PremiumAR Rahman reacts to Arijit Singh’s 'auto-tune' comment; speaks about the use of AI in the Indian music industry
In December 2023, Arijit Singh said that AR Rahman was the first composer in India to use auto-tune in the Indian music industry. The Oscar-winning composer reacted to this today. Here's what he said
AR Rahman and Arijit Singh.
Last Updated: 04.32 PM, Mar 16, 2024
In December 2023, singer Arijit Singh said that Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman was among the first composers in India to use auto-tune, which enhanced the beauty of many of his songs. Singh said that Rahman has since discontinued its use. These developments sparked a controversy in the music industry, with many questioning the credibility and authenticity of music today. AR Rahman has now reacted to this. Here's what he had to say:
AR Rahman opens up about the use of AI in the Indian music industry
In a chat with India Today, AR Rahman encouraged the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the film industry. Despite initial fears about job losses, Rahman believes that technology has proven to have a co-existing relationship with human endeavours. He feels that artificial intelligence can be used to address social issues such as eliminating generational poverty and promoting education and leadership in the arts and sciences.
Additionally, he said that the accessibility of tools through AI empowers individuals to achieve their potential more quickly than traditional paths allow. “We need to use it as a tool to step up and speed up things, not fire people," the musician wrapped up.
What happened in December 2023?
Over the last decade, the Indian music industry has evolved a lot. In the past, musicians played their instruments live in a single take. Now, songs can be made remotely by people in different places. Auto-tune, a technology that can make non-singers sound like singers, has become popular in Indian music too. However, Arijit Singh has clarified that auto-tune is simply a processing tool used by most music composers and cannot magically transform non-singers into singers. Singh also said that AR Rahman was one of the first Indian composers to use auto-tune well, but he doesn't use it anymore.
Recently, Arijit Singh performed a concert at Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani’s pre-wedding ceremony on March 3 in Gujarat’s Jamnagar. His presence at the event went viral on social media.