Artificial intelligence in music production has been a hot topic among musicians around the world, with many viewing it as a threat to creativity. However, the CEO of BandLab, a popular online music workstation and distribution platform based in Singapore, believes critics are missing the point. BandLab, which boasts over 100 million registered users, recently introduced an AI music creation tool called SongStarter, which generates song ideas based on various parameters like genre, key, tempo, and lyrics.
Kuok Meng Ru, the founder and CEO of BandLab, emphasizes that AI is not meant to replace human creativity but rather complement it. He compares the AI tool to a starting point for musicians to build on and enhance their own ideas. This sentiment is echoed by proponents of platforms like BandLab, who argue that these tools have democratized music production, allowing artists to be their own producers and bring inexpensive recordings into the mainstream.
However, concerns remain among musicians about the potential implications of AI in music production, including the replication of voices and sounds, as well as the increased difficulty for professional artists to sustain themselves in a competitive industry. Kuok, a fan of Radiohead and a member of a billionaire family, believes that the trend towards self-production is irreversible and is here to stay. One of BandLab’s success stories is lo-fi indie artist David Burke, known as “d4vd,” who recorded and mastered his hit track “Romantic Homicide” solely using the BandLab app.
BandLab is continuously rolling out new AI features, such as Voice Cleaner, aimed at enhancing the quality of vocal recordings. Kuok encourages critics of AI to view it not as a threat but as a tool that can enhance human creativity. He compares the evolution of AI in music production to past innovations, like the invention of the phonograph, which initially instilled fear in musicians but eventually became a valuable tool. Kuok himself is a music enthusiast who learned to play the guitar as a teenager and has a deep appreciation for musicians like Joni Mitchell and BB King.
When asked how he would pitch BandLab to a music icon like Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Kuok emphasizes the app’s social features and collaborative possibilities. In addition to BandLab, Kuok owns Swee Lee, a prominent musical instrument retailer in Asia, showcasing his passion for music and the industry as a whole. Ultimately, Kuok believes that AI is not a hindrance to creativity but rather a valuable tool that can empower musicians to explore new avenues of expression and innovation in the evolving music landscape.
