By Dave Mainella

This past Monday, wearable technology company Muzik announced the upcoming release of the world’s first “socially connected smart headphones”.  Not your average earbuds, these headphones seamlessly integrate social media into the music listening experience.  It’s this trademarked Social Smartware technology that truly brings these headphones beyond music and into the 21st century.

We had a chance to talk with Muzik founder and CEO Jason Hardi about these flagship headphones and about the development of this young company on the cutting edge.

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SoundCtrl – What was the inspiration for Muzik’s smart headphones?  When did you first come up with the idea and how long has it been incubating?

Jason Hardi – After my last project, I noticed a lag in advancement and innovation within the headphone space, so I began to design a headphone that would bring forth real connectivity and feature controls to the consumer.  I believe Muzik’s “smart” headphone will transform the way consumers share, experience, and discover music.

I’ve been working on this project for about nine months.  I’ve pulled together an amazing team of experts across a number of industries, including technology, business, music, social media, and entertainment.  To finally launch and have the product front and center is incredibly exciting!

SC – Have you worked on other entrepreneurial projects that ultimately contributed to the development of Muzik, personally and/or professionally?

JH – I’ve worked on a number of projects with other entrepreneurs in the technology space.  I’ve always been intrigued by those disruptive technologies that really change the way consumers interact with average technology.  For me, I really wanted to bring forth the innovation the headphone industry was lacking.

SC – Why the name Muzik?

JH – We believe that music connects the world.  We wanted to take a fresh approach to a word that everyone can relate to. 

SC – Who is the expected consumer base – audiophiles, gear-heads, the average music listener?  Or maybe iPhone and Android users, avid Twitterers, and prolific Instagramers?

JH – Smartphone users.  We’ve created our audio products to appeal to anyone that consumes music.  By integrating gesture controls with sharing features, our audio products become an extension of communication tools, gaming controls, and tracking athletic movements.  Our App will be available for use on iOS and Android with additional platforms in the pipeline.

SC – Muzik smart headphones have amazing cross-platform potential – the ability to connect with Facebook, Twitter, iOS and Android.  Have you received an enthusiastic response from developers hoping to team up with Muzik and your Social Smartware technology?

JH – In the coming weeks, the API will be opened to third-party developers who will have the opportunity to create applications that can utilize the headphones’ technology.  Developers will be able to customize the Muzik headphones’ proximity sensors and adjust the hotkey functionality.  This will take the “smart” headphone outside of just the music space.  I’m looking forward to seeing what the developer community can do and what industries they’ll be able to bring this to!

SC – Are there any specific developers or partners that you’re excited about working with?

JH – Right now we’re currently working with Facebook, Twitter, Spotify and Rdio, which we’re very excited about!  We’ve currently got more in the works that we will be able to share in the coming weeks.

SC – Have you involved any musicians and artists in the development of these smart headphones, and do you hope to moving forward?

JH – At this stage we’re focusing on the exciting launch of the company and getting all of our strategic partners in line.  Hopefully down the line we’ll be able to engage and have support from the music community among others. 

SC – In Muzik’s press release, John Cawley expressed Muzik’s interest in “joining the ranks of the most innovative companies – Apple, Google, Microsoft, Nike and Samsung”.  How do you aim to stand apart from the rest of this impressive field?

JH – We believe that Muzik will be a disruptive and innovative technology within the wearable technology space.  All of these companies have brought incredible technology to the table and we hope to join them in that initiative.  The headphone space has lacked the innovation it deserves—headphones will never again just be for listening to music or talking on the phone.  Muzik’s headphones will improve the way we socially discover, share, listen, and experience music.  What Google glass is doing for the eyes, Muzik is hoping to bring to our ears.

SC – You’ve stated that the smart headphones and “other related products” will be released in the upcoming 4th quarter of 2013.  Will Muzik stay focused on the audio space?  Or, as a “wearable technology company”, can we expect other non-musical devices in the future?

JH – Muzik will certainly have other related products in the audio space, which we will release down the road.  We’ve currently got our hands in a lot of different areas and a host of people in the non-music sector that we’re working with.

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