26th March 2023 – (Taipei) In a stunning revelation at a press event on Wednesday, Golden Melody award-winning musician Sandee Chan and Ethan Tu, founder of Taiwan AI Labs, announced that a song released under Chan’s name was actually sung by AI. The single, called “Teach Me the Ways to Be Your Love,” was composed by Chan and features lyrics by one of Hong Kong’s big three lyricists, Chow Yiu-fai.
The song draws inspiration from A.I.-related science fiction classics like “Her” and “Blade Runner” and uses “I Learn to Love” as a metaphor for the process of “AI learning to sing,” which is ultimately human-based. The revelation has sparked discussions on just how influential technology is in the arts today.
The song was produced using Chan’s past album sound files, combined with the work done by AI Labs personnel over one year. Chan then selected breaks and adjusted the Midi notes so the AI could fill in the lyrics. She tried to avoid using auto-tune or other software to achieve the simulation of a human voice, with all its beauty and imperfections.
Every breath and harmony is sung by the A.I., and even the single cover picture was generated by AI. The song is accompanied by jazz pianist Martin “Musa” Musaubach, giving it a dramatic soundtrack style. In the occasionally pixellated but always moving video, Chan’s AI-generated voice is ever present, but Chan is not shown singing.
AI Labs founder Ethan Tu said there were no plans to launch commercial software for the project yet. However, an integrated audio-visual creation platform will be launched in the near future that can automatically generate music. This platform is expected to revolutionize the music industry by making it easier for musicians and artists to create music using AI-generated tools.
The revelation of the AI-generated song has raised questions about the role of technology in music creation. While some argue that AI-generated music lacks the soul and creativity of human-made music, others see it as a new form of artistic expression that can expand the boundaries of music creation.
Sandee Chan has been a singer for over 25 years and has won many awards, including for her 12th studio album “Juvenile A” in 2019. She also won Golden Melody Awards for Best Album and Best Album Producer in 2005, and Best Mandarin Female Singer in 2008. With this latest project, Chan has shown that she is not afraid to push the boundaries of music creation and explore the potential of technology in the arts.
In conclusion, the revelation of an AI-generated song has shocked the Taiwan music industry and sparked discussions on the role of technology in music creation. While some may view this as a threat to the art of music, others see it as a new form of artistic expression that can expand the boundaries of music creation. Sandee Chan and Ethan Tu’s project is an exciting step towards exploring the potential of AI in music, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.