# Sot Lab Music — Branding Brief

## Product name

**Sot Lab Music**

Short label for navigation/cards:

**Music**

Avoid implementation-specific labels like **Navidrome** or **Ampache** in user-facing profile permissions. The app behind the service may change; the service is simply **Music**.

## Positioning

A private, enrolled-user music service for Sot Lab members.

Plain-English promise:

> Your private Sot Lab music library: albums, playlists, search, streaming, and mobile app access from anywhere.

## Audience

- Sott / admins
- Family
- Friends
- Approved private users

Not public/open registration. Not anonymous listening.

## Access model copy

Primary:

> Private access for approved Sot Lab users.

Login helper:

> Sign in with your Sot Lab Music account. If you need access, request it through Sot Lab Users.

Locked/unauthorised state:

> Music access is enabled by invitation only.

## Visual direction

Style:

- Dark, premium, calm
- Slightly futuristic but not childish
- “Private club for music” rather than “corporate SaaS”
- Matches Sot Lab portal cards: glassy panels, soft gradients, electric blue/purple accents

Mood words:

- private
- curated
- atmospheric
- technical
- warm
- nocturnal

## Colour palette

Recommended tokens:

```css
--bg: #070a12;
--bg-soft: #0d1324;
--panel: rgba(17, 25, 46, 0.78);
--panel-border: rgba(148, 163, 184, 0.22);
--text: #eef4ff;
--muted: #9fb0ca;
--accent: #7c5cff;
--accent-2: #26d9ff;
--success: #38d996;
--warning: #f7c948;
--danger: #ff5c7a;
```

Use accent gradients sparingly:

```css
linear-gradient(135deg, #7c5cff, #26d9ff)
```

## Typography

Use system fonts first for reliability:

```css
font-family: Inter, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", sans-serif;
```

If adding web fonts later:

- Inter for UI
- Space Grotesk for headings
- JetBrains Mono for small technical/status labels

## Logo direction

Text lockup:

```text
SOT LAB
MUSIC
```

Icon ideas:

1. Audio waveform inside a lab flask outline
2. Minimal record/disc with a small orbit ring
3. Equaliser bars shaped like a subtle “S”
4. Hexagon badge with waveform line

Recommended first pass:

**Hexagon + waveform + Sot Lab Music wordmark**

Why: easy to reproduce as SVG, favicon, service card icon, and login badge.

## Ampache customisation target

Start with maintainable branding:

- Site title: `Sot Lab Music`
- Logo: custom Sot Lab Music SVG/PNG
- Favicon: waveform/hex badge
- Theme: dark
- Login wording: private enrolled-user copy
- Registration: disabled
- Guest access: disabled
- Downloads: disabled by default unless explicitly enabled per policy
- Footer: `Sot Lab Music` / `Private service`

Avoid at first:

- deep template forks
- hiding every Ampache reference by editing core files
- custom frontend before validating playback/scanning/mobile support

## Homepage/service-card text

Portal card title:

```text
Music
```

Subtitle:

```text
Private music library, albums, playlists, and mobile streaming.
```

Status label before launch:

```text
Coming soon
```

Status label after launch:

```text
Private beta
```

Button copy:

```text
Open Music
```

Access note:

```text
Requires an approved Sot Lab profile with Music enabled.
```

## Login page structure

Recommended page sections:

1. Logo / badge
2. Heading: `Sot Lab Music`
3. Subheading: `Private music streaming for approved Sot Lab users.`
4. Sign-in form
5. Small links:
   - `Request access`
   - `Service status`
   - `Back to Sot Lab`
6. Trust/status strip:
   - `Private access`
   - `NAS-backed library`
   - `Mobile app support`

## User-facing terms

Use:

- Music
- Sot Lab Music
- Albums
- Artists
- Playlists
- Library
- Mobile access
- Downloads, only if enabled

Avoid:

- Ampache, unless in admin docs
- Subsonic API, except in mobile setup docs
- NAS path/IP in public UI
- internal hostnames or private IPs

## Recommended next build steps

1. Create a Sot Lab Music SVG logo/badge.
2. Deploy Ampache test stack privately.
3. Confirm NAS read-only mount and library scan.
4. Apply light branding: title, logo, favicon, dark theme.
5. Verify browser playback.
6. Verify one mobile/Subsonic client.
7. Decide whether downloads remain disabled.
8. Only then route `music.sotlab.co.uk` to users.