Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker has invented a brand new instrument called The Orchid.

First envisioned as a tool for Parker’s own songwriting more than a decade ago, The Orchid is an advanced chord generator developed by Parker and “friends,” similar to the “chord mode” you would find at the bottom left-hand side of many keyboards. What’s different, though, is The Orchid’s creative potential and ease of use — with just 13 keys, a range of octaves, various voicing options, dual built-in speakers, a Midi out port, and a rechargeable battery, the instrument promises to be a portable companion for beginner musicians and explorative producers alike to augment their songs.

Specifically, The Orchid is powered by three separate synths: polyphonic virtual analog subtractive synth for classic tones, an FM synth for modulations, and a “vintage reed piano emulation” complete with “mechanical noise samples for added realism.” With these, users...