Indie darling Imogen Heap sings, plays a multitude of instruments, and produces and mixes her own work. She’s also a quirky vlogger, as demonstrated in this clip, below.
In a quick 45-second clip, Heap takes ordinary table salt and pours some onto what looks like a doumbek, a small drum (thought to be of Mesopotamian or Ancient Egyptian origin). And as the title of the clip implies, “Imogen Heap Sings Salt Into Shapes.”
According to YouTube commenter, DavidB5501, who seems to know his science:
The shapes are technically called Chladni patterns, which are produced when sound waves at the right pitch reinforce natural vibration frequencies in the drum. The salt gathers along lines of least movement. Different patterns can be produced by different pitches, as Imogen very clearly shows.
So she isn’t just giving us a nifty demonstration of sound waves…she’s also giving us a science lesson. Thanks, Imogen!
Via NYMag.