Unsung: Human-Curated Independent Music Discovery
Joyce Tratnyek
Did you know that over 50,000 songs are uploaded to Spotify each day, but over 80% of these tracks garner fewer than 1,000 plays? As an independent singer-songwriter, I am very familiar with the demoralizing struggle that countless small artists face while trying to get their music heard in today’s oversaturated market, where playlisting algorithms bias listeners toward major-label artists.
Unsung, a non-algorithmic indie/DIY music discovery app, aims to highlight the work and value of independent music makers by featuring only DIY/indie artists. Since it is non-algorithmic, it does not use exclusionary AI algorithms but rather human curators (like me!). The interface recommends songs randomly, challenging users to leave their comfort zones and embrace an open-minded listening experience. The app also features easy sharing of songs between friends and allows users to communicate directly with featured artists, enabling meaningful artist-fan connections.
The app design is simple and minimalistic, with a monochromatic brown color scheme and a simple serif typeface, allowing each featured track—and its corresponding visuals—to take the spotlight. It also incorporates hand-drawn icons for a touch of down-to-earth grunginess that highlights this project’s DIY ethos.
Unsung’s target audience is curious music lovers who are drawn to things beyond the mainstream. My goal is to share the range of amazing music being released by small indie artists and encourage listeners to appreciate the joy of discovering new music and sharing it with friends and community.