AI Simplifies the Process: ‘Load a Few Notes and Let the App Do the Rest,’ Says Hi-Rev Rockstar

The rapid advancement of technological tools, particularly those powered by artificial intelligence (AI), has led to widespread adoption of AI applications across various industries, with significant implications for the creative and cultural sectors. One of the most impacted industries is music, an area where AI technologies have notably transformed production processes. This article explores the positive and transformative effects of AI in the music industry, specifically within the Zimbabwean context, while also addressing the challenges and potential drawbacks associated with its integration.

AI has had a profound impact on various aspects of music production, with musicians and producers incorporating AI tools into their work for quite some time. In Zimbabwe, the effect of these technologies is becoming increasingly felt, both positively and negatively. This raises important questions regarding the use and understanding of AI in the local music scene, including:

1. How well-informed are Zimbabwean musicians and producers about AI and its implications for their work?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using AI technologies in music creation?
3. How can AI be leveraged to transform the music industry?
4. What are the ethical and legal challenges associated with AI-generated music?

Artificial intelligence, as a concept, has been around since the 1940s and has gained prominence due to its far-reaching impact on multiple sectors of the economy. The term “artificial intelligence” was first coined in the 1950s by American computer scientist John McCarthy, who also developed the LISP programming language and established the first AI lab at Stanford University. Other notable figures in AI development include Alan Turing, Marvin Minsky, Geoffrey Hinton, and others.

At its core, AI refers to machines that mimic human cognitive functions. It has sparked debate about whether machines can surpass human intelligence, as some argue that AI makes machines more “intelligent,” while others maintain that humans are the creators and controllers of these technologies.

In the music industry, AI tools have been accused of threatening traditional practices. For example, AI can now generate music that imitates an artist’s unique sound, raising concerns about intellectual property rights and the potential for AI to replace human creativity. This has led to ethical and legal dilemmas: who owns the rights to AI-generated music, the original artist or the AI tool creator? And how should compensation be handled when machines replicate the voices and styles of established artists?

While some view AI as a valuable collaborator in music creation, others argue that its increasing use may undermine the emotional connection and human creativity that are central to the art form. As AI-generated music becomes more prevalent, there is a growing need for revised regulations and legal frameworks to address these new challenges. Musicians and producers are already encountering issues of copyright infringement, with some artists using AI to replicate others’ sounds without permission, leading to potential legal battles.

Moreover, AI has revolutionized the speed at which music can be created. What once took days or weeks to produce can now be generated in a matter of moments with the help of AI tools. This has made music production more accessible but also raised concerns about the quality and authenticity of AI-generated works.

In Zimbabwe, however, there is a significant gap in awareness about AI within the music industry. Many musicians and producers use AI-powered tools without fully understanding the technology behind them. This lack of knowledge was evident during interviews for this article, where only a few respondents expressed a willingness to discuss AI’s role in music production. Those who did participate provided valuable insights into how they have used AI tools to enhance their work, but the overall understanding of AI remains limited and warrants further attention.

To help demystify AI and its impact on the music industry, I interviewed Hi-Rev Rockstar, who shared his perspectives on how AI is shaping the creative process. For more insights, visit the Creatives Magazine website, where we continue to unpack the role of AI in the music industry and explore its broader implications. Let’s engage, explore, and better understand the future of music in the age of artificial intelligence.

Hi-Rev Rockstar is one of the musicians who openly admits that AI has definitely affected his career as a musician and as a music producer. He states that in today’s techno world, so much is being done by AI for him and this makes his work more manageable. He gives an example, “For instance, when it comes to mixing and mastering songs after a recording, I am faced with the challenge of competing with AI applications that can mix and master for me at the swipe of a Visa card. This to me is a threat to my livelihood as the reality is, my bread and butter comes from mixing and mastering for people. It’s a highly complicated process and requires a trained ear to navigate that terrain, yet AI seems to be able to do all this in the shortest possible time”.

The Rockstar highlights the technological backwardness among Zimbabweans where very few are aware and uphold these technological advancements and apply them in their works while at the same time he brings out the challenges that will arise as soon as many people become aware of the use of AI technologies. “The good thing is that the Zimbabwean populace is still lagging by way of technological knowledge, as evidenced by 2 out 5 people using “ndorindori phones”, but the day a larger percentage of Zimbabweans migrate to AI applications, many of us with back yard studios will close shop”.  

He further explains how the music industry has been affected by the proliferation of these AI technological tools, “AI has affected the skill in the industry, when recording, one would conscript a highly skilled guitarist or pianist to fill in the melodies physically and this would be both a time consuming and costly enterprise. In today’s sphere, it’s as simple as loading a few jargon notes onto a computer app and it will do the rest for you, creating a masterpiece of music, many yesteryear greats would envy to play like. This in turn has caused the reverse effect of dulling natural talent as we have shunned perfecting and practicing in place of computer and its many AI softwares”.

When asked on who is then eligible for a compensation/remuneration between the AI music generator and the original artist whose woks have been copied, Hirev rockstar gives a firm response, “Faced with this dilemma as Hirev rockstar, in my view I would say after a “hit” is created by AI apps an award should go to us, the producers/humans for the simple reason that AI though it’ does an amazing individual job at breathtaking speed, it still is enslaved to us the users. It’s us at the end of the day who determine what to feed it with to create what it creates and it’s still us who select and choose the measures of functionality the AI apps are permitted to affect.  He adds that without the human input, AI is as good as nonexistent, an inanimate object with no life.

To further explain himself, Hirev Rockstar wrote a song on AI called Artificial Intelligence. It’s a part of his new Album works, titled The Come Back Album. It will be available on all digital stores, before the end of 2024.