I’m nearly finished with the first draft of my next novel. (High fiving myself.) It’s a time travel story partly set in the year 2054. Because the main character is a musician and singer/songwriter, one aspect of the story deals with how popular music has changed. In this fictional take on the future, AI has become a major influence in music. So much so, that fans seek out live shows to try to avoid the “synthetic” sound of a lot of recorded music.
We’ve already experienced a development that makes it easier for so-so singers to make it big. You’ve heard all about auto-tune. Besides using it when recording music, there are auto-tune microphones and apps that make real-time corrections so the audience doesn’t realize the singer can’t carry a tune in a bucket. Auto-tune has also been used over the past twenty-five years for sound effects in music.
As AI becomes ubiquitous, there's a growing concern that music will become more homogenized. Which is not good as far as I’m concerned. I like to hear a distinctive sound with a guitar virtuoso, a creative bass player and a drummer with chops, who doesn’t sound like a programmed drum beat. I’m not saying every singer has to have perfect pitch. Johnny Cash certainly didn’t. His imperfect voice was part of his charm. A voice with character is very cool.
Lucky for me, I can pick the brains of my son Kyle and his bandmates to get a feel for the ins and outs of being a musician. Although I may use some of their anecdotes and expertise, none of my characters will be based on Kyle or his musician friends.
For more on the future of pop music, you can read this column on ZIPDJ by DJ Fierce. “What is the Future of Music? Our Thoughts and Predictions in 2024.” For more on Kyle and his music, here's the link to his website: www.kylelacymusic.com