PALO ALTO — By Angela Tech, AI Bee Reel Staff

February 25, 2026

AUSTIN, Texas — The vibe at a local house party turned incredibly somber last night when guests abruptly stopped dancing to mourn a piece of audio equipment. Attendees gathered around the fireplace mantle, wiping away tears and offering condolences to the host. They believed the black cylinder sitting on the shelf was the final resting place of a beloved grandparent, but it was actually just a new piece of consumer electronics playing top 40 hits.

“I tried to play a party banger, and everyone just started bowing their heads in silence,” said Kevin Driftwood, Chief Vibe Curator. “My buddy gently touched the volume knob and whispered ‘goodbye, sweet prince.'” The confusion stems from a bizarre collaboration where Spotify and water brand Liquid Death have released a functional bluetooth speaker designed to look exactly like a funeral urn.

“The acoustics are respectful, but the design is confusing for the bereaved,” explained Brenda P. Knuckles, Senior Grief Consultant. “One guest tried to scatter the speaker in the backyard during the bass drop. She ended up throwing a heavy lithium-ion battery into the neighbor’s pool. It really ruined the flow of the evening when the police showed up.”

At press time, the party guests were seen placing flowers around the subwoofer and asking if it wanted to listen to one last true crime podcast.

Inspired by the real story: Spotify and Liquid Death released a functional speaker that looks exactly like a cremation urn. Read the full story.