Good Vibrations!
Introduction
Xan Van Hughes or X-Ray has dedicated his entire life to a unique musical instrument; played with nothing but THIN AIR!
“The theremin usually features two metal antennas emitting electromagnetism — allowing conductive objects and “human hands” as a way to interrupt the waves and control the pitch & volume of the instrument.”
The Theremin — Is His Gnosis
Van Hughes discovered the instrument when asking the universe for an instrument that had no frets like a fretless bass but a bit more melodic. On March 9, 2016 he got his answer. When visiting the Google homepage; he stumbled across a birthday Google Doodle for legendary virtuosa thereminist Clara Rockmore!
Van Hughes uses his eternal burning passion for the theremin — performing live in the grassy fields of local parks, assistant living homes, and traveling with his historical museum.
The theremin is embedded in his soul; not easily ripped apart. His entire life Van Hughes has struggled daily with childhood-onset schizophrenia. He knows he found his True Will or gnosis — making the theremin a true therapeutic and cathartic lifetime activity.
What Do You Mean — NO FRETS?!
With the freedom of non-existent frets and an uncommon instrument to find an instructor locally, the inspired musician began teaching himself how to play, as it seemed, an impossible musical instrument.
Features & Past Work
His work is featured in recorded material from around the globe! Working with professional artists from New York City to Japan. Van Hughes has experience performing his theremin in the studio and on-stage.
Van Hughes performs monthly for nursing and assistant living homes. In the summertime Hughes enjoys taking his theremin + a portable AC battery to local parks — performing for people who walk in proximity or park wildlife doing park wildlife things. In fact, many insects and animals get quite curious about the theremin outdoors!
The Mission
X-Ray’s Theremin Museum is the educational branch of Xan Van Hughes’ life mission — to help further showcase the theremin such as inventor Leon Theremin did back in 1920s & 1930s. Van Hughes’ traveling collection of theremin artifacts and memorabilia can be viewed online via The Archive and in-person at events.
