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Album Review: Tame Impala, ‘Deadbeat’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Album Review: Tame Impala, ‘Deadbeat’

The first time I got a taste of just how big Tame Impala has gotten was when he headlined Primavera Sound 2022. I thought everything Kevin Parker had put out was pretty great, even as he’d smoothed the edges of his sound on 2020’s The Slow Rush; but as I tried to make my way through the crowd beginning to get lost in his music, it was somehow the last place I wanted to be. Listening from the back, songs I’d connected to suddenly felt distant, vacuous, vast, and repetitive. It’s the same feeling I get while listening to his latest album, Deadbeat, which has a beating heart beneath its big, thumping beats but wastes too much time crowding and dramatizing its purest ideas. Even when Parker seems comfortable letting its imperfections show, it feels like an aesthetic decision, one that has little to do with the flaws he admits to throughout the album. It could satisfy the biggest festival audiences, no doubt, but you start to long for the record behind it: the version of Deadbeat that sounds like Parker alone in his room, spiraling.

1. My Old Ways

Deadbeat is off to an intriguing start with ‘My Old Ways’, which becomes more frustrating the more layers it piles on. You can imagine Parker coming up with the perky piano loop and using it to sing about falling back into depression – or, as he puts it, “downhill sloping.” There’s a rawness to the first few moments, but it’s ironically when he has to remind himself he’s only human that this quality dissipates, opting instead to make emptiness sound big. The house beat, not to mention all those sparkling synths, sound counterintuitive, barely even reveling in the powerlessness. I would rather hear the demo version – then again, why bother when there’s ‘Feels Like We Only Go Backwards’?

2. No Reply

Unlike the opener, ‘No Reply’ does a better job at hunching over its lo-fi arrangement, drawing the song out with some melancholic piano. It would be refreshing if it didn’t spotlight some of Parker’s clunkiest lyrics: “You’re a cinephile, I watch Family Guy/ On a Friday night, off a rogue website/ When I should be out/ With some friends of mine/ Runnin’ rеckless wild in the streets at night/ Singin’ ‘Life, oh, lifе,’ with our arms out wide.” It’s memeable in ways you can’t quite qualify, not too far from The Life of a Showgirl territory. The sad thing is that Parker’s music, even at its most dour, can be restless and life-affirming – remember, Currents is a breakup album. It might be for the introverted and uninvited, but it still stretches its arms out wide. It at least supplements, while this just sulks.

3. Dracula

Turns out the cornball in Parker knocks out a better song when he’s out thinking he should be home, rather than being home thinking he should be out. (Oh, the dichotomy!) Musically, his Thriller-indebted, melodramatic pop instincts fare well with the song’s playful self-deprecation: “I’m on the verge of caving in, I run back to the dark/ Now I’m Mr. Charisma, fucking Pablo Escobar.” He’s still prone to regression, but can’t help being driven around town by his friends. Family Guy will have to wait.

4. Loser

Parker continues in the self-defeatist vein of ‘Dracula’, but ‘Loser’ is way less fun. The riff is decent enough, but the track gets tediously repetitive, evidently running out ideas the more it attempts to integrate. The gleaming synth line tracing the melody as he sings “I get the message, I learned my lesson” is awfully distracting. The bridge about roaming dark streets alone is tacky; we already know he’s one to run from the sunlight, but the charisma’s all gone.

5. Oblivion

‘Oblivion’ lifelessly mashes up a dembow beat with electronic blips and strings, undercutting the longing at its core. It’s hard to reconcile the lethargic rhythm with the gravity of Parker’s conclusion: “If I don’t get to you my love/ Then I choose oblivion.” Chris Martin would at least pour his heart out over it.

6. Not My World

How much music can an album contain about drifting aimlessly in the street and lamenting how un-normal your life is? ‘Not My World’ starts out actually sounding like a demo, written haphazardly after one of those walks – but then its wistful haze opens up midway through the song, giving way to a house beat with some real oomph. It sounds like burrowing deeper into his own world, more exciting in its wordlessness than some stranger’s 9 to 5.

7. Piece of Heaven

Schmaltzy and submissive, ‘Piece of Heaven’ is another peculiar fusion of influences – a bit of Enya here, some Timbaland there. But the result, as Parker arrives at the divine pleasure he’s been yearning for throughout the album, is hazy and underwhelming. If he can make emptiness sound big, why not a small piece of heaven?

