A new DJ is revolutionizing the music industry, and his name is SPLY85. This creative artist makes electronic music with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), a novel approach that promises to unleash a whole new future for music.
SPLY85’s songs have attracted thousands of monthly listeners on Spotify and have received over 1 million collective plays. These major accomplishments — an impressive feat for any musician or band — become even more impressive considering that he keeps his identity a secret.
While most successful musicians and artists crave the limelight and seek fame, SPLY85 has chosen anonymity. “I’d like to let the music speak for itself,” he commented. “I’m not doing this for personal gain or notoriety. I’m fairly well-established in my other careers and businesses, so having a musical outlet where no one knows who I am is very freeing.” He also described his pseudonym as providing “a relief.”
Becoming a DJ
SPLY85’s interest in music was sparked at an early age.
“My parents aren’t the most musical of people, but they exposed me to a variety of music from many cultures and backgrounds to try and develop a broad understanding of music,” he said. “I played around a lot on my computer growing up, making sounds with various input devices and making music with a MIDI player on Windows 3.1.”
A turning point came when he heard the 2003 album “The Neptunes Present… Clones.”
“After listening to that album and realizing how much more technology was going to be involved in the music business, I started tinkering a lot, and things really took off,” he said. “Unlike most musical aficionados, my experience was completely computer-based.”
Years of computer science classes in high school and college developed SPLY85’s deep understanding of how to, in his words, “think like a computer.” Over the past few years, advances in machine learning and AI leveled up what was possible for him as a composer.
“That really blew the doors open for me, allowing me to train a computer to learn and produce music easier than I could previously,” he said. “Overall, it was a great opportunity for someone who wasn’t musically inclined in a traditional way to be able to create.”
How AI can help humans create music
“Asking AI to generate various forms of art is the next phase of our technological evolution,” SPLY85 said. Releasing his own tracks to the public helps move the AI and machine learning communities forward and achieve this goal.
Yet, SPLY85 understands the potentially controversial character of his approach. “Given the methods I use to produce the music, I don’t want traditionally established musicians to see any of this as a threat,” he said. “That being said, it is important to recognize that AI technology can have an impact on the creative industries, and it is possible that the use of AI could potentially change the way that music and art are created and consumed.”
While some might fear that AI music and art could replace human creativity, SPLY85 doesn’t find this likely.
“While AI technology has advanced significantly in recent years and is capable of creating music and art that is complex and sophisticated, it is still limited in its ability to truly understand and replicate the creative process of human artists,” he pointed out.
According to SPLY85, AI can support human creativity in various ways. “For example, AI algorithms may be able to generate new ideas or compositions that can be used by human artists as a starting point for their own creative process,” he explained. “In some cases, AI-generated music and art may be used as a supplement to human-generated content, rather than replacing it completely.”
Still, he recommends that musicians and artists follow developments in the AI and machine-learning worlds so as to assist in steering them. “Ultimately, the impact of AI on the creative industries will depend on how it is used and how it evolves over time,” he concluded. “It is important for artists and industry professionals to be aware of the potential benefits and drawbacks of using AI technology and to consider how it can be used in a way that enhances — rather than detracts from — creativity.”
AI music that improves life for humans
For SPLY85, making AI-assisted music has opened up a creative outlet for expressing himself freely. In the process, he has acquired thousands of fans. But another clear purpose motivates him to produce this music: helping people communicate and connect.
“Music has the power to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers and has had a profound impact on humanity for thousands of years,” he said. “The sounds, vibrations, and rhythms have the ability to teleport people to any time or place. It has the ability to evoke emotions, bring people together, and even inspire social change.”
While AI might play a key role in the creation of these songs, SPLY85’s intention is all about improving life for humans.
“Whether it’s a group of people singing together or a live music performance,” he said, “music has the ability to create a shared experience that can bring people closer together.”
