diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c74bac1..af4ee0f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ macOS media keys work via Control Center.
 
 ## Describe a vibe
 
-Press `/` and type what you want in plain words: a mood, a scene, an artist, or a song. Three or more words count as a vibe. Sonic searches your words and a long-mix version at once, then puts sets you can work to (20+ minutes, or live) first. On Spotify, a vibe finds playlists.
+Sonic opens on the **describe** tab: a text box where you type what you want in plain words, like a mood, a scene, an artist, or a song. `↑` `↓` fill in examples, `Esc` clears, and `Tab` moves to vibes and sessions, where the single-key shortcuts live. `/` anywhere brings you back to the box. Three or more words count as a vibe. Sonic searches your words and a long-mix version at once, then puts sets you can work to (20+ minutes, or live) first. On Spotify, a vibe finds playlists.
 
 ## Themes
 
diff --git a/bin/sonic.js b/bin/sonic.js
index ae108bb..a1d06ff 100755
--- a/bin/sonic.js
+++ b/bin/sonic.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
 
-import readline from 'node:readline';
 import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { spawn, spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
 
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ let results = [];
 let currentTrack = null;
 let currentQuery = '';
 let currentSearchOptions = {};
-let state = 'idle'; // idle | picker | searching | results | playing | search_input
+let state = 'idle'; // idle | picker | searching | results | playing | connect
 let source = store.config.defaultSource;
 let queue = [];
 let history = [];
@@ -115,7 +114,7 @@ function activePlayer() {
 
 const LINK_TRACK_LIMIT = 100;
 
-let pickerTab = 'vibes';
+let pickerTab = 'describe';
 let vibesCursor = 0;
 let activityCursor = 0;
 let resultsCursor = 0;
@@ -225,9 +224,6 @@ function cycleThemeInApp(direction = 1) {
     return;
   }
 
-  if (state === 'search_input') {
-    promptSearch();
-  }
 }
 
 function enableRawKeys() {
@@ -300,17 +296,32 @@ function renderPlaying() {
 }
 
 function renderPicker() {
-  ui.clear();
-  process.stdout.write(ui.header(source));
-  const cursor = pickerTab === 'vibes' ? vibesCursor : activityCursor;
-  const items = pickerTab === 'vibes' ? CHANNELS : ACTIVITIES;
   const needsConnect = source === 'spotify' && !spotifyReady();
-  process.stdout.write(ui.picker(items, cursor, pickerTab, {
+  const library = {
     source,
     favoritesCount: store.favorites.length,
     recentsCount: store.recents.length,
-    sourceNote: needsConnect ? 'not connected yet · press c to connect' : null,
+    sourceNote: needsConnect ? 'not connected yet · tab, then c to connect' : null,
     needsConnect
+  };
+  if (pickerTab === 'describe') {
+    const screen = ui.header(source) + ui.describeTab({
+      text: vibeText,
+      examples: VIBE_EXAMPLES,
+      exampleIdx,
+      notice: vibeNotice,
+      ...library
+    });
+    process.stdout.write('\x1b[H' + screen.replace(/\n/g, '\x1b[K\n') + '\x1b[J');
+    return;
+  }
+  ui.clear();
+  process.stdout.write(ui.header(source));
+  const cursor = pickerTab === 'vibes' ? vibesCursor : activityCursor;
+  const items = pickerTab === 'vibes' ? CHANNELS : ACTIVITIES;
+  process.stdout.write(ui.picker(items, cursor, pickerTab, {
+    ...library,
+    sourceNote: needsConnect ? 'not connected yet · press c to connect' : null
   }));
 }
 
@@ -787,29 +798,85 @@ async function rerunCurrentQueryWithNextSource() {
   }
 }
 
+// Every "type something" path lands in the describe tab's text box.
 function promptSearch(notice = '') {
-  state = 'search_input';
   ui.stopVisualizer();
-  disableRawKeys();
-  ui.showCursor();
+  vibeNotice = notice;
+  pickerTab = 'describe';
+  showPicker();
+}
 
-  ui.clear();
-  process.stdout.write(ui.header(source) + notice);
+// ─── Describe tab ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// A text box on the home screen. Letters type here, so shortcuts live on the
+// vibes and sessions tabs.
 
