diff --git a/audio.py b/audio.py
index be4a9b7..2de8546 100644
--- a/audio.py
+++ b/audio.py
@@ -65,19 +65,18 @@ async def join_voice(interaction: discord.Interaction):
 async def play_audio(interaction: discord.Interaction, query: str):
     guild_id = interaction.guild.id
 
+    # Defer the response if not already done
+    if not interaction.response.is_done():
+        await interaction.response.defer()
+
     # Ensure Amber is connected to a voice channel
     if guild_id not in voice_clients or not voice_clients[guild_id].is_connected():
-        await interaction.response.defer()  # Defer the response early
         voice_client = await join_voice(interaction)
         if voice_client is None:  # If join failed
             return
     else:
         voice_client = voice_clients[guild_id]
 
-    # Defer response if not already done
-    if not interaction.response.is_done():
-        await interaction.response.defer()
-
     # Search for the song on YouTube
     ydl_opts = {
         'format': 'bestaudio/best',
@@ -87,7 +86,7 @@ async def play_audio(interaction: discord.Interaction, query: str):
         try:
             info = ydl.extract_info(f"ytsearch:{query}", download=False)['entries'][0]
         except Exception as e:
-            await interaction.followup.send(f"Failed to find or play the requested audio. Error: {str(e)}")
+            await interaction.followup.send(f"❌ **Error:** Could not find or play the requested audio. {str(e)}")
             return
 
     song_url = info['url']
@@ -108,6 +107,15 @@ async def play_audio(interaction: discord.Interaction, query: str):
     if not voice_client.is_playing():
         await play_next(interaction)
 
+    # Send "Now Playing" embed with controls
+    embed = discord.Embed(
+        title="🎵 Now Playing",
+        description=f"**{title}** by {artist}",
+        color=discord.Color.blue()
+    )
+    view = PlaybackControls(interaction, guild_id)
+    await interaction.followup.send(embed=embed, view=view)
+
 
 async def play_next(interaction: discord.Interaction):
     guild_id = interaction.guild.id
@@ -232,6 +240,101 @@ async def leave_voice(interaction: discord.Interaction):
         await interaction.response.send_message("❌ **I am not connected to any voice channel.**")
 
 
+# ---------- Discord UI ----------
+
+
+class PlaybackControls(discord.ui.View):
+    def __init__(self, interaction, guild_id):
+        super().__init__(timeout=None)  # Persistent buttons
+        self.interaction = interaction
+        self.guild_id = guild_id
+
+    @discord.ui.button(label="⏸️ Pause", style=discord.ButtonStyle.primary)
+    async def pause_button(self, interaction: discord.Interaction, button: discord.ui.Button):
+        if self.guild_id in voice_clients and voice_clients[self.guild_id].is_playing():
+            voice_clients[self.guild_id].pause()
+            button.label = "▶️ Resume"
+            await interaction.response.edit_message(content="⏸️ **Paused playback.**", view=self)
+        elif self.guild_id in voice_clients and voice_clients[self.guild_id].is_paused():
+            voice_clients[self.guild_id].resume()
+            button.label = "⏸️ Pause"
+            await interaction.response.edit_message(content="▶️ **Resumed playback.**", view=self)
+
+    @discord.ui.button(label="⏭️ Skip", style=discord.ButtonStyle.secondary)
+    async def skip_button(self, interaction: discord.Interaction, button: discord.ui.Button):
+        if self.guild_id in voice_clients and voice_clients[self.guild_id].is_playing():
+            voice_clients[self.guild_id].stop()  # Stop triggers `play_next`
+            await interaction.response.send_message("⏭️ **Skipped to the next song.**", ephemeral=True)
+        else:
+            await interaction.response.send_message("❌ **No song is currently playing to skip.**", ephemeral=True)
+
+    @discord.ui.button(label="🛑 Stop", style=discord.ButtonStyle.danger)
+    async def stop_button(self, interaction: discord.Interaction, button: discord.ui.Button):
+        if self.guild_id in voice_clients and voice_clients[self.guild_id].is_playing():
+            voice_clients[self.guild_id].stop()
+            music_queues[self.guild_id] = []  # Clear the queue
+            await interaction.response.send_message("🛑 **Stopped playback and cleared the queue.**", ephemeral=True)
+        else:
+            await interaction.response.send_message("❌ **No song is currently playing to stop.**", ephemeral=True)
+
+    @discord.ui.button(label="🔄 Repeat: Off", style=discord.ButtonStyle.success)
+    async def repeat_button(self, interaction: discord.Interaction, button: discord.ui.Button):
+        current_mode = repeat_modes.get(self.guild_id, "off")
+        new_mode = "one" if current_mode == "off" else "all" if current_mode == "one" else "off"
+        repeat_modes[self.guild_id] = new_mode
+        button.label = f"🔄 Repeat: {new_mode.capitalize()}"
+        await interaction.response.edit_message(content=f"🔄 **Repeat mode set to:** {new_mode.capitalize()}", view=self)
+
+    @discord.ui.button(label="🔈 Volume Down", style=discord.ButtonStyle.secondary)
+    async def volume_down(self, interaction: discord.Interaction, button: discord.ui.Button):
+        current_volume = volumes.get(self.guild_id, default_volume)
+        new_volume = max(0.0, current_volume - 0.1)  # Decrease volume by 10%
+        volumes[self.guild_id] = new_volume
+
+        # Apply volume to the current source
+        if self.guild_id in voice_clients and voice_clients[self.guild_id].is_playing():
+            source = voice_clients[self.guild_id].source
+            if isinstance(source, discord.PCMVolumeTransformer):
+                source.volume = new_volume
+
+        await interaction.response.send_message(f"🔈 **Volume decreased to {int(new_volume * 100)}%.**", ephemeral=True)
+
+    @discord.ui.button(label="🔊 Volume Up", style=discord.ButtonStyle.primary)
+    async def volume_up(self, interaction: discord.Interaction, button: discord.ui.Button):
+        current_volume = volumes.get(self.guild_id, default_volume)
+        new_volume = min(1.0, current_volume + 0.1)  # Increase volume by 10%
+        volumes[self.guild_id] = new_volume
+
+        # Apply volume to the current source
+        if self.guild_id in voice_clients and voice_clients[self.guild_id].is_playing():
+            source = voice_clients[self.guild_id].source
+            if isinstance(source, discord.PCMVolumeTransformer):
+                source.volume = new_volume
+
+        await interaction.response.send_message(f"🔊 **Volume increased to {int(new_volume * 100)}%.**", ephemeral=True)
+
+    @discord.ui.button(label="🔇 Mute/Unmute", style=discord.ButtonStyle.danger)
+    async def mute_toggle(self, interaction: discord.Interaction, button: discord.ui.Button):
+        current_volume = volumes.get(self.guild_id, default_volume)
+
+        # Toggle mute
+        if current_volume > 0:
+            volumes[self.guild_id] = 0.0
+            button.label = "🔊 Unmute"
+        else:
+            volumes[self.guild_id] = default_volume
+            button.label = "🔇 Mute"
+
+        # Apply volume to the current source
+        if self.guild_id in voice_clients and voice_clients[self.guild_id].is_playing():
+            source = voice_clients[self.guild_id].source
+            if isinstance(source, discord.PCMVolumeTransformer):
+                source.volume = volumes[self.guild_id]
+
+        status = "muted" if volumes[self.guild_id] == 0.0 else "unmuted"
+        await interaction.response.edit_message(content=f"🔇 **Volume {status}.**", view=self)
+
+
 # ---------- Recommendations ----------
 def fetch_related_songs(song_title, artist):
     """