Side0

Side0 started from a frustration I had as a listener: discovering new independent music often felt harder than it should. Most major platforms personalize discovery through recommendation algorithms, which can be useful, but can also repeatedly surface music based on what you’ve already listened to.

I wanted to explore a different approach, one where discovery was driven by place, curiosity, and the music itself, rather than engagement metrics or a recommendation engine. The original idea for Side0 was simple: give independent artists a place to share short samples of their music and give listeners a lightweight way to discover them without algorithmic interference.

As I continued developing the platform and talking with other musicians, the problem expanded beyond discovery. Independent artists also face fragmented ways of finding collaborators, connecting with their local music scene, and finding opportunities to perform. Side0 began evolving from a discovery experiment into a platform centered around connecting independent musicians, listeners, and local scenes.

Built a discovery platform that puts independent artists and their music at the center of the experience. Side0 uses short music clips and location-based browsing to let listeners explore artists directly, while giving musicians a way to reach new audiences and connect listeners back to the platforms where their music already lives.