Moss Audio specializes in wireless speakers that are handmade from unusual materials like natural acrylic. Launched in May, the (super-stylish) speakers retail for 99USD each online. They will also be available at The Redundant Shop and The Assembly Store from the start of August. We chat with founder Nik Lee, to find out more.
Producing a product like this must be hard—what’s the biggest challenge so far?
It took us over a year to develop the first range of speakers. The manufacturing technique and material we use are quite unique, so there was a lot of testing and development involved. It was also imperative that the sound quality was as good as possible, so spent weeks tuning and testing until it was right. We wanted to launch a product that was absolutely the best that we could offer.
Any expansion plans in the horizon? What are you planning to make next?
We are currently experimenting with materials to use for some new products launching towards the end of the year. In the meantime, we’ll also be collaborating with local and international artists and designers to work on special edition ranges. We aim to build a platform where we can work with other creatives, bridging the gap between music, art, fashion and design.
What fascinates you most about sound?
I come from a creative family—my sister is a talented artist and my younger brother is a singer-songwriter. Art, design and music were a big factor when growing up. I love music and have been designing and making speakers for years, even before I did it professionally.
Thanks to the Internet and streaming music sites like Spotify, people’s listening habits have changed. We are moving into a new era of music listening and there is scope for developing cool products to meet changing needs.
Any tips for people looking to purchase a speaker system?
Go for quality. There are a lot of speaker products out there, but they tend to use cheap components and materials. Cheap speakers don’t sound very good and don’t last very long. Spend slightly more and get a speaker system that is nice to listen to and that should also last for years.
What’s your experience of starting up in Singapore?
It’s perfect for me because most of my friends are here. When you start a business, you need to pull favors from everyone you know. I’ve been really lucky in that respect—practically everyone I know has helped me out in one way or another. In Singapore, everything you need is very close at hand, so you can always find the things you need. It’s also very easy to network—it’s as if everyone knows everyone else in Singapore!
Singapore is also a very good place for young entrepreneurs who are starting a business straight from school. There are several incubation centers attached to the polytechnics and universities—these centers can help you to secure office space and government grants.
Do you have any advice for budding entrepreneurs?
Have the confidence to jump into things that you’ve never done before. I trained as a designer, but when I started this business, I found myself doing financial spreadsheets and all sorts of paperwork that was needed to run a business. I had to learn every aspect of running a company and become a Jack-of-all-trades. It’s really good fun, but you have to learn things very quickly and have the confidence to give anything a go.
