The recent utilization of AI to resurrect John Lennon voice has sparked debates
AI to resurrect John Lennon voice has sparked debates but it’s crucial to dispel any misconceptions. Unlike the mediocre AI imitations of artists that clutter platforms like Soundcloud, this AI application is more about noise reduction than mimicry.
The story behind this endeavor is heartfelt and straightforward. “Now And Then” began as a piano demo by John Lennon shortly before his untimely demise in 1980. Yoko Ono, his widow, later shared the tape containing this demo with the remaining Beatles. Unfortunately, the recording’s quality left much to be desired.
As the band members reminisce in a touching short film documenting the song’s creation, they recall the initial difficulties. Ringo Starr mentioned that John’s voice seemed somewhat concealed, while Paul McCartney lamented the technology limitations of their era, with the piano muddling the overall sound, and separation technology being beyond their grasp.
Their first attempt to rescue the song in 1995 fell short. However, in 2022, they joined forces with Peter Jackson to create the documentary “Get Back.” Jackson and his team employed modern audio processing technology to restore archival band footage, isolating individual instruments and vocals.
Jackson explained their breakthrough: “We paid meticulous attention to the technical restoration, which ultimately led us to develop technology capable of extracting various components from a soundtrack using machine learning.”
This technology, known as MAL, represents a cutting-edge evolution of audio isolation techniques. Machine learning models can be trained to recognize and extract specific components from a mixed track. This technology is now a staple in video calls, suppressing background noise in real time while highlighting the speaker’s voice.
In the case of Lennon’s demo, this technology worked seamlessly. John’s voice, previously buried in the mix, emerged crystal clear, as Paul McCartney enthusiastically observed. It enabled them to remix the song and create a high-quality record.
Though some may question the ethics of creating this record, everyone involved is convinced that John Lennon would have endorsed it. He was renowned for his tech-savvy nature and originally wrote and performed the song with the intention of recording it.
Furthermore, this process offered a sense of closure to the group. While their creative journey and struggles are well-documented, losing a close friend and creative collaborator under such tragic circumstances left a lingering loose end. As anyone who has experienced loss can understand, every remnant of the departed becomes priceless. George Harrison had previously emphasized the significance of cherishing John’s voice.
Now, with a quarter-century of technological advancements, the band has come as close as possible to having John Lennon back in the room. Ringo Starr aptly summed it up, saying, “It was the closest we’ll ever come to having him back in the room.”
