Country singer Randy Travis, who suffered a stroke in 2013 that left him unable to speak or sing properly, has made a comeback with the release of a new song titled “Where That Came From.” In a surprising twist, the vocals on the track were not performed by Travis himself, but were instead created using AI software and a surrogate singer. This innovative approach to music production marks a significant milestone in the integration of artificial intelligence in the music industry.
The producers of “Where That Came From” utilized an AI model trained on 42 of Travis’ vocal-isolated recordings to recreate his distinctive sound. With the guidance of Travis and his long-time producer Kyle Lehning, country singer James DuPre provided the vocals that were then transformed into Travis’ voice by the AI technology. The resulting song captures Travis’ signature folksy and sentimental style, evoking nostalgia for fans who grew up listening to his music.
The use of AI in music production is not limited to recreating existing artists’ voices. Artists like Dustin Ballard leverage AI voice cloning technology to create humorous mash-ups, such as AI Elvis Presley singing “Baby Got Back” or synthetic Johnny Cash performing “Barbie Girl.” While some may view AI-generated music as a threat to human creativity, others see it as a tool that enhances artistic expression and pushes boundaries.
The introduction of AI voice cloning raises important ethical questions regarding the authenticity and ownership of music. Cris Lacy, Co-president of Warner Music Nashville, refers to the label’s use of AI to clone Travis’ voice as “AI for good,” emphasizing the positive impact of technology in music production. However, the passage of the ELVIS Act in Tennessee highlights the need to regulate the use of AI in recreating artists’ voices without their permission.
Travis’ new song serves as a testament to the potential of AI in revitalizing music from iconic artists and providing new opportunities for the industry. Warner’s exploration of AI-generated music opens up possibilities for resurrecting catalogues of music from deceased artists, sparking discussions about the future of music production and the role of technology in shaping creative expression. As the music industry continues to evolve, the lessons learned from Travis’ AI-generated song will undoubtedly shape the way forward for Warner Music Nashville and the industry as a whole.
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