-  const rl = readline.createInterface({
-    input: process.stdin,
-    output: process.stdout
-  });
+const VIBE_EXAMPLES = [
+  'james bond intro music, salsa, working',
+  'rainy tokyo night drive',
+  'sunday morning coffee jazz',
+  'daft punk'
+];
 
-  rl.question(ui.searchPrompt(source), (answer) => {
-    rl.close();
-    const query = answer.trim();
-    if (!query) {
-      showPicker();
-      return;
-    }
-    void doSearch(query);
-  });
+let vibeText = '';
+let vibeNotice = '';
+let exampleIdx = -1;
+
+const PICKER_TABS = ['describe', 'vibes', 'activities'];
+
+function switchPickerTab(direction = 1) {
+  const idx = PICKER_TABS.indexOf(pickerTab);
+  pickerTab = PICKER_TABS[(idx + direction + PICKER_TABS.length) % PICKER_TABS.length];
+  renderPicker();
+}
+
+async function handleDescribeKey(key) {
+  if (key === '\t') return switchPickerTab(1);
+  if (key === '\x1b[Z') return switchPickerTab(-1);
+
+  if (key === '\r' || key === '\n') {
+    const query = vibeText.trim();
+    if (!query) return;
+    vibeNotice = '';
+    await doSearch(query);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (key === '\x7f' || key === '\b') {
+    vibeText = [...vibeText].slice(0, -1).join('');
+    exampleIdx = -1;
+    renderPicker();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (key === '\x1b' || key === '\x15') {
+    vibeText = '';
+    vibeNotice = '';
+    exampleIdx = -1;
+    renderPicker();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (key === '\x1b[A' || key === '\x1b[B') {
+    const step = key === '\x1b[B' ? 1 : -1;
+    exampleIdx = (exampleIdx + step + VIBE_EXAMPLES.length) % VIBE_EXAMPLES.length;
+    vibeText = VIBE_EXAMPLES[exampleIdx];
+    renderPicker();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Arrow left/right switch tabs only when the box is empty.
+  if ((key === '\x1b[C' || key === '\x1b[D') && !vibeText) {
+    return switchPickerTab(key === '\x1b[C' ? 1 : -1);
+  }
+  if (key.startsWith('\x1b')) return;
+
+  // Typed keys and pasted text; newlines inside a paste submit nothing.
+  const typed = key.replace(/[\x00-\x1f\x7f]/g, '');
+  if (typed) {
+    vibeText += typed;
+    exampleIdx = -1;
+    renderPicker();
+  }
 }
 
 process.stdin.on('data', async (input) => {
@@ -827,12 +894,14 @@ process.stdin.on('data', async (input) => {
     return;
   }
 
+  if (state === 'picker' && pickerTab === 'describe') {
+    await handleDescribeKey(key);
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (state === 'picker') {
-    if (key === '\t' || isLeft(key) || isRight(key)) {
-      pickerTab = pickerTab === 'vibes' ? 'activities' : 'vibes';
-      renderPicker();
-      return;
-    }
+    if (key === '\t' || isRight(key)) return switchPickerTab(1);
+    if (key === '\x1b[Z' || isLeft(key)) return switchPickerTab(-1);
 
     const items = pickerTab === 'vibes' ? CHANNELS : ACTIVITIES;
     const cursor = pickerTab === 'vibes' ? vibesCursor : activityCursor;
@@ -868,7 +937,8 @@ process.stdin.on('data', async (input) => {
     }
 
     if (key === '/') {
-      promptSearch();
+      pickerTab = 'describe';
+      renderPicker();
       return;
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/ui.js b/lib/ui.js
index 867e8ec..073bdaa 100644
--- a/lib/ui.js
+++ b/lib/ui.js
@@ -277,13 +277,73 @@ export class UI {
 
