"Taking extra or discarded materials and turning them into musical instruments; I'm seeing more and more of that coming into the mainstream. They're beautiful pieces of art, and they also sound really cool."
"I'd say it's a lovechild between a dulcimer and a harp and a steel pan. They had a threesome, and that's the Lethelium."
"This world specifically needs more experimental instruments. It is important, in the world that's going very much in the direction of midi controllers and electronic computer-based instruments, to have something real to play with."
"AI will have the hardest time replacing humans for performances. This is the area where we can still survive."
Upcycling discarded materials into musical instruments is becoming increasingly mainstream, with creators transforming everyday objects into functional art pieces. The Lethelium, a people's choice winner, exemplifies this trend—combining bicycle spokes with guitar strings to create a hybrid instrument playable by plucking or bowing. Unconventional instruments introduce unpredictability and chaos into performances, creating a fundamentally human experience. Musicians argue experimental instruments remain essential in an increasingly digital landscape dominated by MIDI controllers and electronic instruments. These handcrafted, analog instruments offer tangible, real playing experiences that resist automation. Competition success isn't always necessary for commercial viability, as previous contestants have launched successful products despite not winning.
#upcycled-musical-instruments #experimental-music-technology #handcrafted-instruments #analog-vs-digital-music #musical-innovation
Read at WIRED
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