Listening to the Ether |  interactive installation |  TheaterLab, NYC  |  2025

Testu Collective’s “Listening to the Ether” sound installation is a continuation into their research on electromagnetic phenomena. This installation includes two interactive sound art pieces and a live performance with Mike Romeo on Aug 9th closing the show.   

The first piece is a magnetic drum machine that demonstrates the practical application of Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, where rotating magnetized wheels generate audio frequencies through magnetic flux variation. It eliminates traditional mechanical percussion elements, instead using magnetic field modulation to create rhythmic patterns. Each wheel’s rotation speed and magnetic pole configuration determines the fundamental frequency and harmonic content of the generated tones.  

The second piece is a graphic score created through electromagnetic frequencies. The hidden electronics create inaudible electromagnetic signatures that become sonic material when detected by the EMF coil. Each component produces distinct frequency patterns, creating a palette of electronic tones, clicks, hums, or interference patterns. The listener becomes both performer and composer, discovering the hidden electronic landscape through movement.    

Concept: Testu Collective
Musicians: Testu Collective, Mike Romeo
Programming and Electronics Fabrication: Mike Romeo
Fabrication:  Dan Tesene