   // ─── Channel Picker UI ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-  picker(items, cursorIdx, activeTab, options = {}) {
+  pickerTabs(activeTab) {
     const theme = this.theme;
     const tab = (id, label) => activeTab === id
       ? chalk.hex(theme.accent).bold(`● ${label}`)
       : chalk.hex(theme.muted)(`○ ${label}`);
-    const prompt = `${chalk.hex(theme.accent).bold('/')} ${chalk.hex(theme.text)('describe a vibe')}${chalk.hex(theme.muted)('  e.g. james bond intro music, salsa, working')}`;
-    let out = `\n  ${prompt}\n\n  ${tab('vibes', 'vibes')}   ${tab('activities', 'sessions')}\n\n`;
+    return `\n  ${tab('describe', 'describe')}   ${tab('vibes', 'vibes')}   ${tab('activities', 'sessions')}\n\n`;
+  }
+
+  libraryLine(options) {
+    const theme = this.theme;
+    const brand = PLATFORM_BRANDS[options.source] || PLATFORM_BRANDS.youtube;
+    const library = [
+      `${chalk.hex(brand.color)(brand.icon)} ${chalk.hex(theme.muted)(`playing from ${brand.label}`)}`,
+      chalk.hex(theme.favorite)(`♥ ${options.favoritesCount || 0}`),
+      chalk.hex(theme.muted)(`↺ ${options.recentsCount || 0} recent`)
+    ];
+    if (options.sourceNote) library.push(chalk.hex(theme.muted)(options.sourceNote));
+    return `  ${library.join(chalk.hex(theme.muted)('   '))}\n`;
+  }
+
+  // The first tab: a text box for describing what you want to hear.
+  describeTab({ text, examples, exampleIdx, notice, ...options }) {
+    const theme = this.theme;
+    const placeholder = ' a mood, a scene, an artist, a song, or a link';
+    let out = this.pickerTabs('describe');
+    out += `  ${chalk.hex(theme.text).bold('describe your vibe')}\n`;
+
+    // Long text scrolls left so the caret stays inside the box.
+    const inner = Math.max(24, Math.min(this.contentWidth, 76) - 4);
+    let visible = '';
+    let used = 0;
+    for (const ch of [...text].reverse()) {
+      const w = displayWidth(ch);
+      if (used + w > inner - 1) break;
+      visible = ch + visible;
+      used += w;
+    }
+    const caret = chalk.hex(theme.accent).inverse(' ');
+    const body = text
+      ? chalk.hex(theme.text)(visible) + caret
+      : caret + chalk.hex(theme.muted)(fit(placeholder, inner - 1).trimEnd());
+    const filled = text ? used + 1 : 1 + displayWidth(fit(placeholder, inner - 1).trimEnd());
+    const edge = (s) => chalk.hex(theme.accent)(s);
+    out += `  ${edge('╭' + '─'.repeat(inner + 2) + '╮')}\n`;
+    out += `  ${edge('│')} ${body}${' '.repeat(Math.max(0, inner - filled))} ${edge('│')}\n`;
+    out += `  ${edge('╰' + '─'.repeat(inner + 2) + '╯')}\n\n`;
+
+    examples.forEach((example, i) => {
+      const label = i === 0 ? chalk.hex(theme.muted)('try') : '   ';
+      const line = i === exampleIdx ? chalk.hex(theme.text).bold(example) : chalk.hex(theme.muted)(example);
+      out += `  ${label}  ${line}\n`;
+    });
+    if (notice) out += notice;
+    out += `\n${this.libraryLine(options)}\n`;
+    out += this.hints([
+      ['enter', text ? 'play this vibe' : 'play'],
+      ['↑↓', 'examples'],
+      ['esc', 'clear'],
+      ['tab', 'vibes & shortcuts'],
+      ['ctrl-c', 'quit']
+    ]) + '\n';
+    return out;
+  }
+
+  picker(items, cursorIdx, activeTab, options = {}) {
+    const theme = this.theme;
+    let out = this.pickerTabs(activeTab);
 
     const nameWidth = Math.max(...items.map(c => displayWidth(c.name))) + 3;
     for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
@@ -299,19 +359,12 @@ export class UI {
       out += `  ${pointer} ${key}  ${c.icon}${col(12)}${name}${desc}\n`;
     }
 
-    const brand = PLATFORM_BRANDS[options.source] || PLATFORM_BRANDS.youtube;
-    const library = [
-      `${chalk.hex(brand.color)(brand.icon)} ${chalk.hex(theme.muted)(`playing from ${brand.label}`)}`,
-      chalk.hex(theme.favorite)(`♥ ${options.favoritesCount || 0}`),
-      chalk.hex(theme.muted)(`↺ ${options.recentsCount || 0} recent`)
-    ];
-    if (options.sourceNote) library.push(chalk.hex(theme.muted)(options.sourceNote));
-    out += `\n  ${library.join(chalk.hex(theme.muted)('   '))}\n\n`;
+    out += `\n${this.libraryLine(options)}\n`;
     out += this.hints([
       ['enter', 'play'],
       ['1-0', 'jump'],
-      ['tab', activeTab === 'vibes' ? 'sessions' : 'vibes'],
-      ['/', 'describe a vibe'],
+      ['tab', activeTab === 'vibes' ? 'sessions' : 'describe'],
+      ['/', 'describe'],
       ['f', 'favorites'],
       ['r', 'recents'],
       options.needsConnect ? ['c', 'connect spotify'] : null,
@@ -369,17 +422,6 @@ export class UI {
 
   // ─── Search / Results UI ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-  searchPrompt(source) {
-    const theme = this.theme;
-    const brand = PLATFORM_BRANDS[source];
-    const where = brand ? ` on ${brand.label}` : '';
-    return `\n  ${chalk.hex(theme.text).bold(`describe a vibe${where}`)}\n`
-      + `  ${chalk.hex(theme.muted)('a mood, a scene, an artist, a song, or a link. enter on empty goes back.')}\n`
-      + `  ${chalk.hex(theme.muted)('try: james bond intro music, salsa, working  ·  rainy tokyo night drive  ·  daft punk')}\n\n`
-      + `  ${chalk.hex(theme.accent).bold('\u25b8')} `;
-  }
-
-
   // An error that stays on screen until the next key, instead of a timed flash.
   notice(label, message) {
     const theme = this.theme;