About Us

Music Is More Than Sound — It's a Feeling

I'm Richard, a keyboard player based in New York, and I started Tempo & Tone for a simple reason: the musicians and music lovers in our lives deserve gifts that actually get them.

I've spent years gigging, practicing, and sitting in on jam sessions — and I've received my share of generic "music" gifts that clearly came from someone who'd never picked up an instrument. So I set out to make thoughtful, design-forward pieces for the people who feel music in their bones: jazz enthusiasts, music teachers, vinyl collectors, and the friend who's always humming something.

Every mug, tee, and tote in the shop features original line-art illustrations designed around real moments — a late-night jazz trio, the quiet of a practice room, a teacher's first lesson. Nothing is mass-produced off a shelf; each item is made to order and printed with care.

I'm a one-person brand, which means when you email, you're talking to the person who designed your mug. If something's not right, I'll make it right.

Thanks for being here. Now go play something beautiful.

— Richard, founder of Tempo & Tone