“Creating music from the craziest things is another level of excitement.”
As kids, we learned that toys are the most exciting representation of putting your creativity to work and discovering the world beyond limits. That mindset remains in all of us, some more than others.
Laureano Cantarutti, expert in circuit bending, has the ability to transform toys and electronic devices into the craziest and most incredible musical instruments you could ever imagine.
“The idea of making music out of mutant toys absolutely caught my attention. When I first read about circuit bending, I felt like I was opening the doors to a whole new world and that a new exciting journey was about to begin,” he says. “The first circuit bending video that I watched was of a doll that had been modified with potentiometers, knobs and switches on her head, and it had been connected to an amplifier – the sound that came out of this mutant toy was unique and rare.” Since that moment, he immersed himself in the circuit bending world.
Laureano has empowered the circuit bending community worldwide. Over the last few years, he has been organizing and participating in diverse events, interesting workshops and virtual lessons. “The community has grown with strong visibility on social media. We interact mainly through Facebook groups where we share our experiences, tips and everything about our journey. The best thing about it is the strong bond we have, everybody is always willing to help each other.”
As a result of the amazing encouragement Laureano found in the circuit bending community, he managed to make Mapa Sonoro Latinoamericano de Circuit Bending come true last year – this masterpiece is an audiovisual compilation he created with artists from all over Latin America featuring unmatched sounds made from unique circuit bent instruments, which shows and shares each Latin American individual approach to Circuit Bending.
For this year’s Make Music Winter, which takes place on December 21st, Laureano will be joining us with the Mutant Toy Parade, an incredible event you won’t want to miss.
The parade will be held in six cities across the US simultaneously: New York (NY), Montclair (NJ), Salem (OR), Knoxville (TN), Toledo (OH) and Altoona (PA), and each one of these will feature a wide diversity of not only mutant toys, but also rare sounds and distinctive music genres. Participants will experience the whole process of assembling and creating music with mutant toys, which will be free to take home as a holiday gift.
Come make music with us!
Make Music Winter: Mutant Toy Parades
New York, NY
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
at Uptown Grand Central Plaza (Park Avenue & E 125th Street)
New York’s Mutant Toy Parade will be led by NYC-based percussionist Jochen Rueckert.
Additional details here
Altoona, PA
3:30 – 5:00 PM
at Arts Altoona Center (2212 6th Ave)
Participants are invited to experiment with three types of “circuit-bent” modified which will be available to take home afterwards for further music experimentation.
Additional details here
Knoxville, TN
8:00 – 7:00 PM
at the Rowing Man statue (W. Church Avenue & S Gay St)
Let’s learn how to hack electronic toys and make weird music together!
Additional details here
Montclair, NJ
5:15 – 6:30 PM
at Cool Cat Music (314 Bloomfield Ave)
Montclair Make Music Winter will hold a Mutant Toy Parade on Tuesday December 21st, as part of our Make Music Winter feeder march to the 6:00 pm Unsilent Night at Crane Park.
Additional details here
Salem, OR
5:00 – 6:00 PM
at Noble Wave (189 Liberty Street)
The mutant toy mods will perform a tricked-out holiday song on Make Music Day Salem winter solstice event, ‘Yule Make Music’.
Additional details here
Toledo, OH
6:00 – 7:00 PM
at Art Tatum Plaza (Madison Ave & N Superior St)
Music making activities in downtown Toledo celebrating Make Music Day Winter. This celebration is held annually on the Winter Solstice to encourage everyone to join in and make music!