Björk is working on a virtual-reality remastering of her “Vulnicura” album that could redefine the way we listen to (and watch) music.
The new project, in collaboration with PulseJet Studios, a fledgling San Francisco-based startup founded by two members of the Apple Vision Pro team, aims to take the concept of the virtual reality (VR) music album, pioneered by Björk, and extend that immersive experience to more artists and to other genres. The platform is built to support VR music in a way that re-invokes the album business model in hopes artists have a new way of selling content.
“We think Björk has the formula right. She took the album concept and doubled down on the investment to make an incredible artistic experience for her fans,” PulseJet CEO John Gearty said in a statement. “Björk brings you into her world both literally and figuratively with some scenes from Iceland and some completely imagined. This is exactly the next-level vision we see for artists as they discover the creative possibilities in VR.”
“Vulnicura” will be remastered in two phases. The first will update it to current technology on both Meta Platforms Inc.’s Quest and Apple Vision Pro goggles. The second phase will be to complete the artistic vision that may have fallen short because of technological limitations at the time the initial project was released in 2019.
The VR experience of “Vulnicura” (a combination of the Latin words “Vulni” and “Cura” to mean “wound concern”) is planned for release in 2025, and it will be available for purchase on the Meta Quest app store. It will also be accessible for Apple Vision Pro users via PulseJet’s app.
In a previous interview with Techstrong, Gearty outlined the company’s vision: “We want to be the VR version of MTV, and create a whole new experience in music videos, news and concerts.” [His co-founder, Brian Addison, worked at Apple and Niantic.]
At the very least, artists will increasingly use VR/mixed reality to produce albums — “Yes, the return of the album!” Gearty enthused then — ushering in a new era of music. When Björk produced “Vulnicura,” it was generally considered the first VR album. Meanwhile, Will.i.am has unveiled AI-like capabilities that he is bringing to radio to rejuvenate music, talk shows, sports talk and other once-vital staples on the AM and FM dials.
A trailblazer in the new form of entertainment, Björk’s music career began in the late 1980s when she was lead singer of the alternative rock band, The Sugarcubes, before she embarked on a successful solo career.
