Máuhan M Zonoozy, ex-head of innovation at Spotify, has founded A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya to rethink music interaction through small, experimental apps that blend playfulness and creativity with sound creation.
- Raises $5.5 million pre-seed funding led by notable VCs and Spotify advisor Dawn Ostroff
- Creates app “singles” that let users remix and build music in playful, experimental ways
- Focuses on empowering music interaction over pure AI-generated content
What happened
Máuhan M Zonoozy, formerly Spotify’s head of innovation, launched A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya to develop a collection of small music apps that enable playful sound and vocal experimentation. The startup recently closed a $5.5 million pre-seed funding round with backing from investors like Mantis VC, SV Angel, and Dawn Ostroff, who joined as an advisor.
The company produces apps released as experimental "singles"—each exploring different ways to create or modify music. Examples include Speed Surfer, a Chrome extension altering audio speed and filters; Stacks, a stem player with toggleable sound bars; and bop, an iOS app for mixing instruments and effects that can export directly to social media platforms like TikTok.
Why it matters
While music streaming revolutionized access, Zonoozy identified a gap in interactive engagement with music, especially among younger users who grow up creating culture through games and digital filters. A Vinyl Bar’s approach aims to make music creation accessible and fun, going beyond passive listening to encourage active participation.
The company is intentionally cautious about embedding AI in every feature, believing that as AI-generated content grows abundant, human taste, creativity, and collaboration become more vital. Their vision emphasizes music as a medium for exploration and social experiences rather than solely algorithmic production.
What to watch next
A Vinyl Bar plans to launch a "musical sandbox mixer" product that will allow users to experiment with various music-making elements, including instrument creation. This will further deepen user interaction and creativity within their ecosystem of apps.
Additionally, the startup is developing a multiplayer version of their bop app to enable collaborative song remixing, which could open new social dimensions in music creation. Observers should also note how the selective integration of AI features evolves as the company balances innovation with user-driven artistry.