Retro sci-fi synth blends ferrofluid movement to every musical note

Swedish designer Love Hultén has created the Extraterrestrial Guitar Thing, a unique, custom-built synthesizer that merges retro sci-fi aesthetics with innovative musical technology. This one-of-a-kind instrument features a bright yellow, angular chassis reminiscent of 1970s sci-fi props, emphasizing its identity as both a musical device and a visual art piece. Instead of traditional strings or keys, it uses knobs, switches, and a touch-sensitive neck with metallic points to trigger notes, allowing for both monophonic and polyphonic play. A steel rod controller adds expressive pitch and modulation control, enhancing performance versatility. A standout feature is the integrated ferrofluid display housed in a circular window on the body, which dynamically reacts to audio signals by forming shifting, organic patterns that visually represent the music in real time. Powered by a modified Arturia Microfreak synthesizer engine, the instrument is fully self-contained with built-in speakers and battery power, enabling portability and immediate playability. Commissioned for a private