Nori Ubukata
Composer, thereminist, synthesist, keyboardist. Born in Tokyo, Japan.
A leading figure in synthesizer sound design. After the world’s first FM synthesizer, the YAMAHA GS-1, he participated in the development of the DX7, which had a huge impact on music production around the world, and has since been involved in the development and sound creation of synthesizers for YAMAHA and KORG for many years.
He moved to France in 2010. In addition to performing with the theremin, he creates sounds for synthesizers released by manufacturers around the world.
In 2013, he was invited to the first Chilean International Theremin Festival held in Santiago, Chile, along with Lydia Cavina, a descendant of Dr. Theremin, the inventor of the theremin.
In 2014, they began developing a new instrument called “Thérésyn,” which takes advantage of the characteristics of the theremin and synthesizer, and adds elements of Indian classical instruments and various innovations such as a touchpad to enhance playability and expressiveness. A prototype was completed in the spring of 2016, and preparations are currently underway to commercialize the instrument.
At MusikMesse, an international musical instrument trade fair held annually in Frankfurt, Germany, the instrument was selected as one of the top 15 (14th place) by Audio Fanzine, a prestigious French musical instrument information website, out of more than 1,000 musical instruments exhibited. This is extremely unusual for an individual exhibitor. (http://fr.audiofanzine.com/instrument-materiel-audio/editorial/ dossiers/le-top-15-du-musikmesse-2016.html)
For the American pop singer Lady Gaga’s 2015 world tour, he was in charge of creating the synthesizer sounds used on stage.
Recently, he has been performing as a duet with the famous French modern music pianist Cynthia Caubisens (https://www.operamusica.com/artist/cynthia-caubisens/), mainly in Lyon, and performed in Japan in 2018 and 2024.
In 2018, he was in charge of the original concept and illustrations for the picture book “Terminotopia,” which is based on the theremin. The story is by DJ and producer Kawamura Yuki.
In 2019, he produced a song for Swedish artist Spiritual Macinarry (http:// spiritualmachinery.eu/index.html).
Theresyn will finally be completed this year in 2024.