A shibuya-based startup led by former spotify executive launches music creation tools

A Shibuya-based startup, A Vinyl Bar, led by former Spotify executive Máuhan M Zonoozy, is launching a series of experimental music creation apps. The company, which raised $5.5 million in pre-seed funding from Mantis VC, SV Angel, and other investors, focuses on enabling users to interact with sound and music through various tools. Zonoozy, who left Spotify in 2024, emphasized the importance of user interaction in music creation, stating that while streaming solved access issues, the interaction with music remained limited. The startup’s apps, such as Speed Surfer and Usersound, allow users to manipulate sound and create music through interactive features. Zonoozy also mentioned that the company is intentionally avoiding AI integration in all aspects, though it is open to using AI for infrastructure. The company plans to release a "musical sandbox mixer" this year, allowing users to create instruments and explore music-making elements. Recently, the startup added prompt-based features to its apps, a change that was not present in earlier versions.