Delaware-incorporated, South African-founded music startup Moodswing has announced a groundbreaking global partnership with Sony Music Entertainment (SME), granting the company access to Sony’s extensive catalog of world-class artists. This collaboration will allow Moodswing to integrate licensed tracks into its AI-powered communication app, which transforms voice notes and conversations into emotionally expressive, music-enhanced experiences.
Moodswing’s innovative platform lets users merge their voice notes or calls with instrumental or vocal clips matched to their emotions. Using advanced AI, the app analyzes tone and mood in a user’s voice—whether happy, romantic, dramatic, or funny—and instantly recommends fitting tracks to complement the message. The result is a completely new way to communicate through music, creating shareable, emotionally charged moments.
“Music is the language of emotion — it helps us express what words alone can’t. With over 3.5 billion people using messaging apps globally, the next evolution of communication is emotional. We live in a world where people don’t just want to play music — they want to play with it. Partnering with Sony Music marks a major step forward, giving us access to a world-class artist catalog and reinforcing the scale of what we’re building.”
said Jimmy Muteba, Co-Founder & CEO of Moodswing
Founded by Jimmy Muteba, also known by his artist name CAPSO, Moodswing reflects his rich background in music, media, and tech innovation. Muteba’s previous ventures include creating TRACE Music Star, Africa’s largest music talent search with over nine million users, and producing The Coolest OG’s, a TV format licensed to Netflix and sold internationally to Banijay, producers of Survivor and Big Brother.
The company also recently announced a strategic partnership with TRACE, the leading global Afro-urban media group. Olivier Laouchez, TRACE Founder & Executive Chairman, praised Muteba’s vision and resilience, saying:
“We’ve worked with Jimmy for over 15 years and know his ability to find solutions and deliver innovation. Moodswing brings joy, differentiation, and real value to the messaging experience. Supporting it makes sense — both for artists and for audiences who love Afro-urban culture.”
Moodswing is currently raising its pre-seed funding round, attracting support from prominent angel investors such as:
- Zachariah George, Managing Partner, Launch Africa Ventures
- Raj Kulasingam, Senior Counsel, Dentons; Venture Investor, SM River/V&R
- Audrey Verhaeghe, CEO, Anza Capital
- Nadia Seemuth, Managing Partner, Jambaar Capital
- Rajiv Daya, Head of Investments, NEXT176
- Gérald Croonenberghs, Managing Director, Silikin Village
- Yosuke Yoshida, CEO, Emurgo Kepple Ventures & EMURGO MEA (Cardano)
Zachariah George described Moodswing as “one of the most innovative products at the intersection of music and messaging,” praising its seamless integration across platforms and clear path to monetization through freemium models, brand partnerships, and music licensing.
“It’s not about needing another messaging app — it’s about empowering creatives to make money from their art. Moodswing gives musicians a new revenue stream while letting users share emotions through music. Their deal with a major label like Sony Music shows real traction.”
Raj Kulasingam added:
Selected among the top 12 startups from over 750 applicants in the Création Africa 2024 Accelerator, an initiative by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs through the Embassy of France and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), Moodswing continues to gain international recognition.
The app is currently available in beta on iOS and Android, marking the start of what could be a new era for emotion-driven communication through music.
