The Toa Mata All Robot Band

[Source: Opificio Sonico]

Tired of listening to all of your favorite songs over and over again on Pandora? Or the loud and way-too-human bands that leave your ears ringing after every concert? One alternative is the Toa Mata Band. Not a garage band at all – more of a kitchen table band – the members of the Toa Mata Band are comprised entirely of Lego robots.

The band was created by Giuseppe Acito at his Opificio Sonico lab. In addition to being a music producer, Acito has a “passion for the Lego world.” And he combines his passions by building robots with his son and musical instruments – drum pads, percussion instruments, and synthesizers – that the robots play. The robots are actually motor-enabled Lego Bionicle heroes controlled by an iPad. The music sequencing app, Clavia NordBeat, sends a 4-track sequence that communicates to an Arduino Uno microcontroller board that converts the musical notes into electrical impulses. The result is pure – albeit miniaturized – robotic funk.

All they need is a holographic lead singer and to perform the very obvious “Electric Avenue.” When they do, I know where to find the perfect backup dancers.