At a recent city event centered around artificial intelligence, Sherrin Varghese—a household name from Band of Boys—engaged in a stimulating discussion about AI’s role in the current musical landscape. Varghese, a seasoned artist with an enthusiasm matching his experience, described a landscape where emotions run high over AI, ranging from optimism to passionate indignation, with bouts of consideration for opposing viewpoints.
The singer-songwriter asserts that artificial intelligence is a pivotal force set to reshape the way we approach creativity in the music industry. While some might balk at the rapid advancements, Varghese embraces technology, seeing it as a boon that holds the promise of assistance rather than the threat of displacement. Known for a pragmatic approach towards new tools, he candidly shared his use of AI-based Chat GPT to finesse communications, signaling an acceptance of AI as part of a creative’s arsenal.
Looking back, Varghese reminisces on a time when the process of recording a track was a collective and organic affair, necessitating multiple musicians in a single space. Fast forward to the present day, and a composer can achieve the same result with loop packs and a clear command to an interface. With the ability to convey a mood such as “melancholic, light music with a tempo of 69,” an AI interface can deliver without the need for a large ensemble and extensive studio time—a revolutionary change.
Diving into the potential worries associated with AI in music, he counters that the essence of art isn’t diminished by the use of technology. Musicians should adapt, viewing themselves as products while continuing to harness their skills as singer-songwriters and composers. AI, in Varghese’s view, is another tool to be wielded—now capable of accompanying a musician’s every need, from crafting lyrics on the spear to fully composing pieces.
Yet concerns linger in the music sphere concerning AI’s unchecked growth and the implications for artistic copyright, especially when songs featuring AI-generated renditions of cherished artists are released without their involvement. Despite these challenges, Varghese finds the appeal of such replications to be fleeting. The true value lies in originality, and while novelty may drive short-term interest, he doubts such practices will overshadow the intrinsic merit and historical significance of artists’ original works.
The musician’s stance on AI veers away from the rampant “fear-mongering,” framing the technology as a nascent yet powerful tool whose full capabilities are challenging to forecast. Still, Varghese stands in a position of relative comfort and security, one earned through lengthy and dedicated effort in the music scene. When prompted on how AI’s rise might affect those just beginning their journey, he reflects on the unpredictable transformation from analog to digital in his own career, emphasizing the importance of making an impact regardless of the era’s technological baseline.
The talk with Varghese serves as more than just a glimpse into one artist’s acceptance of the impending tide of AI in creative spheres. It is also a rallying cry to upcoming music professionals: that AI should be seen as a liberating trend, equipping them with unprecedented capabilities. With tact and a touch of defiance, Varghese portrays an AI-empowered future not as a daunting precipice but as an inviting horizon where music, enhanced by artificial intelligence, continues to touch the human soul. In this brave new world, the partnership between human creativity and algorithmic efficiency might just compose the next opus that captures the hearts of the future generation.
