Musician and entrepreneur Tom Vek is building a digital music player, but don’t call it retro

Tom Vek, known for his mid-2000s indietronica breakthrough, is building Sleevenote, a dedicated digital music player inspired by the visual presence of vinyl sleeves. The device aims to make album art and focused listening central again, rather than simply reviving older music-player nostalgia.

Sleevenote reflects a broader pushback against streaming’s endless-feed design, where music is abundant but often less memorable. If it finds an audience, it could signal demand for purpose-built devices that make digital media feel more intentional and collectible.