Wearable Music Tech: Meet the MiMu Gloves

Renowned artist and innovator Imogen Heap is changing the way we think about live performance with the release of MiMu Gloves — motion-sensitive wearable tech that allows musicians to create and manipulate sound using hand gestures, much like a modern theremin. Made with recycled materials and eco-friendly packaging, these gloves push beyond keyboards and laptops, giving performers the freedom to interact with their music and their audience in a visually immersive way.

Currently, musicians can join a waitlist to purchase a pair. The last time I checked, the price was just over $1,000 USD per glove — although the cost is no longer publicly listed on the official site, so that may have changed.

MiMu also offers a free app called Gliss (which gives major glissando vibes for the music theory nerds out there), and for more advanced users, there’s a companion software called Glover. Glover connects movements to MIDI/OSC controls using machine learning to interpret gestures, making it a powerful tool for live performance, composition, and experimental sound design.

The gloves have been in development for nearly a decade, and it’s been fascinating to watch them evolve. Manifesting a future moment where I can unbox a pair of my own and give them a proper review — stay tuned for that one!