BACKGROUND
I came from the void, and one day I shall return to it. In the meantime, I intend to make weird sounds. Some of them you might even call “music.”
MAKE & MODEL
1987 Yamaha VSS-30
photo by Solomon Thomas
WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU
Moments before I entered this world, my mother received a package from an anonymous donor. In it, she found this sampling keyboard. I’ve played it every day since. The VSS-30 set me on my path to greatness, but the identity of our benefactor remains a mystery…
WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE
The VSS-30 sounds like heaven, down-sampled to 8 bits. With the overwrite feature, you can layer samples on top of each other; it’s like building a house, but instead of bricks, you use samples. Whoa.
CUSTOM MODS
I’ve added a strap that allows me to dance while wearing the keyboard (not pictured).
CAN BE HEARD ON
The sweet sounds of the VSS-30 are all over our new EP, Born in the Viper Room. [listen below – ed.]
LEARN MORE at www.weareminka.com
Got a favorite instrument or piece of gear you’d like to share? Email us at editorial@performermag.com.