8. Obsolete

In almost stark contrast to ‘Piece of Heaven’, ‘Obsolete’ frets over a strained relationship – you can even hear Parker trying to compose himself between verses. Perhaps his lyrics would scan as vulnerable if they didn’t feel like fodder for the groovy beat, which only makes it feel more tonally disjointed. “Talk is cheap, but the words cut deep,” he repeats. If only his lyrics did, too.

9. Ethereal Connection

Parker has referenced western Australia’s “bush doof” rave scene as a main influence on Deadbeat, but it’s not until the prog-house workout ‘Ethereal Connection’ that you actually hear it. Granted, it stretches out to nearly eight minutes. And though it doesn’t have as many nooks and crannies as you’d wish, it’s the one song where Parker’s words, his commitment to this love, feels spiritually aligned with the cosmic thump of the music, reminding me of Jamie xx’s ‘Falling Together’. “Take a ride,” he offers, actually believing in it.

10. See You on Monday (You’re Lost)

And so we go from music to get lost in to music about feeling lost, which should be distinguished from music about being a loser. A taste of the temptation alluded to in ‘My Old Ways’, the track leaves a sour feeling despite its pleasant melody. He wants to lead a normal life but dreads being called steady, so he’s led astray. Or lets it happen, I guess.

11. Afterthought

Whatever happened here – maybe the song itself was a bit of an afterthought, tucked in before the final track – it’s the most exhilarating thing on the album. “I can be emotional/ If you need me to,” he declares, and for once, it sounds like there’s several emotions vying for space, even as it delivers one of the album’s strongest pop hooks.

12. End of Summer

When it came out as a sprawling preview of the album, ‘End of Summer’ felt right – or at least, correctly timed, blurring the line between warmth and malaise; the kind of song you’d put on the dancefloor, but not if you’re not feeling a wee bit sad. Maybe you find the vocal hook annoying, but the more Parker’s words are obscured, the more they seep into the general vibe of the music. And this is a vibe-driven album, as emotionally transparent and defeated as Parker makes himself sound. It’s just that by the end of it, you’re so exhausted that you’d rather not hear another seven-minute track, even if you enjoyed it as a single. The thing about summer, like dance, is that you don’t want it to end; Deadbeat makes it feel like the party’s already over and you’re just coasting off the energy.


Anna Calvi and Perfume Genius Cover Bonnie Prince Billy’s ‘I See a Darkness’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Anna Calvi and Perfume Genius Cover Bonnie Prince Billy’s ‘I See a Darkness’

Anna Calvi has teamed up with Perfume Genius for a cover of Bonnie Prince Billy’s ‘I See a Darkness’. The smoky, breathtaking rendition comes paired with a video directed by Alexander Brown. Check it out below.

“So many songs are about romantic love,” Calvi said in a press release. “But I wanted to highlight the romance of the chosen family, the depth of connection that isn’t tethered to heteronormative ideals. It’s such a powerful song about the yearning for intimacy. I love inhabiting other people’s songs. When I sing someone else’s words, I feel like I’m getting closer to myself somehow, because the songs I choose express something I can’t articulate.”

The cover marks Calvi’s first new music since the release, in 2024, of her score for seasons 5 and 6 of BBC’s Peaky Blinders. Perfume Genius released his latest album, Glory, earlier this year.

Album Review: bar italia, ‘Some Like It Hot’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Album Review: bar italia, ‘Some Like It Hot’

How much do the members of bar italia really care? Declaring that they don’t is a recurring line on their new album Some Like It Hot, at times a sigh of despair, others a damning accusation. As much as its songs often revolve around being driven at wit’s end by someone, it’s also a conscious shift from the sense of cool detachment that marked the band’s previous releases, a natural result of touring around the world and realizing people’s expectations. “I find myself trying to please them/ To show them I care,” Nina Cristante laments on ‘Plastered’, and bar italia’s way of doing so involves just refining their production but allowing that extra bit of fragility. Taking its name from the classic Billy Wilder film about two musicians who disguise themselves as women to join an all-female band, it’s still a predominantly cheeky, spiky, infectious record, one that finds the London trio at a crossroads – not totally renewed, but getting there.

1. Fundraiser

‘Fundraiser’ opens the record with a strong case for bar italia’s newly streamlined sound: the infectious groove is simple but barely stagnates, focusing on the interplay between the male and female vocals that interrogate the line between fantasy and apathy, obsession and loneliness. The most evocative moment comes when Nina Cristante’s detached cool dissipates to make way for remembering: “So I try to picture you/ From the back.” It’s a compelling portrait of two lovers’ diversions from a single breaking point, where their voices inevitably converge.

