The Kraken of the Keys: Watch a Rescued Octopus Play Music for Food

We have long told stories of what lies beneath the waves. From the ship-crushing Kraken of Norse mythology to the slumbering cosmic entity Cthulhu, humanity has always suspected that something intelligent, and perhaps a little terrifying, is watching us from the deep.

But what if that intelligence just wanted to play a little jazz?

The Essentials

1. 1

   Instead of becoming a snack at a fish market, one lucky octopus was rescued for a bizarre musical experiment.
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   With a central brain and neurons in every arm, this creature brings a whole new meaning to multitasking.
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   Discover how a custom-built piano and a crab reward system turned a mollusc into an unlikely musician.

In a delightful intersection of marine biology and musical madness, Swedish YouTuber and musician Mattias Krantz has done the impossible. He has trained a rescued octopus to play the piano.

Meet Takoyaki: The Mozart of the Molluscs

Krantz, known for his eccentric instrument experiments (such as putting a piano in a trailer that subsequently combusted), visited a live fish market with a mission. He wasn’t looking for dinner; he was looking for a student.

He rescued a young octopus destined for the plate and named him Takoyaki. For those familiar with Japanese cuisine, you’ll spot the dark humour immediately—takoyaki is a popular street food made of fried octopus balls.

Instead of becoming a snack, however, Takoyaki became a roommate. But teaching a cephalopod to appreciate the finer points of music theory isn’t quite the same as teaching a human.

Eight Arms, Nine Brains, Endless Potential

Why an octopus? Aside from their alien appearance, they possess an unnerving level of intelligence.

Scientists have long been fascinated by cephalopods. They can solve complex puzzles, unscrew jars from the inside, and even recognise human faces. Perhaps most strangely, they have distributed consciousness. An octopus has a central brain, but two-thirds of its neurons are in its arms. Essentially, each arm has a “mini-brain” of its own.

In theory, as Krantz noted, “It’s like having eight pianists in one body.”

We often explore the boundaries of the unexplained here at In Pure Spirit, from ancient folklore to modern mysteries. But sometimes, the most incredible things aren’t supernatural at all—they’re just nature showing off. While Takoyaki might not be predicting the future (unlike Paul the Octopus, of World Cup fame), he is certainly displaying cognitive flexibility that rivals that of a toddler.

The Octopus Piano

Initial attempts to teach Takoyaki were… damp. Krantz tried placing the octopus on a standard keyboard, but motivation was an issue. Like many reluctant music students, Takoyaki needed the right incentive.

Krantz custom-built an “octopus piano” designed specifically for cephalopod ergonomics. It uses a system of positive reinforcement that would make B.F. Skinner proud.

• The Setup: A specialised tank interface with accessible keys.
• The Incentive: A mechanical food tube containing a crab.
• The Method: When Takoyaki presses the correct keys to form a melody, the crab is lowered into grabbing range.

It is a slow process, but the results are undeniable. Takoyaki isn’t just mashing buttons; he is learning that specific actions (creating sound) result in a reward.

A Window into an Alien World

While we likely won’t see Takoyaki performing a concerto at the Royal Albert Hall anytime soon, this experiment highlights how little we truly understand about animal consciousness.

It brings to mind the “Umwelt”—the self-centred world in which every organism lives. For centuries, we thought the ocean was silent. Now we know it is full of communication, and apparently, the potential for piano ballads.

If this story has sparked a desire to learn more about the mysteries of the deep (without installing a massive saltwater tank in your living room), you don’t need a submarine. You can explore the underwater world from dry land with the incredible range of ocean science kits and documentaries available at Amazon.

For those who prefer to keep their aquatic adventures strictly literary, you can also find plenty of fascinating books on cephalopod intelligence there.

As for Mattias Krantz, he claims, “No one would believe me if this wasn’t recorded.” Fortunately for us, it was. Takoyaki now lives peacefully with his teacher, safe from the fish market, occasionally tapping out a tune for a crab.

In Pure Spirit

It turns out the monsters of the deep aren’t here to destroy us; they might just be looking for a jam session. Do you think animals can truly appreciate music, or is it just a mechanical response for food? Let us know in the comments below!