What it does
Sondo is a mobile app that uses AI to empower users to create their own music and music videos. It offers two primary functions: generating a complete music video from a single photo and a chosen song, or composing an original song (instrumental or with vocals) based on user-provided lyrics or descriptions. The app is designed for users who want to express themselves creatively without needing technical production skills, turning simple inputs into polished, shareable content.
Where it shines
Sondo's standout feature is its 'AI Agent' screen (02:22). When generating a music video, instead of showing a simple progress bar, the app visualizes the AI's 'thought process.' It animates through stages like 'Song analysis,' 'Conceiving Ideas,' and 'Storyline design,' turning a wait time into an engaging experience that builds anticipation and trust in the technology. The app also excels at guiding users through complex features with simple, effective tutorials, such as the animated hand that demonstrates how to crop a song (01:44). The final generated concept, like the 'Serenity' preview at 03:02, provides a compelling teaser that effectively funnels users toward conversion.
UX highlights
- Incentivized Sign-Up: Account creation is not a mandatory barrier. Instead, it's presented as a way to claim a 'Newcomer's Gift' (00:37), reframing the task as a benefit.
- Visual AI Process: The 'AI Agent' screen (02:22) demystifies the AI generation process, making the wait feel productive and transparent.
- Interactive Tutorials: An animated overlay clearly demonstrates how to use the song trimmer (01:44), reducing ambiguity for a key interaction.
- AI-Powered Lyric Refinement: When creating a song, the app includes a 'Refine' tool (05:02) that uses AI to improve user-submitted lyrics, adding value even before the song is generated.
- Template and Premium Toggles: The creation screen clearly separates 'Premium' (full AI) and 'Template' modes (03:53), giving users distinct paths based on their creative needs.
- Fast Time-to-Value: The onboarding is minimal, dropping the user onto the main 'Explore' feed within seconds (00:21), allowing for immediate discovery.
Monetization & growth
Sondo's monetization strategy is built around gating the final creative output. The app frequently allows users to invest significant creative effort, such as selecting songs, uploading photos, or writing lyrics, all for free. The paywall appears at the moment of highest anticipation, right before the final music video or song is generated (as seen at 03:12 and 05:34). The app operates on a credit system, with subscription plans offering a weekly, monthly, or yearly allotment of credits. Three plans are presented on the paywall, labeled 'Starter Plan,' 'Best Value,' and a middle tier. There is no free trial mentioned in the observed flows.
Who it’s for
This app is likely for social media creators, aspiring musicians, and casual users who want to create unique, personalized content. The face-swapping and style-template features suggest a focus on users who want to become the 'star' of their own music video. The AI song generation tool caters to songwriters looking for inspiration or individuals who want to turn a poem or idea into a fully-fledged song without musical training. Its ease of use makes it accessible to a broad audience, from TikTok users to hobbyist artists.
Notes & opportunities
The app experience is generally smooth, but there are a few points of friction. The immediate, pre-context ATT prompt at 00:01 could be off-putting for some privacy-conscious users. Additionally, several interactions, like sharing content, result in a 'Share failed' toast message (e.g., at 01:17), indicating potential bugs that could frustrate users. While gating the final output is a strong strategy, the app could benefit from offering a very limited free creation (e.g., one watermarked video) to fully demonstrate its power and hook users more effectively before asking for payment.