Shakira’s honest opinion on artificial intelligence in music

The most recurring discussion in the music world in 2023 revolves around the use of artificial intelligence. The tools can be used to perfectly emulate the voices of great artists in songs they never recorded, compose entire albums from a simple algorithm execution or other more technical forms of exploration, such as “cleaning” records with noise or something like that. .

Regarding the initial possibility of reproducing vocal recordings, there are several concerns regarding the basic rights of artists. Although, Shakira doesn’t seem to have any concerns.

The singer was invited to reflect on the subject in an interview with Billboard (via Music News). At the time, he surprised by saying that technology makes many mistakes when trying to replicate an artist’s voice. Therefore, it would be “difficult” to come across a good imitation of his performance.

“I’ve already been shown what I sound like with artificial intelligence. But I don’t think they’ve got it right yet. I can’t hear myself there.”

Next, the Colombian pop star highlighted some of the elements that the tool has not yet been successful in improving.

“The letter E, for example, sounds like my voice, but the other four vowels do not. I think it will be difficult for AI to imitate me.”

Aware that it will still take some time for technology to evolve to such a point, Shakira commented that he is keeping an eye on other issues, closer to his current reality.

“I have bigger problems to deal with now. My biggest concern is figuring out how Milan [filho dela] you can practice football, soccer and baseball in the same week.”

Catalog sale

At another point in the conversation, Shakira commented on the sale of his musical catalog to Hypgnosis. The deal was completed in 2021. In total, 145 of the artist’s songs now have their rights linked to the company. The values ​​were not revealed.

“I am very good friends with Merck [Mercuriadis]. He’s an expert in musicology who knows my catalog intimately since the first song I wrote when I was 8 years old. I know that my compositions are in better hands, with him as their guardian, and I am very happy. They are doing a very good job. If you sell your catalog, it needs to be to someone who values ​​your music and knows music.”

Other opinions

One of the biggest names in music to spare no criticism of the use of artificial intelligence in this area is Ed Sheeran. In an interview with Audacy (via American Songwriter), the owner of hits like “Thinking Out Loud” It is “Shape of You” used fiction to say that people should be aware of the possible problems caused by the indiscriminate use of technology.

“What I don’t understand about artificial intelligence is that for the last 60 years, Hollywood movies have been saying, ‘Don’t do it.’ And now everyone is doing it. And I’m like, ‘Haven’t you seen the movies where they kill us all?’ Also, I just don’t know why you need this – if you’re taking a human being’s job, I think it’s probably a bad thing. The whole point of society is that we all do jobs. If everything is done by robots, everyone will be out of work.”

In an interview with Kerrang! Radio(via Blabbermouth), the vocalist of Slipknot, Corey Taylor, followed similar reasoning. For him, AI is just an accommodating evolution of other tools that correct out-of-tune voices or bad performances.

“To be honest, I don’t care about any of this. I don’t know what people are trying to prove. Are they trying to prove that computers can do things as well as people? Because if so, then what’s the point? an even worse example of technology replacing talent than I’ve been complaining about for years with the Pro Tools, tuning and using the same sounds. And people keep saying, ‘oh, isn’t that cool?’. No, it’s not cool. You are crazy?”

Another great contemporary heavy metal vocalist to demonstrate his opinion on artificial intelligence is M. Shadows. The frontman of Avenged Sevenfoldhowever, completely disagrees with Taylor and says he would even be happy to give up his voice so that technology can create music and performances from it.

Outside of the heavy sound, the alternative idol Nick Cave demonstrated a position similar to that of Taylor. For him, AI has nothing to do with art, as composing music is a deeply human act.