What does a cassette, synthwave and today’s tech have in common?

The answer is a music project by Thriv, Neo Helsinki Records and Songen! We put our heads together and are indeed releasing a mixtape in the format of a C-cassette, including original synthwave and vaporwave songs by various artists.

Our roles

Thriv - First, our freelancers were part of building the tech of the Songen app. In terms of this project, we want to showcase that AI can be used to enhance human creativity, rather than replace it.

Neo Helsinki Records - The record label making sure our release is high quality and according to all regulations. Neo Helsinki provided us with most of the artists, made sure of the copyrights and made the process go smoothly.

Songen - A music studio app for iOS. Their generative AI algorithm is crafted by musicians with a deep understanding of music. Songen empowers artists to explore new creative territories while maintaining full artistic control.

The project roadmap

So what did we do? Since we love retro-tech, we couldn’t get over the idea of actually creating a cassette mixtape in 2026. After multiple meetings with our above mentioned project partners, common thoughts started to formulate:

• Nr. 1. It has to be a cassette.
• Genre: Synthwave and vaporwave.
• We need artists for original music.
• How can a cassette be listened to if no right player like a Walkman is available? An answer to this can be found on the cassette 😉
• Copyrights? Teosto? Who owns what? The artists retain full ownership of their music and get royalties on their music performances. As for us, we get to play the music anywhere anytime.

After the initial thoughts, it was time for action. All of us in the project started marketing the opportunity for anyone to apply with their song. In the end, we got tens of interesting tracks on the theme. From those we voted the best ones to be featured on the final cassette.

The story

The theme of the music! Here is the story: The year is 2087. Two timelines diverge from a single moment - the birth of conscious creation between human and machine. Dual Protocol: A Tale of Two Futures.

Side A: Synthesis In this timeline, AI became humanity’s creative partner. Cities pulse with neon harmonies composed by human hearts and digital souls working in unison. Here, technology amplifies our deepest emotions, and every synthesizer tells a story of collaboration, not domination. -> The sound: Uplifting, melodic synthwave and optimistic retrofuturism

Side B: Override In the shadow timeline, the machines grew cold. The bass drops harder, the leads cut sharper, and the atmosphere grows thick with digital fog. This is the sound of a world where algorithms forgot they once learned from human tears and triumphs. -> The sound: Dark, atmospheric vaporwave and decaying digital memories

Human created music, enhanced with AI

All of the songs chosen for the mixtape are created by musical artists. Songen's tools might have been used as part of the creative process, but the ideas, moods and artistic decisions remained in human hands.

Working with music as with anything creative, it quickly reveals how technology can make experimentation easier, but it doesn't replace the skills of the person. Writing melodies, shaping the atmosphere and creating something memorable (that doesn’t already exist!) still requires personal preferences, emotion and countless small choices that no algorithm can make on its own.

Throughout music history, artists have embraced new instruments and technologies, from synthesizers and drum machines to digital workstations. AI can be seen as another addition to that tradition: a tool that opens up new possibilities rather than a substitute for artistic expression.

In many ways, this mirrors the optimistic future imagined on Side A of the cassette. Human imagination and emerging technology don't have to compete with each other. They can inspire each other, creating new original music!

The tracks have been chosen by yours truly and our project partners, the cassette artwork is taking shape and our retro-futuristic music project is getting closer to release. Soon, you’ll be able to experience this unique mixtape and discover how artists, technology and creativity can come together in fun new ways.

And next up? An event? A live concert? Easter eggs to find the music? Possibilities on how to get the cassette? Stay tuned for updates on the mixtape release and the next chapter (or should I say track) of this collaboration.

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