When artificial intelligence (AI) apps began to be used in Nigeria’s music industry, Eclipse Nkasi, a producer, was concerned about the impact on his career. Initially, he was apprehensive about AI technology in music production but later recognized both opportunities and threats.
He decided to harness AI to create an entire Afrobeats album in his Lagos-based studio. Nkasi believes that AI doesn’t need to replace existing music but can provide a fresh experience, potentially transforming the industry in a positive way, according to TRT Africa.
Previously, it would have cost Nkasi a significant amount of money and several months to create tracks for an album. The existing process involves composing, hiring musicians, recording, and refining the performances in a conventional studio before releasing the music to fans.
With the help of OpenAI’s ChatGPT program, Nkasi and three friends were able to create a nine-track album titled “Infinite Echoes” in just three days for $500, a significantly faster and more cost-effective process compared to traditional music production methods.
The team used OpenAI’s ChatGPT to automatically generate song lyrics and titles for their album, such as “God Whispers,” “Love Tempo,” and “Dream Chaser.” They then adapted the generated content to fit the album’s theme, focusing on a persistent artist pursuing their musical passion.
Additionally, they employed another AI tool to create the melodies. Nkasi recorded vocals and used yet another app to transform his voice into that of the album’s generated singer. The virtual singer featured in their project is named Mya Blue, and she interacts with her online audience through computer-generated animation.
Nkasi acknowledges that AI may render some aspects of the music industry obsolete. However, he believes it also offers opportunities for artists to innovate and enhance their work efficiently.
Music critic Omotolani Alake from Lagos sees AI as already making positive changes, particularly in production values and technical aspects of recording. However, there are lingering uncertainties, such as copyright concerns, that need to be addressed as the industry is still in its early stages of AI integration, he said.
