Dubai, February 4, 2024 – Renowned music composer AR Rahman unveiled his futuristic metahumans project on Friday, introducing a global musical ensemble comprising six dynamic virtual musicians.
This innovative band aims to represent diverse people and cultures worldwide and was officially launched at the ‘Abundance For The Future by SWFI’ event in Dubai. Rahman, a musical maestro, will lend his expertise in content creation and creative direction to the band, whose members will be embodied as Synthetic Avatars, combining the realms of reality and virtuality using cutting-edge technologies such as visual effects and motion capture.
The primary goal of AR Rahman‘s virtual band is to break down cultural barriers and foster unity, emphasizing the shared humanity of people from various backgrounds. The project has garnered support from The HBAR Foundation, a prominent web3 ecosystem fund, with additional technology partners set to be announced in the near future.
In a separate venture that showcased Rahman’s mastery of technology, the composer recently utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate the voices of late singers Bamba Bakya and Shahul Hameed for a track in Rajinikanth’s upcoming film, ‘Lal Salaam.’ This move sparked a debate on the ethical implications of AI in music production.
AR Rahman uses voice algorithm in his metahuman’s project
Responding to the controversy, AR Rahman clarified that his team had obtained permission from the families of Bakya and Hameed to use their voice algorithms for the song. He further stated that fair compensation had been provided to the families as remuneration for their contribution to the project.
Taking to Twitter, Rahman expressed his perspective on the matter, stating, “We took permission from their families and sent deserving remuneration for using their voice algorithms. Technology is not a threat and a nuisance if we use it right… #respect #nostalgia.”
Bakya, known for his soulful renditions in popular films such as ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ and ‘2.0,’ passed away in September 2022 at the age of 42. Rahman’s innovative use of AI in music production continues to push boundaries and ignite discussions within the industry.