Spotify Added Feature:

Beat Making made easier

Case Study 2 ~ 6 min read

The Problem

LISTENING TO MUSIC IS OFTEN ONE-DIMENSIONAL.
WITHOUT EASY ACCESS TO VOCALS, DRUMS, AND INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENTS.
EVERYDAY LISTENERS MISS THE CHANCE TO PEEL BACK LAYERS,
EXPLORE HIDDEN DETAILS, AND CONNECT DEEPER WITH THE SONGS THEY LOVE.

The process

User research and synthesis, ideation, prototyping, interaction, usability testing

My Role

UX/UI designer

Tools

Figma

Duration

4 Weeks

The Solution

The Spotify Stems feature transforms passive listening into an interactive, immersive experience. By allowing users to instantly isolate vocals, drums, bass, and other instruments from any track, it opens the door to deeper musical exploration. Whether singing along to just the vocals, studying the drum groove, or uncovering hidden melodies, listeners can connect with their favorite songs in entirely new ways, making every play a personal discovery.

2. Save & Share Options

Easily save your favorite stems to playlists or share them with friends for collaborative listening, learning, or remixing fun.

1. Stem Isolation Controls

Drag, solo, or mute any stem—vocals, drums, bass, keys, or other instruments—for a fully customizable listening experience.

3. Interactive Music Discovery

Reveal hidden harmonies, instrumental details, and rhythmic patterns, unlocking new ways to appreciate and understand your favorite tracks.

01 Research

Millions in the Moment: Music Creation is an Untapped Everyday Experience

Hour-long interviews were conducted with 5 participants between the ages of 22–65 who had recently relocated. Participants included individuals who had moved for work opportunities, lifestyle changes, education, or personal reasons, both domestically and internationally. The aim was to uncover their motivations, needs, goals, and pain points when adjusting to a new location.

From these conversations, I identified patterns in their experiences—ranging from logistical hurdles to cultural adaptation—and grouped my findings into the following categories

Needs — Logistics & Resources:

simple, intuitive creation tools with built-in guidance and easy access to remix favorite tracks without complex software

Goals:

make music creation fun and approachable; shorten the learning curve; enable quick idea capture; foster community around shared creations

Motivations:

exploring music in deeper ways; creative self-expression; learning how songs are built; connecting with others through shared remixes

Competitive Research Summary

To understand the market for Spotify Beat Lab, I conducted a SWOT analysis of three major competitors: GarageBand, BandLab, and Soundtrap.

Key Findings:

Strengths: Competitors make music creation accessible through intuitive tools, social collaboration features, or strong ecosystem integration (e.g., Apple or Spotify).
Weaknesses: Gaps in cross-platform access, overly complex UIs for beginners, and limited integration with major streaming services.
Opportunities: Rising demand for beginner-friendly, cloud-based tools that integrate directly with streaming platforms; AI-assisted music creation is growing.
Threats: Competition from professional DAWs like FL Studio and Ableton, evolving copyright/licensing regulations, and the need to balance simplicity with pro features.

Insight: There’s a clear opening for a fun, beginner-friendly music creation tool directly inside Spotify, giving everyday listeners the ability to remix, isolate stems, and share creations without leaving the platform.

Pain Points:

steep learning curve with existing beat-making tools; lack of integration with streaming platforms; difficulty accessing quality stems; limited sharing and collaboration options