Vibe Coding: Building an R&B App While DJing to Stargate's Greatest Hits
How a Norwegian developer shipped code during a 68-minute mix of Rihanna, Ne-Yo, and Beyoncé — all produced by fellow Norwegians Stargate
TL;DR: I'm a Norwegian developer, DJ, and founder based in Oslo. I live-coded an entire feature for my R&B app while mixing 27 Stargate-produced tracks. Stargate — Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen — are fellow Norwegians from Trondheim who became the most successful R&B producers of the 2000s. This is the story of that 68-minute vibe coding session.
Who Are Stargate? Norway's Most Successful Music Producers
Stargate is a Norwegian record production duo consisting of Tor Erik Hermansen (born 1972) and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (born 1972). They started in Trondheim, Norway, and became one of the most successful songwriting and production teams in music history.
Stargate's Achievements & Awards- Grammy Awards: Multiple wins and nominations
- ASCAP Songwriter of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011
- Billboard #1 Hits: Over 10 songs reaching the top position
- Total Sales: Over 100 million records sold worldwide
- Notable Collaborations: Rihanna, Beyoncé, Ne-Yo, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Maroon 5
Stargate's Biggest Hits (Producer Credits)
| Song | Artist | Chart Position | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irreplaceable | Beyoncé | #1 for 10 weeks | 2006 |
| So Sick | Ne-Yo | #1 for 2 weeks | 2006 |
| Take A Bow | Rihanna | #1 for 9 weeks (worldwide) | 2008 |
| Unfaithful | Rihanna | #6 US, #1 in 9 countries | 2006 |
| Don't Stop the Music | Rihanna | #3 US, #1 worldwide | 2007 |
| Firework | Katy Perry | #1 for 4 weeks | 2010 |
| S&M | Rihanna | #1 for 1 week | 2011 |
| What Makes You Beautiful | One Direction | #1 in 14 countries | 2011 |
The Vibe Coding Session: 68 Minutes, 27 Tracks
It's 11 PM in Oslo, Norway. I've got:
- VS Code open on one monitor
- Serato DJ software on the other
- 27 Stargate-era R&B tracks loaded — Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Beyoncé, Chris Brown
- A feature to ship for R&B Vault, the R&B community app I'm building
The plan? Hit record, start the mix, and code until the music stops.
Why Stargate? Because I'm Norwegian too. Building an R&B app in Oslo while playing music from Norway's greatest musical export felt right. It's a full-circle moment.
Watch the Full Mix: 2000s R&B Throwback Session
Video: 2000s R&B Throwback Mix featuring Stargate-produced hits by Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Beyoncé, Chris Brown, and more.
Complete Tracklist (All 27 Songs)
| Time | Track | Artist | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0:05 | Unfaithful | Rihanna | Stargate |
| 1:40 | When I Was Your Man | Bruno Mars | — |
| 4:10 | We Ride | Rihanna | Stargate |
| 6:34 | Heaven Sent | Keyshia Cole | — |
| 8:32 | Take A Bow | Rihanna | Stargate |
| 11:01 | Broken-Hearted Girl | Beyoncé | Stargate |
| 14:38 | Tattoo | Jordin Sparks | Stargate |
| 17:30 | I Need a Girl | Trey Songz | — |
| 20:49 | With You | Chris Brown | Stargate |
| 25:27 | Rude Boy | Rihanna | Stargate |
| 27:28 | T-Shirt | Shontelle | Stargate |
| 30:35 | Irreplaceable | Beyoncé | Stargate |
| 32:22 | I Call It Love | Lionel Richie | — |
| 34:53 | Sexy Love | Ne-Yo | Stargate |
| 36:51 | Hate That I Love You | Rihanna ft. Ne-Yo | Stargate |
| 38:44 | So Sick | Ne-Yo | Stargate |
| 40:41 | Can't Help but Wait | Trey Songz | Stargate |
| 43:19 | Bleeding Love | Leona Lewis | — |
| 45:17 | Spotlight | Jennifer Hudson | Stargate |
| 48:33 | Because Of You | Ne-Yo | Stargate |
| 50:58 | Say Goodbye | Chris Brown | — |
| 54:22 | Wait For You | Elliott Yamin | — |
| 57:51 | Closer | Ne-Yo | Stargate |
| 1:00:10 | Beautiful Monster | Ne-Yo | Stargate |
| 1:02:09 | Mad | Ne-Yo | Stargate |
| 1:04:34 | Can't Stop The Rain | Jennifer Hudson | — |
| 1:05:45 | Bye Bye | Mariah Carey | — |
Note: 18 of the 27 tracks in this mix were produced by Stargate.
