Kazumi is an accessible instrument for aspiring musicians and makers. It is a completely new interface that is designed to be engaging for anyone that is interested in making music. Its design has been subject to many different constraints in order to remove as many barriers to participation as possible.
Each of the seven surfaces is a touch-pad that is subdivided into five configurable electrodes. The structure can be rotated on its base to transpose the selected scale. Playing music on Kazumi is a tactile, sensual experience, hands exploring and caressing to draw different notes from the speaker embedded in the peak.
It has been designed as an open-source DIY kit. This will not only allow anyone to learn about the materials and processes that have gone into the instrument but it will empower users by encouraging them to hack and customise it as the ultimate way of appropriation.
