The manner in which we engage with music today has largely been transformed into a passive, consumerist activity. Many simply listen to curated playlists, skim through top charts, or let algorithms dictate their auditory experience. This drift towards passivity has gradually detached listeners from the profound essence and diversity of music, reducing it to mere background noise or quick entertainment. “Sonic Explorations” steps in to challenge this status quo.
My personal musical journey started with cassette tapes and CDs, for which I had to save for from the little lunch money I had available during the troubling 90’s in Serbia, only to have access to pirated media once every few months when I would visit my brother who was studying in Belgrade at the time. Getting a 33.6k dial up internet connection elevated that experience significantly and let me browse through the infinite web of recorded DJ sets, Napster and Soulseek.
Many years later and having multiple subscriptions to streaming platforms which I enjoy, I found myself falling in love with vinyl. Going from this digital abundance to a very physical, limited world, took my musical journey on the next level. Not only did I have a physical thing to fall in love with and care for gently (with amazing covers!), I could associate vinyl to a specific record store, a city, culture, the person I met when I went out digging or, if I was lucky, a musician who signed it.
Pretty soon I found out there was still music you couldn’t find online (and great music indeed), but also that I wouldn’t have found if I weren’t out and about digging through crates in every city I was visiting on my journey as the founder of a Web3 project. Reflecting, I realized that most of the music I listen to today I have discovered in record stores, at festivals, clubs (big shout-out to DJs at 20/44 Belgrade!) and got as recommendations from people – not algorithms – which I found strange, given we are knee deep in the 21st century and the AI craze.
Could it be that the million dollar musical platforms are not “doing it for me” because they do not really “try”? Since they are designed with “consumers” in mind, can they really ever reach the sonic experience for musical fans who like to discover through genuine connections? Could it be because their main KPI is consumption, and their core business taking a cut as the middle man between music fans and troubled artists?
There must be many people like me around the world who would like to have something better. A friendly tool that will help us discover amazing music, explore it easily, while making direct connections with other fans, artists, dancers, video-makers and freaks who we can relate to? Artists who we can directly support!
And so the idea of Sonic Explorations was born. It is about transforming the way we experience and interact with all things music – a beyond state-of-the-art Web3 platform that enables the most sophisticated exploration methods, direct fan-to-musician, fan-to-label interactions and musical streaming, all while empowering artists who will jointly own the platform. It will be built on the best technology designed for connectivity – the OriginTrail Decentralized Knowledge Graph – which combines Web3 and AI powers to drive the best possible recommendation algorithms, with the right incentives, inherent ownership and open ecosystem on top of which anyone can build – including the music platforms of today. Call it the ultimate AI-powered, musical, virtual metaverse graph.
This venture is not just about immersion; it’s about revolutionising the perception of sonic art. Instead of being mere spectators, participants are beckoned into a universe where they don’t just listen but profoundly experience a blend of visual and auditory innovation. Sonic Explorations is not merely about entertainment; it’s a torchbearer of discovery, challenging the boundaries of contemporary art and sound. This mission, while enthralling our senses, also seeks to cultivate and invigorate the upcoming brigade of artists and sonic pioneers, instilling in them a renewed passion for musical exploration and empowering them to create. In essence, “Sonic Explorations” is a beacon for those yearning for a deeper, more engaging connection with the vast universe of music.
“Exploration is in our nature. We began as wanderers, and we are wanderers still.” – Carl Sagan
Thanks for reading. Super happy to hear your thoughts and feedback. And let’s make it happen.
@branarakic
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