2. Marble Arch

“I don’t think I’ve actually met you/ Not even in my dreams,” Cristante sings on the previous song, and this one opens with a devastating one: “I dreamt you hung yourself/ And my little sister too.” Her performance is delicately disarming over a gentler beat; as it builds and becomes more of a duet, the song loses some of its power, distracting from the haunting emotionality of Cristante’s voice.

3. bad reputation

About halfway through ‘bad reputation’, Cristante offers a fitting description of the song’s atmosphere: “This frantic haze is a flawed mania/ That gets us dancing in broken shows.” Accented with the sound of shattered glass, it is both slightly on the nose and specific in its absurdity, foregrounding the fact that not even a hypnotic waltz can cover the toxic stench.

4. Cowbella

Like ‘Fundraiser’, the early single ‘Cowbella’ – which also took shape within the first week of recording – is immediately hooky. It’s also the first song on Some Like It Hot that really amplifies the trio’s dynamics, each member angling for their moment in the spotlight, baiting the hook, so to speak. There’s a strange sensuality to it and its subject matter, which only adds to the air of mystique the band have tried to shake off – except the song’s mysterious figure is not just separate from the band, but its very target of fascination.

5. I Make My Own Dust

Gritty and bewitching, ‘I Make My Own Dust’ pushes the album’s sound in a grungier direction while further leaning into its escapist tendencies. “There’s a part of my soul that can’t wait to be home/ And another part that finds it everywhere I go/ There’s a small and insidious side that wants to just run away,” Cristante admits. If only the spoken word part didn’t feel awkwardly pasted in from another song.

6. Plastered

The languid sway and weary introspection of ‘Plastered’ is good fit for bar italia, inviting connections between songs, like the way “I make up wars I have to attend/ To figure out how to defend myself” calls back to the “lonely war” of the opener. There’s a bit more nuance here between vocal turns, more push-and-pull than vague tension.

7. rooster

‘Rooster’ quickly proved the best of the album’s singles, boasting a discomfiting chord progression, its best guitar solo, surprising twists, and the trio’s most impassioned vocal performances. An actually manic taste of the romance in ‘bad reputation’, possibly captured at a different moment in time. It’s so fully-formed it just makes the rest of the album feel somewhat undercooked.

8. the lady vanishes

As its title suggests, ‘the lady vanishes’ is another ghostly, gothic track on the album, stretching out with weeping, eerie guitars and spacious drums. Sam Fenton’s vocals, in their bristling desperation, totally sell the song during its climax.

9. Lioness

Even if it weren’t for some of its clunky lyrics, ‘Lioness’ fails to bring new ideas to the table, recycling ones from songs like ‘Fundraiser’: “It’s so easy for things to just move on/ So your face escapes me/ My tears subside/ And you seem to have finally gone/ It’s this failure that haunts me still.” But without much of an entrancing hook, the song doesn’t feel so haunted.

10. omni shambles

Another alluring single – proof that Some Like It Hot would’ve had more success as an EP. Jezmi Tarik Fehmi’s frenetic chorus knots itself around Cristante’s ethereal verses, which grasp toward the cosmic: “We run hand by hand to the end of time/ Under the sky that changes only colour/ Each star stays a star/ Each cloud stays a cloud.”

11. Eyepatch

Faster and janglier than most songs on the album, ‘Eyepatch’ makes a lot out of straightforward, memorable riff, adding in flourishes like hand-claps that keep it engaging rather than watering it down. “It feels like having/ The worst time ever,” Cristante sighs, like she’s having a good time feeling that way.

12. Some Like It Hot

Through the newfound polish of bar italia’s sound, a sense of vulnerability comes to replace the “flawed mania” that’s more representative of the band’s earlier releases. There’s awkwardness and imperfection here too, and they’re still part of what makes their dynamic compelling, but it’s when they’re able to reflect on them that you feel like they’re moving forward. The closing title track shines in that regard: for an album largely about struggling to shake off one thing from your mind, the admission that “there’s one thing I regret, that you were on my mind at any point that night” feels both rueful and enlightened. A lot is said on Some Like It Hot – through gritted teeth, in silent whispers, sudden shrieks – and not all of it makes sense. But it’s a testament to a band stepping up, keeping the blood running through its veins.

Can AI Song Generators Replace Human Songwriters?

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Can AI Song Generators Replace Human Songwriters?

Will machines soon write the soundtrack to our lives? This question keeps many musicians up at night. Artificial intelligence music creation has exploded in recent years. Now, tools can produce everything from catchy jingles to complete albums.

The technology is undeniably impressive. Algorithms analyze thousands of hits, identify patterns, and generate melodies in seconds. Yet, something deeper stirs beneath the surface of this debate.

