Wavelength Music Streaming Service
Designed and developed the user interface for an indie music streaming service, focusing on discovery features and creating a unique, engaging listening experience using custom audio visualizations.
Project Overview
Wavelength Music wanted to stand out in the crowded music streaming market by focusing on indie artists and music discovery. I designed and built an interface that makes exploring new music feel like an adventure, with custom audio visualizations and an emphasis on artist stories.
The Challenge
In a market dominated by Spotify and Apple Music, how do you create a streaming service that feels different and attracts music enthusiasts?
Key challenges:
- Differentiate from established players without losing familiar UX patterns
- Make music discovery exciting rather than overwhelming
- Give indie artists more visibility
- Create a visually stunning interface that doesn't distract from the music
Design Philosophy
"Music is more than audio - it's a visual and emotional experience"
I wanted every interaction to feel like discovering hidden gems in a record store, with beautiful album art, artist stories, and surprising connections between songs.
Key Features
Mood-Based Discovery
Instead of generic playlists, users select a mood visualization and the app creates a journey through similar-feeling songs.
Audio Visualizations
Custom-built WebGL visualizations that react to the music in real-time, giving each song a unique visual identity.
Artist Stories
Short-form content from artists about their creative process, displayed alongside their music.
Listening Parties
Live listening sessions where users can discover music together and chat in real-time.
Design System
Created a dark-first interface with:
- Vibrant accent colors that adapt to album artwork
- Fluid animations that feel musical and organic
- Typography optimized for readability in low-light conditions
- Glassmorphism elements for a modern, premium feel
Technical Implementation
Front-end Stack
- Next.js for server-side rendering and optimal performance
- Three.js for 3D audio visualizations
- Framer Motion for smooth, physics-based animations
- Web Audio API for real-time audio analysis
Performance Optimizations
- Lazy loading of visualizations to prevent performance issues
- Service workers for offline playback
- Optimized album art delivery with progressive loading
- Audio streaming optimization for various network conditions
Results
Launch metrics exceeded expectations:
- 25,000 users in first month (10x target)
- 45-minute average session length (industry average: 25 minutes)
- Featured in TechCrunch, The Verge, and Product Hunt #1 Product of the Day
- 12,000+ indie artists signed up in first quarter
User Feedback
"Finally, a streaming service that makes discovering new music feel special again. The visualizations are mesmerizing!" — User review
"As an indie artist, this platform actually helps my music get discovered. The artist stories feature connected me with fans in a way Spotify never did." — Artist testimonial
Learnings
- Delight matters: The audio visualizations weren't "necessary" but they became the most talked-about feature
- Niche beats broad: Focusing on indie music created a passionate community
- Performance is crucial: Beautiful animations mean nothing if they cause lag
- Artist empowerment: Giving artists tools to tell their story created authentic content
Future Iterations
Based on user feedback, we're planning:
- Collaborative playlists with real-time editing
- AI-powered music recommendations based on listening patterns
- Integration with live concert discovery
- Artist merchandise integration