The explosion of new cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence is helping musicians redefine the way music is created, performed, and experienced.
Zubin Kanga is one such musician exploring this uncharted territory with classical piano. Using AI and other technologies like MiMu motion detection gloves, brainwave sensors, audio-visual sonification, and much more, Kanga is able to create unique sounds.
The new-found ability allows him to swirl, melt and morph the sounds of his piano and keyboards, creating a new repertoire for the classical piano.
“We now have this capability of becoming these cyborg musicians”, Kanga says, “and generate a new way of making music using these new technologies.”
AI is Raising a New Wave Cyborg Musicians
Kanga’s latest work – an album dubbed Cyborg Pianist – captures this whole new musical experience. The album premiered at Kings Place in London on September 30th. In the album, Kanga commissioned five fellow artists – Laura Bowler, Laurence Osborn, Shiva Feshareki, Oliver Letih and Emily Howard.
Together, they created new immersive and interactive solo piano works which integrate cutting-edge technologies.
For instance, Oliver Leith’s Vicentino, love you – used the TouchKeys keyboard to create a modern version of Vicentino’s 16th-century microtonal instrument, connecting it to classic synthesizers to produce intimate choirs of brass-like sounds.
The Cyborg Pianist is a product of intensive research and experiments. For over a decade, Kanga has been exploring, curating and creating interdisciplinary musical programmes that aim to redefine what it means to be a performer through interactions with new technologies.
Three years ago, Kanga was awarded a £1.4 million UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship to fund his latest project, based at Royal Holloway, University of London, where he happens to be the Senior Lecturer in Musical Performance and Digital Arts.
AI Applications in the Music Industry
In addition to empowering musicians, AI technology is being applied in several other ways in the music industry.
In September, Cryptopolitan reported about DAACI, meta-composition software infused with artificial intelligence. Unlike other models, the software empowers both current and future composers, enabling them to craft music like never before by harnessing the collaborative and assistive power of AI technology.
