AI Country: Malta’s New Music Frontier

In the heart of Nashville, the capital of country music, a new breed of artist is taking the stage. They’re not your typical singer-songwriters, but AI-generated entities, breaking through the genre’s traditional barriers. And while they’re making waves across the pond, here in Malta, we’re not immune to the ripples.

Imagine this: a Friday night at Tico Tico in Paceville. The usual bustle of live music fills the air, but tonight, the voice belting out Take Me Home, Country Roads isn’t human. It’s the work of an AI, a digital artist named Imogen Heap, or rather, her AI alter ego.

AI-generated music isn’t new, but it’s never been like this. Artists like Imogen Heap are using AI to co-write songs, creating melodies and lyrics that blend human creativity with machine learning. In Nashville, AI is even getting its own songwriting credits. The ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, recently recognized an AI as a co-writer on a country song.

Back home, local musicians are taking note. Maltese singer-songwriter Alexia told me, “I’ve started experimenting with AI in my songwriting process. It’s not about replacing human creativity, but enhancing it.”

AI artists aren’t just writing hits, they’re performing them too. Virtual concerts, powered by AI, are becoming a thing. Last year, Roy Orbison‘s hologram toured the US, singing his classic country tunes. Closer to home, Malta’s own Joseph Calleja has expressed interest in exploring virtual performances.

“AI could make opera accessible to new audiences,” Calleja said. “Imagine a virtual concert in the Manoel Theatre, reaching people all over the world.”

AI-generated music is finding its audience. Spotify’s annual Wrapped campaign revealed that AI-generated tracks were among the most streamed in 2021. In Malta, local AI-generated tracks are gaining traction on platforms like iTunes and Apple Music.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. The music industry is grappling with questions of ownership and royalties. Who gets paid when an AI writes a hit song? These are complex issues, but they’re not insurmountable. As Alexia puts it, “We’re at the start of a new era. It’s exciting, and it’s our job as artists to shape it.”