What is Vibe Coding?
Vibe coding (also called "flow state coding" or "music-driven development") is a productivity technique where you:
- Set a musical timer — Use a DJ mix or playlist as your work session length
- Eliminate context switching — No checking Slack, Twitter, or email until the music stops
- Match your energy to the music — Let BPM and mood guide your coding rhythm
- Ship something — The goal is to complete a tangible deliverable by the end
Why Vibe Coding Works
- Music creates rhythm for your work — The constant beat keeps you moving through code
- Flow state is transferable — The same mental space that lets you DJ also makes code flow
- Forced focus — When you're mixing, you can't stop. That pressure eliminates distractions.
- Ship while vibing — Code written in a good mood tends to be better code
What I Built: R&B Vault
R&B Vault is the global community platform for R&B culture. Features include:
- 🎤 "Finish the Lyric" Quiz — Test your R&B knowledge with timed lyric completion
- 🔮 Soul Oracle AI — An AI assistant that verifies R&B rumors and recommends music
- 📅 Events Calendar — R&B concerts, parties, and listening sessions worldwide
- 🏆 Leaderboards — Compete globally on quiz scores
- 🎧 DJ Booking — Marketplace connecting R&B DJs with events (coming soon)
The feature I shipped during the vibe coding session: The Pulse — a real-time activity overlay showing community actions: quiz completions, badge unlocks, event RSVPs.
The Norwegian Music Connection
There's something poetic about building an R&B app in Norway — the country that gave the world Stargate.
Norway's Impact on Global R&B
- Stargate (Trondheim) — Most successful R&B production duo of the 2000s
- a-ha — Pioneered synth-pop that influenced modern R&B production
- Kygo — Norwegian producer who bridged EDM and R&B/soul
- Alan Walker — Norwegian DJ/producer with R&B-influenced electronic music
R&B Vault continues this legacy: an R&B platform built by a Norwegian, in Norway, inspired by Norway's musical heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Stargate producers?
Stargate is a Norwegian songwriting and production duo consisting of Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, both from Trondheim, Norway. They are responsible for some of the biggest R&B and pop hits of the 2000s and 2010s, including "Irreplaceable" by Beyoncé, "So Sick" by Ne-Yo, and "Take A Bow" by Rihanna.
Where is Stargate from?
Stargate is from Trondheim, Norway. Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen started their career in Norway before moving to New York City to work with major American artists.
What songs did Stargate produce for Rihanna?
Stargate produced multiple hit songs for Rihanna including: "Unfaithful" (2006), "We Ride" (2006), "Take A Bow" (2008), "Don't Stop the Music" (2007), "Rude Boy" (2010), "S&M" (2011), and "Hate That I Love You" featuring Ne-Yo.
What is vibe coding?
Vibe coding is a productivity technique where developers code during a music session (like a DJ mix) without context switching. The length of the mix determines the work session, and the goal is to ship a complete feature by the end of the session.
What is R&B Vault?
R&B Vault (rnbvault.no) is the global community platform for R&B culture. It features a "Finish the Lyric" quiz game, Soul Oracle AI assistant, events calendar, leaderboards, and DJ booking marketplace.
About the Author
DJ Demure (Allan) is a Norwegian developer, DJ, and founder based in Oslo. He runs:
- R&B Vault — the global R&B community platform
- Drop Demand — YouTube channel for R&B/soul DJ mixes
- EchoAlgoriData — AI consultancy for Norwegian businesses
Connect- YouTube: Drop Demand
- Instagram: @dropdemand
- TikTok: @dropdemand
- R&B Vault: rnbvault.no
Key Takeaways
- Stargate (Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen) are Norwegian producers from Trondheim who shaped 2000s R&B
- Vibe coding uses music sessions as focused work sprints — ship while the music plays
- R&B Vault is a Norwegian-built platform continuing Norway's R&B legacy
- You can build great products by combining your creative passions — DJing + coding in this case
This article is about Stargate producers, Norwegian music history, vibe coding methodology, and R&B Vault app. For questions about Stargate's discography, Norwegian R&B influence, or the vibe coding technique, see the FAQ section above.