OHARU, Aichi — A member of an experimental music duo right here that performs utilizing devices made out of family objects is promoting a percussive instrument primarily based on empty plastic bottles.
The instrument, known as the AirCoke, was invented by 34-year-old Sou, one half of the duo Kajii with associate Kumama. The pair has been performing utilizing devices they make from home items for about 12 years. Solely counting those used dwell, they’ve created about 150 varieties of devices. That is the primary that has been made accessible for buy.
The AirCoke is manufactured from 9, 1.5-liter fizzy beverage bottles hooked up to a 56-centimeter-long, 1.9-centimeter-thick board of Japanese cedar. Tubeless valves utilized in automotive tires are fitted to the lids of the bottles, and their pitch when struck could be adjusted utilizing a bicycle pump to alter the inner air stress. With a potential vary of two.5 octaves, it may be freely tuned for a variety of musical traditions, together with Arabian, Indian or Chinese language music.
“I wished extra individuals to have enjoyable with experimental devices,” Sou mentioned about what made him resolve to promote the AirCoke. He researched various kinds of boards and methods to connect the bottles. With suggestions from an acquaintance who test-played it, Sou developed the AirCoke to be an instrument anybody can take to simply. “I used to be very specific in regards to the design particulars, so individuals will take pleasure in its clear sounds,” he mentioned.
“I need individuals to take pleasure in sounds they can not hear from different devices. Even when they’ve by no means performed an instrument or cannot learn music, they will play (the AirCoke) by really feel,” Sou added. He plans to launch extra devices on the market sooner or later.
The AirCoke set consists of an air pump, stand so it may be performed wherever, and different important instruments, shipped in a suitcase inside Japan for a tax-inclusive 165,000 yen (roughly $1,220), constructed to order. It may be bought by way of the inventor’s e-commerce web site, at https://sodamusic.shops.jp/gadgets/63e2e13cd77a6f12a4deca25 (in Japanese). To make sure optimum efficiency, the instrument and components should not offered individually. It may also be rented for 20,000 yen (about $147) monthly, delivery further.
There are plans to promote the AirCoke outdoors of Japan, and a preliminary web page with English info is out there at https://kajii.me/soda/english/.
(Japanese authentic by Motoyori Arakawa, Nagoya Information Middle)
