Status: Brainstorm
Phase: Phase 5 (AI Media) | Tier: Pro / Studio
Overview
Every strain has a chemical fingerprint — a unique combination of terpenes, cannabinoids, and effects that determines how it makes you feel. Session Music translates that chemical fingerprint into sound. A Myrcene-heavy indica becomes warm bass and deep, enveloping tones. A Limonene-dominant sativa becomes bright synths and major-key melodies. A balanced hybrid becomes layered, evolving textures that shift between energy and calm. This is not random background music. It is music generated from your data, for your session, matching the specific strains you are consuming. The soundtrack to your Blue Dream session sounds fundamentally different from your OG Kush session because the underlying chemistry is fundamentally different. And when you upload an order with three strains, the report soundtrack blends all three chemical profiles into a single cohesive composition — a musical representation of how those strains interact. The concept is defensible because it requires the entire data stack to execute: terpene profiles, High Family classifications, strain similarity embeddings, and user consumption context. A Spotify playlist called “chill vibes” is generic. A 20-minute soundtrack generated from the exact terpene ratios of the Gelato you just bought is something no other app can offer. Music also solves a consumption context problem that other AI media formats do not. You listen to podcasts before or after a session. You watch videos before or after a session. But you listen to music during a session. Session Music makes High IQ relevant at the exact moment the user is consuming cannabis — the moment they are most appreciative, most engaged, and most likely to think “this app is worth paying for.”What It Does
Format Types
Session Soundtrack (15-30 minutes)
Session Soundtrack (15-30 minutes)
An extended ambient track designed to accompany a cannabis session. The music evolves over time — it does not loop. It may start with a slow build matching the onset phase, reach a peak matching the expected effects window, and gradually wind down as the session concludes. Length is adjustable (15, 20, or 30 minutes). This is the primary format.
Strain Theme (60-90 seconds)
Strain Theme (60-90 seconds)
A short audio identity for a single strain — think of it as a musical logo. Concise enough to use as a ringtone, alarm sound, or audio preview. Every strain in the user’s collection gets its own theme. Two users’ themes for the same strain will differ because their generation seeds differ.
Monthly Mix (30-60 minutes)
Monthly Mix (30-60 minutes)
A long-form composition generated from all strains consumed in a given month. The mix weaves musical elements from each strain into a continuous piece, with transitions reflecting the chronological order of consumption. January’s mix sounds different from February’s because the data is different. This creates a musical journal of the user’s cannabis year.
Report Soundtrack (5-10 minutes)
Report Soundtrack (5-10 minutes)
Generated alongside a research report, this soundtrack represents the combination of ALL strains in a single order. When three strains are purchased together, the music blends their terpene profiles into one composition. This is shorter and more focused than a Session Soundtrack — designed for listening while reading the report.
User Value
Terpene-to-Music Mapping
The mapping system is the core intellectual property. Each terpene maps to specific musical elements — instruments, textures, rhythmic patterns, and harmonic qualities — based on the sensory associations of the terpene itself.| Terpene | Musical Elements | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Myrcene (earthy, musky) | Warm sub-bass, deep pad synths, slow arpeggios, low-pass filtered textures | Heavy, grounding, enveloping. Like a weighted blanket made of sound. |
| Limonene (citrus, bright) | Bright plucked synths, major-key progressions, shimmering high-end, clean reverb | Uplifting, fresh, optimistic. Morning light through a window. |
| Pinene (pine, crisp) | Crisp acoustic textures, clean delays, airy pads, wide stereo field, nature samples | Clear, expansive, outdoors. Standing on a mountain at dawn. |
| Caryophyllene (spicy, warm) | Warm percussion, woodblock textures, layered mid-range, subtle swing rhythm | Bold, spiced, complex. A fireplace in a wooden cabin. |
| Linalool (floral, lavender) | Soft string pads, gentle piano, legato melodies, no percussion, lots of reverb | Delicate, calming, elegant. A garden at dusk. |
| Terpinolene (herbal, complex) | Shifting time signatures, unexpected chord changes, multi-layered textures, polyrhythmic | Enigmatic, playful, unpredictable. A dream you almost remember. |
| Humulene (hoppy, earthy) | Minimal deep tones, slow evolving drones, earth-resonance frequencies, sparse arrangement | Ancient, contemplative, still. Deep underground. |
| Ocimene (sweet, tropical) | Bright marimba, tropical percussion, pentatonic melodies, warm saturation | Lively, exotic, inviting. A market in a warm country. |
How Terpene Ratios Affect the Mix
The terpene mapping is not binary (Myrcene = bass). It is proportional. The ratio of terpenes in a strain determines the ratio of musical elements in the composition. Example: Blue Dream (Myrcene 0.8%, Pinene 0.3%, Caryophyllene 0.2%)- Myrcene dominates, so warm bass and deep pads form the foundation
- Pinene is secondary, adding crisp textures and airy high-end on top
- Caryophyllene is tertiary, contributing subtle warm percussion accents
- Result: A warm, grounding track with moments of clarity and gentle spice
- Terpinolene dominates with shifting rhythmic patterns and unexpected harmonic movement
