The company’s approach treats software releases like a musical album, launching experimental "singles" that allow users to manipulate sound rather than generate it from scratch. These tools range from the Speed Surfer Chrome extension, which modifies browser audio, to Stacks, a 3x3 grid-based stem player. The startup's flagship iOS app, bop, enables users to layer instruments and effects to remix tracks, with built-in export features for TikTok and Instagram.
A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya bets on play over AI generation
While the music industry rushes to automate song production with generative prompts, a new startup is moving in the opposite direction. A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya, founded by former Spotify innovation head Máuhan M Zonoozy, has secured $5.5 million to build interactive tools that prioritize human participation over algorithmic output.
Backing the venture is a wide coalition of investors, including Mantis VC, SV Angel, and Boxgroup, along with former Spotify executive Dawn Ostroff, who serves as an advisor. Zonoozy, who departed Spotify in 2024, argues that the current obsession with AI song generation risks devaluing human taste. By focusing on "musical sandboxes," the team aims to foster active creation rather than passive consumption, with plans to launch a collaborative mixer later this year that allows users to build their own virtual instruments.
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