The final, as yet unreleased Beatles track is slated to be released this year, enriched with a futuristic spin.
During a conversation with BBC Radio 4, Sir Paul McCartney disclosed the incorporation of AI to polish the raw essence of John Lennon’s voice from a rough demo, terming it the “final Beatles record”.
The song, speculated to be titled “Now and Then”, emanates from an assortment of Lennon’s pre-death cassette recordings, gifted to Sir Paul by Yoko Ono in the 1990s.
Using AI, the technology not only managed to separate Lennon’s voice from the backing piano but also allowed for a clean final version of Lennon’s vocals, thereby resurrecting the track from its former low-quality state.
“We were able to take John’s voice and get it pure through this AI. Then we can mix the record, as you would normally do. So it gives you some sort of leeway,” McCartney explained.
The AI Advantage
The AI technology used to isolate Lennon’s voice replicates the technical advancement employed in Peter Jackson’s Beatles documentary, ‘Get Back’, to discern and separate individual band members’ voices.
The Beatles, renowned for their openness to experiment, embraced this technological evolution, albeit with a mix of intrigue and caution.
In an air of excitement and foreboding, Sir Paul commented, “It’s kind of scary but exciting, because it’s the future. We’ll just have to see where that leads.”
McCartney and AI’s Affair
Notably, McCartney is no stranger to using AI for the purpose of creating music.
He utilised it during his recent tour for a “duet” with Lennon’s isolated vocals. However, despite his acceptance of AI in this capacity, McCartney’s apprehensions regarding its wider applications persist, calling its potential “kind of scary”.
The Beatles have proven to be no different from other classic artists who endeavour to remain relevant in the public eye, long after their peak.
They’ve always been a part of the evolving times, from releasing compilation albums like “1” in 2000, to participating in Peter Jackson’s documentary ‘Get Back’ in 2021.
However, it raises concerns whether this use of AI is a sign of progress or a desperate attempt to maintain relevance. The idea of AI resuscitating Lennon’s voice, with McCartney and Ringo Starr trying to recreate the magic, raises some eyebrows.
Treading a Fine Line
Undeniably, the Beatles have carved an indelible mark on the tableau of rock ‘n’ roll, music, and, indeed, the broader popular culture, their influence echoing through time. Their rich legacy stands unchallenged, manifesting itself in their albums, each piece serving as a timeless testimony to their genius.
Their relatively short history of togetherness has rendered their existing works all the more precious.
Whether this novel venture into AI-assisted music production will add a jewel to their crown or be seen as a peculiar deviation from their original essence remains to be seen.
Either way, the world waits with bated breath for this “final Beatles record”, anticipating the timeless magic that the Beatles have been known to deliver, now coupled with the wonders of AI.
