A new music technology startup called A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya is taking a different approach to the growing use of artificial intelligence in music. 

Rather than focusing on tools that generate complete songs from prompts, the company is developing interactive applications that allow users to experiment with sounds, vocals, instruments and musical arrangements.

The startup has raised $5.5 million in pre seed funding from several investors, including Mantis VC, SV Angel, BoxGroup, Quiet Capital and other backers. 

The company was founded by Máuhan M. Zonoozy, a former head of innovation at Spotify who previously established a video clipping and remixing startup that was later acquired.

Zonoozy said the company was created from the belief that music technology should encourage people to participate in music rather than simply consume it.

Its various experimental products allow users to manipulate sounds in playful ways. Some tools change the speed and characteristics of audio, while others allow users to create musical patterns or transform online videos into samples.

The company’s most ambitious product so far is an iOS application called bop. 

The app allows users to arrange instruments and effects on a grid, adjust the tempo and create different versions of a song. 

Users can then share their creations on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, while the company is also developing a multiplayer version that could allow people to remix music together.

Zonoozy said the company is not opposed to artificial intelligence but does not believe the future of music should be centred entirely on AI generated songs. 

He argues that as AI makes music increasingly abundant, human taste, creativity and participation could become even more valuable. 

The startup plans to release a broader musical sandbox that will give users more ways to experiment with music creation.

Source: TechCrunch