Designed by Anju Singh
13” x 28” x 31”
Steel sheet metal, steel plate, aluminum square tube, springs, piano wire
This prototype is the third model I created in a series of experiments and designs I developed in my process of developing a metal material based string instrument that allows for various playing styles. Materials are a mix of found scrap metal and new materials.
This experiment explores the following:
- resonant properties of metal when a string attached to a frame is bowed, plucked, or tapped/drummed
- resonant properties of metal when a string is strung directly through the sheet of metal
- various positions of springs to explore reverberation
- early failed attempts at creating totally analog delay, but progress was made
- resonant properties of metal when the metal is bowed followed by immediately bowing the strings to see how the sounds interact in the concave sound chamber
- how different shaping choices for the sheet metal shifted the sounds produced
Sheet Metal Experiments Log Book
Anju Singh, 2025
Sheet Metal Experiment I: Shaping Metal (early October)
A prototype exploring structural shapes and forms that could be remapped as stable instruments in larger formats.
Sheet Metal Experiment II: Suspended vs. Mounted Sheet Metal (late October)
A prototype that could switch between a metal sheet that was fully mounted to the frame vs. a metal sheet that was suspended by small wires. I also tested using a metal bridge connecting the string from the bridge to the sheet metal for the mounted sheet metal version.
noting that this is the band KRAFTWERK i’m playing the background of the video, not the sound of the instrument!
Sheet Metal Experiment III: Inducing Resonant Possibilities of Metal (exhibited at Modulus Festival, early November)
The third experiment explores the following:
- resonant properties of metal when a string attached to a frame is bowed, plucked, or tapped/drummed
- resonant properties of metal when a string is strung directly through the sheet of metal
- various positions of springs to explore reverberation
- early failed attempts at creating totally analog delay, but progress was made
- resonant properties of metal when the metal is bowed followed by immediately bowing the strings to see how the sounds interact in the concave sound chamber
- how different shaping choices for the sheet metal shifted the sounds produced
Steel plate: new
Aluminum square tune: scrap
Steel plate 2: scrap
Sheet metal 1: scrap
Sheet metal 2: new
About the Artist
Anju Singh is a composer, sound artist, and multi-instrumentalist interested in extended and experimental techniques as well as re-application of traditional instruments in new contexts, sometimes leading to the development and build of new self-made instruments. Anju has presented her work across Canada and internationally including in the US, Brazil, Mexico, Europe, and Japan. In addition to her sound and music practice in areas of improv, experimental music and sound art, Anju also performs under the moniker The Nausea, and is also a drummer, vocalist, synth player and guitarist in various projects.
