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Patatap-ping to a New Beat
Awhile back, I discovered Patatap, an online sound board that generates pieces of music in conjunction with animated shapes, all by tapping the keys on your keyboard. Patatap was created by Jono Brandel (developer/designer), and the Lullatone, who provided the musical sounds for the site. Brandel had initially created the animations separately, (it’s unclear whether he developed his own software or not), but contact with Lullatone, who specializes in innocent, childlike sounds, inspired him to redevelop the idea into a musical sound board instead. Within six months, the trio had composed the sounds and put them together with the animations, creating Patatap.
What I love most about this site is how it connects visual arts with music through user interaction. Without even realizing it, one can create a beautiful animation and simultaneously compose an equally beautiful song, all while happily tapping away on the keyboard. I really admire how they approached this intersection by focusing on user experience, aiming to create something that is easy-to-use and enjoyable. By creating a fun game for the general population to play, Patatap is able to bring art into a population that might not have otherwise been reached, suggesting a step towards familiarizing the general public with fine arts.
Above is one of the many musical creations that users of Patatap have created.
This video of the band Lullatone demonstrates their style, which heavily influenced Brandel when establishing the music for Patatap.