiddle Henge is, well, a henge made of fiddles. Four green violins are attached to the bass drum and played with a rotating disc.
And then there’s the Demon Box, a chaotic triangle of evil that turns electromagnetic radiation into music. Unlike most of the other finalists, it’s already a commercial product that you can buy from Eternal Research for $999. In addition to converting invisible EMF into audible sound, it can also control other synthesizers by converting invisible radiation from your cell phone or TV remote to MIDI and voltage (CV) control.
Other finalists include Lethelium, a kind of steel drum/harp hybrid made from a bicycle wheel, and an open-source RFID synthesizer called The Masterpiece, designed for players with disabilities. Watch the video above for sneak peeks and details on all ten finalists. The winner will be announced after the competition concert on Saturday, March 14.