Spotify introduces Soloist, a headless terminal client for Raspberry Pi and Linux systems

Spotify has introduced Soloist, a new terminal client designed specifically for headless and do-it-yourself audio setups. This official Spotify Connect client is now available for download and runs on both Raspberry Pi and Linux systems. While a premium Spotify account is needed initially to set up Soloist, the client supports connections from both free and premium users once configured.

Following its launch, Soloist appears as a standard device within the Spotify app, just like any other Connect-enabled speaker or player. It is a command-line application and operates without the need for a graphical interface or screen, making it suitable for screenless installations. Use cases highlighted by Spotify include Raspberry Pi-powered living room stereos, home servers managing multi-room audio, and bare boards equipped with digital-to-analog converter cards.

Building on this flexibility, Soloist offers a local WebSocket API for playback control, event notification, and queue management. Through this interface, makers can integrate external displays, visualizers, or even hardware buttons controlled by general-purpose input/output pins, as long as they communicate via WebSocket. This enables advanced custom projects ranging from e-ink now-playing displays to physical skip controls, tailored for DIY enthusiasts.