Paul McCartney Unveils 'Last Beatles Record' Using AI: Extracts John Lennon's Voice from Old Demo
- tech360.tv
- Jun 15, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 3, 2024
[Edited] In a groundbreaking revelation, Paul McCartney, the legendary singer-songwriter and member of The Beatles, has disclosed that artificial intelligence (A.I.) was used to extract and enhance the vocals of his former bandmate, John Lennon, from an old recording.
McCartney shared this information during an interview with the BBC's "Today" program.
Describing the use of A.I. as an intriguing challenge, McCartney explained that director Peter Jackson, known for his work on "Lord of the Rings," was able to extract Lennon's voice from a low-quality cassette recording. The A.I. technology was employed to separate Lennon's vocals from the instrumental and background interference.
McCartney further revealed that the extracted vocals were incorporated into a demo that Lennon had recorded, and the track has now been completed.
"We were able to take John's voice and get it pure through this AI, so that then we could mix the record as you would normally do. It gives you some sort of leeway," McCartney explained.
The BBC reported that the song in question is likely to be "Now And Then," a Lennon composition from 1978 that McCartney has expressed a desire to finish. The release holds sentimental value as Lennon tragically passed away in 1980.
During his recent tour, which included a headline performance at the Glastonbury festival, McCartney showcased songs featuring the enhanced Lennon vocal track, accompanied by a video of the late artist on stage with him.
The use of A.I. in music production has sparked discussions among industry experts regarding the potential of technological advancements and the ethical implications of posthumously recreating artists. Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA, whose show "ABBA Voyage" utilizes motion capture and real-time graphics to present de-aged digital avatars of the band, has previously expressed concerns about the creation of "deep fakes."
McCartney acknowledged the dual nature of A.I., stating, "There's a good side to it and then a scary side, and we'll just have to see where that leads."
The integration of A.I. in music production opens up new possibilities for artists to collaborate across time and space. While it raises ethical questions, it also offers a unique opportunity to preserve and enhance the legacy of iconic musicians like John Lennon.
Paul McCartney has revealed that A.I. was used to extract and enhance John Lennon's vocals from an old recording.
The vocals have been incorporated into a demo that Lennon had recorded, and the track will be released later this year.
The song is likely to be "Now And Then," a composition from 1978 that McCartney wanted to finish.
Source: CNBC