- Myrcene provides a warm bass anchor that keeps the unpredictability grounded
- Ocimene adds bright melodic accents
- Result: An exploratory, playful track with a warm center and tropical flashes
High Family Genre Mapping
Beyond individual terpene elements, the strain’s High Family classification sets the overall genre and tempo framework:| High Family | Genre Influence | BPM Range | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blissful Highs | Neo-Soul / Gospel Hip-Hop | 85-100 BPM | Warm, uplifting, soulful grooves |
| Creative Highs | Psychedelic Hip-Hop | 80-95 BPM | Trippy, layered, experimental beats |
| Energetic Highs | Trap / Uptempo | 130-150 BPM | Driving, rhythmic, high-energy |
| Focused Highs | Boom Bap / Conscious | 85-95 BPM | Clean, deliberate, head-nodding |
| Relaxed Highs | Lo-Fi / Chill R&B | 70-85 BPM | Mellow, warm, tape-saturated |
| Balanced Highs | Classic Hip-Hop | 90-100 BPM | Smooth, confident, timeless |
Technical Approach
Architecture
| Layer | Technology | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Terpene Analysis | Existing strain data | Already computed; used as input parameters |
| Prompt Construction | Custom mapping engine | Translates terpene ratios + High Family into music generation parameters |
| Music Generation | Suno API or ElevenLabs Music | Generates audio from text descriptions + parameter constraints |
| Post-Processing | FFmpeg | Normalize loudness, add fade-in/out, split into chapters for long tracks |
| Storage | Supabase Storage + CDN | Keyed by strain slug + user ID (or report ID for report soundtracks) |
| Playback | In-app audio player | Background playback, lock screen controls, AirPlay/Bluetooth support |
Generation Pipeline
Input Assembly
For a strain-based track: fetch terpene profile, High Family, strain type, and user history. For a report-based track: fetch all strains in the order, compute a weighted terpene blend, and determine the dominant High Family.
Prompt Construction
The mapping engine constructs a music generation prompt: “Create a 20-minute ambient track. Style: lo-fi chill R&B at 78 BPM. Foundation: warm deep bass and slow arpeggios (Myrcene 0.8%). Texture: crisp delays and airy pads (Pinene 0.3%). Accents: subtle warm percussion (Caryophyllene 0.2%). Arc: slow 4-minute build, sustained 12-minute plateau, 4-minute wind-down. Mood: grounding with moments of clarity.”
Generation
The prompt is sent to the music generation API. Generation time varies by length: 15-30 seconds for Strain Themes, 1-3 minutes for Session Soundtracks, 3-5 minutes for Monthly Mixes.
Quality Check
Automated loudness normalization (LUFS targeting), silence detection (no dead spots longer than 3 seconds), and duration verification. Tracks that fail quality checks are regenerated with adjusted parameters.
Tier Impact
| Tier | Access |
|---|---|
| Free | 15-second faded preview of each track. The preview starts with the most characteristic musical moment (not the intro build) to maximize the “wow” factor. Enough to hear the terpene-mapped sound, not enough to use during a session. |
| Pro | Unlimited generation for all formats. Full playback with background audio support. Download as MP3. Share 30-second clips. Auto-generation for every report. |
| Studio | Lossless audio export (FLAC), custom session length (up to 60 minutes), manual terpene slider (adjust the mix parameters yourself), genre override (force any High Family genre mapping), and AI DJ mode (continuous playback that transitions between strain themes as you cycle through your stash). |
Dependencies
- Strain terpene profiles — built and live
- High Family classification — built and live
- Research report pipeline — built and live
- User stash and collection data — built and live
- Terpene-to-music mapping engine
- Music generation API integration (Suno or ElevenLabs)
- In-app audio player with background playback
- Lock screen media controls (iOS Now Playing)
- CDN storage for audio files
- Monthly Mix auto-generation (Trigger.dev scheduled task)
Open Questions
- Music generation API — Suno and ElevenLabs both offer music generation, but quality, pricing, and control vary significantly. Need to benchmark both with cannabis-specific prompts. Key question: can these APIs consistently produce 20+ minute tracks, or do they cap at 3-5 minutes (requiring stitching)?
- Copyright and licensing — AI-generated music exists in a legal gray area. Can users download and share freely? Can we include it in shareable content (music videos, social posts)? Need legal review of the music generation API’s terms of service regarding commercial use and redistribution.
- Music taste is personal — Terpene mapping produces a specific sound. But some users might hate lo-fi and love trap regardless of what strains they consume. Should we let users override the genre mapping? This breaks the “data-driven” purity but improves satisfaction.
- Repeat listening — If a user generates a Session Soundtrack for Blue Dream, do they get the same track every time, or a new one? Same track builds familiarity and ritual. New track keeps it fresh. Could offer both: a “signature” track that persists and a “fresh session” option that generates new.
- Offline playback — Sessions may happen where internet is spotty. Should generated tracks be downloadable for offline playback? Storage implications for the app size.
Related Features
- Strain Art — Visual complement; same terpene mapping expressed as imagery instead of sound
- AI Music Videos — Combines Session Music audio with video for the premium format
- Video Reports — Could use Session Music as background audio for video reports
- AI Podcasts — Audio format for different context (informational vs. atmospheric)
- Blog AI Content — Blog articles with ambient soundtracks