With a wave of his hand, a Vancouver punk rock legend becomes Theremin Man

A character in the Vancouver music scene, Stephen Hamm made his name with punk and garage rock groups, among others. Its latest musical incarnation is Theremin Man, in which he plays a mysterious instrument, the theremin, while wearing shimmering robes. The artist launches a new album, Songs for the FutureTuesday.

Stephen Hamm remembers seeing The Song Remains the Samea music documentary featuring the British rock band Led Zeppelin, at the Ridge Theater in Vancouver in 1979. His teenage self was captivated by guitarist Jimmy Page.

In the film, Jimmy Page wields his famous double-neck guitar on stage at the Madison Square Garden from New York and plays a Gibson Les Paul with a bow.

However, what most marked Stephen Hamm was the musician’s use of the theremin, an electronic instrument operated without physical contact, to make the crowd a little crazy in their high state.

It was really greatcomments Stephen Hamm, in an interview on the radio show North by Northwest.

Stephen Hamm was one of the founding members of the punk band Slowplayed bass for the Evaporatorsa garage rock band founded by Nardwuar the Human Toweland he also formed his own duo, Canned Hamm.

The origin of its new incarnation, Theremin Mandates back to a conversation that the musician had with his guruwho, according to him, lives on one of the highest peaks on Bowen Island. The latter suggested Mr. Hamm go solo, after years of working with other people.

Stephen Hamm’s studio, which he calls his sky caveis filled with musical instruments, but it was the one created more than 100 years ago by Russian scientist Lev Theremin that caught his attention.

The theremin came onto the scene and people were drawn to the instrument because it is truly uniquehe said.

The theremin is controlled by moving hands in the air near two metal antennas, which changes their magnetic fields. One of the antennas determines the pitch, the other the volume.

Stephen Hamm describes waving the right hand to control the pitch and the left hand for volume as if they were patting your head while rubbing your stomach.

To read and listen:

It was the sound of pure electric currentdescribe Sean Michaelsthe author of a novel about the life of the inventor of the theremin, in an interview with CBC in 2020, on the occasion of the 100^e anniversary of this enigmatic instrument.

In duet with Rosie

Emulating a disembodied voice, the theremin has been used in films, most notably in the 1951 science fiction classic The day the earth stood still.

Mr. Hamm admits that the theremin fits perfectly with his interest in retrofuturism, which explores how the future has been imagined in the past.

I love the aesthetic of the future in the 1960s, 1940s or 1950s. This thing [le thérémine] represents the future in 1920. It was the future. It was a sensation.

Among his favorite theremins in his sky cave includes the Claravox, designed by Moog Music to mark the 100th^e anniversary of the creation of the instrument. It was named after Clara Rockmore, the first theremin virtuoso.

Stephen Hamm named his Claravox Rosie because he looks like Rosie the robot from the retrofuturistic cartoon series The Jetsons.

On Songs for the Future, which he releases on May 7, Stephen Hamm sings and plays the theremin, which he says has a unique, ethereal sound. According to him, the album highlights a relationship that is not typical between the musician and the instrument.

It’s like a voice, it’s almost like I have a second singerexplains Hamm. It’s a bit like doing a duet with the theremin. Rosie is my escort. Or I am his companion. I’m not sure how this happens.

In addition: video clip of an extract from the album on Stephen Hamm’s YouTube channel

With information from the show’s Margaret Gallagher North by Northwest and Jon Azpiri