SETH RECOMMENDS: MICHAEL UNA

Michael Una is a Chicago based sound and installation artist as well as a synthesizer engineer.  His work investigates how vibrating waves of energy and human consciousness interact. He utilize traditional musical instruments, handbuilt analog electronics, video processes, digital synthesis, and repurposed objects to build harmonic wave patterns. These patterns are projected into physical space, creating a unique and temporary audiophysical experience.

Octophonopod consists of eight speakers and an accompanying audio-reactive LED display housed within eight paper lanterns. The speakers are fed by four CD players, i.e, eight mono channels of sound run through four car stereo amplifiers. I composed an eight-channel sound piece to run through the system, generating light and sounds in a calming, ambient fashion.

The Beat Bike is a bicycle-controlled drum machine A movement-controlled audio generation/manipulation system, built from scratch. Translates gestures and dance into sound.

The Sound Suit

Michael just won the first grant from Scale Well, a Chicago based “Angel” Investor fund, to produce hand made musical instruments such as the Beep It Deluxe.  The Beep it is a Beep-it Deluxe is a handmade optical theremin, housed in a handsome laser-cut bamboo case and featuring a big chrome button and 2nd oscillator for enhanced modulation.

Beep-it Deluxe emits a square-wave tone reminiscent of 8-bit video game music. A light sensor determines the overall pitch of the instrument, while a knob on the side can be adjusted to induce a warble into the tone for all of your sci-fi and rhythmic needs.  Beep It Deluxe will be sold at the new Pilsen Gallery N0T0X

Here’s a Picture of Beep It: