Feature Music

Artificial Intelligence and the Evolution of Music: Taryn Southern Leads the Way

October 20, 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the music industry in various ways, from creating new sounds and genres to changing the way music is distributed and consumed. Taryn Southern, an award-winning artist and technology strategist, demonstrates the remarkable potential of AI to enhance the songwriting process and challenge tradition.

Taryn Southern: A Pioneer in the AI-Music Frontier

Taryn Southern’s work is characterized by a blend of deep thoughtfulness and techno-possibility, a combination that fuels her exploration of the intersection between emerging technology and human potential. Originally from Kansas, she first gained prominence as a semi-finalist on American Idol at the age of 17. With degrees in journalism and anthropology, she posted her inaugural YouTube music video in 2007.

Over the course of a decade, Taryn Southern crafted an astonishing 1500 internet videos that garnered a staggering 750 million views. Her professional path extended beyond the internet to include acting and hosting shows on television and producing digital campaigns for renowned companies. She went onto direct award-winning VR projects and the Tribeca-premiering documentary I AM HUMAN about the future of the brain. In 2017, Taryn released the first AI-produced pop track, Break Free.

Following the release of her AI album I AM AI in 2018, Southern has performed around the globe and directed a number of AI-enhanced creative experiments, including producing an AI video clone and award-winning VR projects that integrate AI image tools.

Most recently, Taryn demonstrated how to create an AI-music track on NBC News, offering a glimpse into the transformative potential of AI in the music industry.

The Creative Toolbox: AI Tools in Music Production

For her 2018 album, Taryn Southern used a variety of tools: Google Magenta, IBM Watson Beat, AIVA, and Amper. To craft her latest AI-generated track for NBC News, Taryn employed the following tools, each contributing to different aspects of the song’s creation:

ChatGPT for Lyrics:

ChatGPT, the open source language model, played a crucial role in crafting the song’s lyrics. With its natural language generation capabilities, it assisted Taryn in generating the track, demonstrating that AI can be a source of inspiration and creativity.

AIVA.ai for Musical Composition:

AIVA.ai, an AI-based musical composition platform, took charge of the composition of the music. This AI tool demonstrated its capacity to produce music that can be customized according to the preferences of the human producer, from BPM to instrumentation to mood.

Google Colab for Vocal Style Transfer:

The utilization of Google Colab allowed for Taryn to apply style transfer to her vocals. In this case, Taryn Southern transformed her vocals into those resembling the iconic voice of Katy Perry and the NBC reporter’s rap into the voice of Drake.

Music Gateway for Mastering:

Music Gateway, another AI tool, played a crucial role in mixing and mastering the track, ensuring a crisp and clear sound.

The Future of Creation and Distribution

Taryn’s explorations of AI in music creation have provided a glimpse into the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. Some of her future predictions include:

Transforming Traditional Music Roles:

With the integration of AI in music production, the traditional separation by musical expertise – singers, songwriters, producers, and studio musicians – is poised to undergo a transformation. Just as digital content creators have learned every aspect of production to become multi-hyphenate director-writer-producer-cinematographer-editors, musicians will also have the ability to take on every aspect of production and create songs from inception to completion.

Reduced Barriers to Entry:

The cost to produce high quality music has been dramatically reduced with these tools. In addition, musical expertise is no longer required. Anyone with an editorial ear can expect to produce their own tracks.

The Rise of DIY Producers:

The image of hits exclusively being recorded in high-end recording studios will evolve. Many successful tracks will be born in people’s homes, highlighting the democratizing influence of AI in music production.

Evolving License & Royalty Calculations:

While there is much controversy about the role of AI in replicating an artist’s vocals or style, it’s likely that new royalty systems will be created to enable the monetization of their use. Artists who consent to licensing their voices for AI “style transfer” purposes will find new avenues for generating income through song streams and sales. The financial potential and creative possibilities may lead to further innovation and exploration in the field.

The Future of Music

While AI may not replace the raw talent and creativity of musicians, it is certainly poised to reshape the music landscape, fostering collaboration, creativity, and innovation. Taryn Southern stands as a trailblazer in this brave new world, navigating the intersection of technology and human potential with a blend of thoughtfulness and optimism.