In the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, emerging startups are developing innovative tools that empower users to craft music using generative AI, allowing them to emulate their favorite artists effortlessly. A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya, a name that could easily pass as an indie band, is at the forefront of this movement, working on a series of compact applications designed for musical experimentation.
The startup has successfully secured $5.5 million in pre-seed funding from notable investors, including Mantis VC, SV Angel, Boxgroup, Quiet Capital, ERA, Common Metal, Gold House, Liquid 2 Ventures, Breakers VC, Systemic Ventures, and Dawn Ostroff, the former chief content and advertising officer at Spotify, who now serves as an advisor to the company.
Leading the charge is Máuhan M Zonoozy, who previously held the position of head of innovation at Spotify. Before that role, he founded Bubbl, a video clipping and remixing platform that was later acquired by Cricket Media.
After departing Spotify in 2024, Zonoozy was eager to return to entrepreneurship. He recognized that while streaming platforms have made music more accessible, much of the interaction revolves around passive listening.
In his conversations with TechCrunch, Zonoozy remarked, “When considering the behaviors of younger audiences, it’s clear that many engage with culture through gaming, filters, and creative tools. I saw a unique opportunity to enable similar experiences with music.”
The startup releases its creative tools in a manner akin to music singles, with each app designed to facilitate interaction with various sound elements. For example, Speed Surfer is a Chrome extension that allows users to modify the speed and filters of audio in their browser. Another app, Usersound, lets users create an “audio” username, where each letter corresponds to a musical note. Stacks is a stem player that enables users to mix tracks by toggling bars on and off within a 3x3 grid. Drops introduces a gameplay element, where users arrange plaques to change the trajectory of falling marbles, producing musical notes. Meanwhile, Sampler transforms YouTube videos into interactive music samplers based on different song segments.
The founder’s most ambitious project to date is an iOS app called bop. This application allows users to arrange musical instruments and effects in a grid, aiding in the creation of unique mixes of a selected song. Users can adjust tempo and add special effects, with the added functionality of easily exporting mixes to platforms like TikTok and Instagram. A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya is also developing a multiplayer feature that would enable collaborative remixing.
Zonoozy emphasized that while the potential of AI is undeniable, the startup is intentional about not integrating it into every aspect of their applications. He is open to leveraging AI for product development and infrastructure optimization but believes that the essence of music creation should not solely focus on AI-generated compositions.
“AI is incredibly powerful, but we don’t think that the future of music should be limited to AI-generated songs. An increase in AI-generated content could diminish the value of human taste, perspective, and interaction, which are crucial to the music experience. We aim to ensure that these qualities maintain their significance,” he explained.
Looking ahead, the company plans to launch a “musical sandbox mixer” later this year, allowing users even greater freedom to explore music creation, including the ability to invent their own instruments.
