PulseJet is an entertainment content platform for AI-infused immersive music experiences. The company’s spatial music videos and concerts are the best in the world in terms of full immersion and maximum engagement. Pulse 2.0 interviewed PulseJet founder and president John Gearty to learn more about the company.
John Gearty’s Background
What is John Gearty’s background? Gearty said:
“Well, I’ve spent most of my career in VR and 3D-related technologies. I started my career with a VR company called Transom Technologies, the first time VR was cool over 20 years ago. A lot of people don’t even remember the VR wave around the original dot.com timeframe.”
“Long story short, I spent the last 10 years at Apple as an Engineering Program Manager working on many products including Apple Watch and iPhone, but most notably developing the Apple Vision Pro starting from the original requirements. My teams worked on the user interface and input features of the device including the hands & eyes interface which replaces controllers as a marquee feature.”
“Once the device shipped, I left to start PulseJet Studios to create content for that device and others including Meta Quest. I’m finally bringing my passion for music into the mix to deliver amazing immersive music experiences for our customers.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Gearty shared:
“It was simple. I saw the need for content on VR devices just like gaming consoles need content in order to make the product valuable. I love music along with everyone else in the world so it was clear there was a huge opportunity to create indescribable music experiences for the masses!”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Gearty reflected:
“Joshua Tree Music Festival was really a highlight for me. It’s such an amazing event and we saw a lot of great artists there including Diggin’ Dirt, Nicky Genesis, Father Taj, and more. It’s also perfect for our format – we’re able to bring an amazing festival to the masses in VR for the 8 billion people on the planet that can’t make it there! We’re excited for people to relive Joshua Tree Music Festival 2023.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Gearty explained:
“Our product is relatively simple – it’s a VR app much like Netflix or HBO Max except that instead of showing movies, our app delivers a full visual immersive music experience around your head.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Gearty acknowledged:
“Absolutely, we’ve faced both sides of challenges between technology and the music industry. One challenge has been earning the trust of the gatekeepers of the artists. Upon our meetings we overcame that with a passion for what we’re trying to exude to a specific project and tailoring to the artist at hand. Our enthusiasm shines through when we maintain that focus. We’ve reached the point where artists and music managers are intrigued by what we’re doing and willing to work with us to make amazing experiences. The tech part is a whole different story!”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Gearty noted:
“We’re evolving to navigate the complexities of a multi-platform world. PulseJet aims to be cross-platform which is very tricky since things are moving so quickly and each platform wants to lock you into their platform. A lot of immersive music companies get locked in to Zuckerberg’s Metaverse, which is great but then you can’t play on other platforms. PulseJet invests in technology that makes your immersive music experience amazing across platforms.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Gearty cited:
“It took us 2 years to build our platform and launch our general content app on Vision Pro so that was a huge milestone! Just after that, we signed a deal with our first A-list artist, Björk.
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Gearty highlighted:
“We’re super happy with the piece we did with Pamela Parker. First off, Pamela’s an amazing musician and we love her music. I find the track we chose, “Don’t Cha Know” to be very inspiring, personally.”
“What I like about this is that we got to work with an amazing local musician in San Francisco, and for the first time applied the PulseJet formula with a great band. Our studio combines immersive video with computer generated graphics in a 360 green screen that really brings things to life. We recorded the live pieces in historic Hyde St. Studios where Jimi Hendrix and Joe Satriani recorded, among others. We’re honored to bring that sacred space to our viewers.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Gearty affirmed:
“We offer an experience with music in a way that’s so indescribable you need to try it for yourself. We’re also cross-platform which means you can see our content on both Vision Pro and Meta Quest, probably more to come. Our founders worked on the Vision Pro so we know a lot about VR tech and we aim to stay on the cutting edge.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the future company goals? Gearty emphasized:
“We want to be the reason folks go out and buy a VR headset. Right now, gaming is probably the main reason but we think that will change as the average consumer starts to see what music looks like on the device. We’re leading the charge and that means bringing a lot more artists and genres to the platform. We want music and PulseJet to be synonymous in VR.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Gearty concluded:
“PulseJet would love for everyone to be able to experience this in a headset. We encourage everyone to see live music whenever you can. If you can’t, we’re here for you!
‘Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time’ – Jean-Michel Basquiat
There’s not much more to talk about, go try it!
Download our apps for Vision Pro and Meta Quest todayhttps://www.pulsejetstudios.com.”
