The theremin: playing the air

An instrument you never touch

The theremin has two antennas. One hand moves near the upright antenna to change the pitch; the other moves over the loop to change the volume. There are no keys, no strings and no frets: the player's hands shape the sound in open air.

Why it sounds like singing

Pitch on a theremin slides continuously, the way a voice does. There is no fixed note to land on, so the player listens and adjusts all the time, exactly as a singer does. That is why it sits so naturally beside vocal work.

Small movements, large changes

A few centimetres of movement can be a whole interval. Playing it is an exercise in stillness: stand steady, breathe, move one thing at a time.

Hearing it live

The theremin is part of DEFÆR's live sets alongside voice and live looping. It is easiest to understand in a room, where you can watch the hands and hear the sound follow them.

Find a session or meet Katrina.