Tame Impala's Kevin Parker Releases Orchid, New Musical “Ideas Machine”

Tame Imapala mastermind Kevin Parker has further diversified his role in the music industry, this time launching a new music 'idea engine'.

Compiled Orchidthe new device is less an instrument and more a digital multisynthesizer designed for musicians and producers to explore new ideas.

According to a press release, the way Orchid works is “by using a unique logical chord system, combined with multiple ways to shape and change chords to maximize creative musical expression.”

“All of this is created by a rich and powerful 16-voice polyphonic synth engine with built-in ambience and FX shaping, as well as a separate bass engine exclusively for the bottom end,” he continues.

Designed by Telepathic instruments Co-founder Ignacio Germade, Orchid functions largely as a string production system. A 70s style product video shows the Orchid in action and illustrates how an operator can select a root note from the one-octave keyboard and use the eight “chord selection and modification keys”.

Simply put, pressing 'E' on the keyboard and the 'Minor' chord modifier key will provide an E minor chord, with the ability to further modify it.

The Orchird also uses a patent-pending voicing system that uses a rotary encoder to “re-shout and re-position chords,” ultimately expanding the potential of the strings beyond the 12 keys found on the unit. Strum, Slop, Arpeggiator, Pattern and Harp performance modes also add flexibility to how the aforementioned chords are “played” by the user as well.

“While other string generators provide a static and rigid output platform, Orchid paints a new landscape,” the press release adds.

The Orchid is set to go on sale in December, with 1,000 units available to US buyers at a cost of $549. A wider launch will follow in 2025.

Parker's Tame Impala project last released an album in 2020, with The slow rush peaking at No. 3 on the Hot 100 – one spot higher than its Platinum-selling predecessor in 2015 Streams.