STORIES · RESEARCH · NEWS
STORIES &
RESEARCH.
Honest reads on music, the brain and everyday performance - gathered by our team for anyone curious enough to dig in.
UPCOMING EVENT
SINECO: LAUNCH EVENT
THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER · 5-8PM · CAMPFIELD HOUSE, MANCHESTER
Tech, music and human biology come together for a new kind of adaptive listening experience. Sponsored by Exchange and Parallel Music Conference '26.
PRESS
IN THE PRESS.
GLASTONBURY STAR LAUNCHES AI MUSIC STARTUP SINECO
BusinessCloud covers the launch of Sineco, the AI music startup founded by Glastonbury performer Ben Etches.
4 min read
SINECO: FROM TAMESIDE TO A BIODRIVEN MUSIC PLATFORM
GM Business Growth Hub features Sineco's journey from idea to investable AI music startup with their support.
4 min read
SINECO: BUILDING THE FUTURE OF ADAPTIVE MUSIC AT CAMPFIELD
Sineco joined Exchange Cohort X, exploring how AI-generated music can optimise flow state using wearable data.
3 min readRESEARCH
SCIENCE & RESEARCH.
HOW MUSIC RESONATES IN THE BRAIN
Harvard researchers explore the neural pathways that light up when we listen to music.
10 min read
MUSIC INTERVENTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH
A systematic review of music-based interventions for stress and anxiety reduction.
15 min read
MUSIC HELPS YOU GET FIT BUT THE RIGHT MIX WILL KEEP YOU COMING BACK
How the right playlist can transform your workout and keep you motivated.
6 min read
WHY MUSIC IS GREAT FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Personal stories and insights on how music supports mental wellbeing.
5 min read
SIX THINGS WE LEARNED ABOUT THE POWER OF MUSIC ON MENTAL HEALTH
BBC explores the surprising ways music affects our psychological wellbeing.
7 min read
MUSIC AND BRAIN HEALTH: NEUROLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
Scientific review of music's impact on cognitive function and brain health.
-THE SCIENCE
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SOUND.
Published evidence informing how Sineco connects music, movement and physiology.
139 STUDIES
MUSIC IN EXERCISE
3,599 PARTICIPANTS
META-ANALYTIC EVIDENCE
18 STUDIES REVIEWED
ADAPTIVE MUSIC SYSTEMS
RHYTHM & MOVEMENT
CONTROLLED STUDY · N=19CADENCE-MATCHED AUDIO EXTENDED TIME TO EXHAUSTION
Runners continued for longer with both cadence-matched music and a metronome than without audio. The study found no significant difference between the two audio conditions.
NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
Single treadmill study; individual responses may vary.
MUSIC & PHYSIOLOGY
META-ANALYSIS · 139 STUDIESMUSIC CAN CHANGE HOW EXERCISE FEELS
Across 139 studies involving 3,599 participants, music was associated with more positive feelings, improved physical performance, reduced perceived exertion and better oxygen efficiency.
BENEFICIAL EFFECT SIZE (g)
Heart rate is used by Sineco as an input signal; the research does not establish that music directly changes heart rate.
ADAPTIVE MUSIC
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW · 18 STUDIESPROMISING, NOT YET CONCLUSIVE
A review of 18 personalised interactive music studies found promising effects on physical activity and emotional experience. Results varied between participants, reinforcing the need for adaptive systems that learn what works for each person.
EFFECT SIZE (g) WITH 95% CI
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
g=0.49 · 95% CI 0.07-0.91
AFFECTIVE VALENCE
g=1.65 · 95% CI 0.35-2.96
PERCEIVED EXERTION
g=0.72 · 95% CI -0.13-1.58 · NS
PHYSICAL EXERTION
g=0.78 · 95% CI -0.55-2.11 · NS
Promising findings; larger controlled studies are still needed.
WHAT SINECO IS TESTING
Published evidence informs the hypotheses. Sineco then validates them using held-out real-world data and consented live trials.
PUBLISHED
EVIDENCE
MODEL
PRE-TRAINING
HELD-OUT
REAL DATA
CONSENTED
LIVE TRIALS
Research includes Spence (2011), Bood et al. (2013), Terry et al. (2020), Williams et al. (2020) and Danso et al. (2025). Each study above links to its published paper.
