Informatics student develops a dating app based on musical tastes

[14/02/2025] Ben Stevenson, a fourth-year Computer Science and AI student at the University of Edinburgh, together with Nile Cameron from the University of Glasgow, is developing a dating app named Melody, which matches users based on their musical tastes. Ben and Nile hope that it will be beta-tested in a couple of months and will be ready to launch in time for the Welcome Week in September. Students can now register to be beta testers.

One day you may meet the love of your life on campus

According to both recent and historical polls, it's likely that one might meet their significant other during their university years. Polls quoted by the Student Room and Unihomes, indicate that even 20% of British students meet their love interests on campus, and over a third of those who attended the University in the last 50 years ended up in a long-term relationship with a fellow student.

Dating apps are an extremely popular way of meeting love interests, but according to a 2023 study by Axios, the use of them among young people has been declining, with some respondents quoting personality, not looks, as the important factor, and therefore preferring to meet their prospective dates in real life, not online.

Motivated by their frustration with existing paid dating apps that match users based on superficial characteristics and charge fees, Ben and Nile created Melody to foster deeper connections through shared musical interests.

Challenges of building a dating app

As computer science students they have fundamental knowledge required in app and software development, but they soon discovered that what awaited them was a steep learning curve. To develop the app on iOS, they had to master a new programming language, Swift, and become adept at navigating the Spotify API.

However, designing a user-friendly and visually appealing app interface posed their greatest challenge, as neither co-founder had significant artistic skills.

Support from the University

Fortunately, they were mentored by Dr Ndali Liita Cairney, whom Ben met in his third-year Entrepreneurship and Innovation Project course, which equips Informatics students to approach real life problems with an entrepreneurial perspective, through developing their ability to apply disciplinary knowledge, resources and academic skills.

Dr Cairney introduced them to a graduate designer from the Edinburgh College of Art, Lucy Szundi.

The next step was to apply for a Student Experience Grant that would allow them to work with Lucy.

Alumni-funded Student Experience Grants provide up to £5,000 to support innovative projects that enhance students’ social, academic, entrepreneurial, sporting, or cultural development.

Following the successful application, they began working together and it has already resulted in the creation of the Melody logo.

Future Love Paradise

Ben hopes to begin by introducing Melody to University of Edinburgh students and facilitate more engaging dates using music tastes as a personal and important ice-breaker. From then on, the world is his oyster – he would love to bring Melody to wider audiences.

Seeing people find true love through Melody in the coming years would mean we've achieved our goal.

As for his own musical tastes, Ben admits they keep changing, but he names Belle and Sebastian as his favourite artist at the moment.

Be a beta tester

Students can now sign up for Melody beta testing by completing this form:

Link to Melody Beta Sign-Up form