AI and country: Randy Travis' extraordinary musical resurrection
Randy Travis, the multiple Grammy winner, is returning to the music business with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) after eleven years and a serious stroke.
A "magical moment in his career". After eleven years, multiple Grammy winner and US country singer Randy Travis is celebrating his musical comeback. And with the help of AI software and a replacement singer. The singer announced the new song in advance on Instagram. In it, he praised a special team of people who made this moment possible. "Where That Came From" was then released on 3 May: one day before his 65th birthday.
The health challenges: A look at Travis' past
The five-time Grammy winner was hospitalised in 2013 due to a heart muscle condition. He had to undergo emergency surgery following a severe stroke. According to his producer Kyle Lehnung, he was on the verge of death. In fact, he was only given a two per cent chance of survival. In addition to the paralysis, the area of the brain that controls speech was particularly affected. This was followed by lengthy rehabilitation treatment. He withdrew almost completely from the public eye. The star's career seemed to be at an end. Even in private, his wife did most of the talking.
In 2016, Travis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. There, three years after his stroke, he moved the audience with his version of the classic "Amazing Grace" and gave the title a whole new meaning.
How Travis' voice was revitalised
Lately, "Warner Music Nashville" discovered fakes of Randy Travis' voice that were generated with AI. This got the record label thinking. In consultation and with Travis' blessing, producer Kyle Lehnung decided to retrieve 42 of the singer's old songs from the archive. These included the original recording of his hit "1982". They removed the music so that only the vocals remained. This isolated voice was already half the battle.
The next step was to find a replacement voice. This was provided by country singer James DuPre. The AI programme now uses Randy Travis' voice and combines it with DuPre's vocals. "It's not about how it sounds, but how it feels," explains Lehning. For him, it makes a difference that Travis can be there and is an important part of the decision-making process. He has known the singer for more than 40 years, but it doesn't feel right without him, says the producer. That's why his involvement is so valuable.
Randy Travis' new song is a good example of how AI can be used positively to make music that feels legitimate. Nevertheless, the use of AI must continue to be critically scrutinised and the use and consequences for the artists must also be considered. How do you like the new song? Would you have guessed that the song was produced with AI and what do you think about the use of AI in the music industry in general? Let me know in the comments.
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