This isn’t about picking sides or predicting doom. It’s about understanding what’s really happening in the music industry right now. Professional composers feel the pressure, but this conversation matters to anyone who loves music.

What makes human creativity special? Can technology truly capture emotion, storytelling, and cultural connection? We’ll explore both the remarkable capabilities of these tools and the irreplaceable elements that songwriters bring to their craft.

Through real examples and honest analysis, we’ll discover whether these technologies serve as partners, competitors, or something entirely different. The answer might surprise you.

Key Takeaways

  • Artificial intelligence tools now create complete musical compositions across multiple genres and styles
  • The debate centers on whether technology can replicate the emotional depth and storytelling that humans bring to music
  • Both professional composers and music lovers have stakes in understanding this technological shift
  • Current algorithms excel at pattern recognition but face challenges with genuine creative expression
  • The relationship between technology and musicians may be more collaborative than competitive
  • Cultural context and personal experience remain difficult elements for machines to authentically capture

The Rise of AI in Music Creation

Music technology has reached a turning point. Machines can now compose original songs that sound remarkably human. The AI music industry has evolved from simple melodies to complex compositions that rival human-made tracks. This shift took years of technological advancement and innovation.

Today’s artificial intelligence systems can analyze millions of songs in seconds. They learn patterns, styles, and structures that make music appealing to human ears. What once seemed impossible—a computer understanding the soul of music—is now becoming reality.

What Are AI Song Generators?

AI song generators are sophisticated software programs that create original music using advanced technology. They are like digital musicians who have studied thousands of hours of music. These systems rely on machine learning in music to understand what makes a song work.

At their core, these tools use music composition algorithms that recognize patterns in existing songs. They study chord progressions, melody structures, rhythm patterns, and even lyrical themes. The technology works similarly to how a student learns by example—listening to countless songs and identifying what elements create memorable music.

The process involves feeding the AI massive databases of musical information. The system then identifies relationships between different musical elements. It learns which chords typically follow others, how melodies flow naturally, and what rhythms resonate with listeners across different genres.

Technology’s Evolution in Music

The music industry has always embraced new tools and innovations. Digital audio workstations replaced analog recording equipment. Auto-tune became a standard production tool. Each advancement sparked debate about authenticity and creativity.

Just ten years ago, computer-generated music sounded mechanical and lifeless. The compositions lacked the warmth and emotion that human musicians naturally bring to their work. But machine learning in music has changed everything.

Modern AI can now create surprisingly sophisticated pieces across multiple genres. From classical symphonies to hip-hop beats, these systems demonstrate remarkable versatility. The technology has grown exponentially, with each generation of music composition algorithms becoming more nuanced and capable.

This technological progression represents perhaps the biggest shift the industry has ever seen. Previous innovations enhanced how humans made music. AI touches the creative core itself—the actual composition process that was once exclusively human territory.

The growth hasn’t been limited to composition alone. AI now assists with mixing, mastering, and even predicting which songs might become hits. These digital tools have become integral to modern music production, offering capabilities that seemed like science fiction just years ago.

Advantages of Using AI for Songwriting

AI songwriting tools are changing music production for everyone. They can’t replace human creativity, but they offer big benefits. These benefits help artists solve everyday challenges.

AI tools make songwriting faster, easier, and more flexible. They help creators at all levels.

Creating Music at Lightning Speed

Time is crucial for musicians. AI tools can make a song in minutes, saving hours or days. This speed changes how artists work.

Imagine a producer needing a song fast. AI can create ten chorus versions quickly. They can pick the best parts in an hour.

This fast process opens up new creative paths. Artists can try different styles without spending days. It’s all about exploring more ideas.

Access to Endless Musical Possibilities

AI tools draw from decades of music. They offer a wide range of styles and sounds. This is a huge advantage.

AI can mix genres in new ways. It might blend jazz, hip-hop, and classical in one song. This is because AI doesn’t have genre biases.

AI never gets stuck. When a human songwriter is blocked, AI keeps coming up with new ideas. It’s a constant source of inspiration.

Making Professional Music Production Affordable

AI makes music production affordable for all. Professional services can be very expensive. AI offers a cheaper way to make great music.

AI tools let solo artists make professional-sounding tracks. This saves money and opens up new opportunities. It’s a game-changer for indie artists.

AI also helps small businesses and content creators. They can make custom music without breaking the bank. This is changing how music is used in different media.

Limitations of AI Song Generators

Artificial intelligence has made big strides in music, but it still can’t match human creativity. The limits aren’t just about technology. They show the deep difference between AI’s pattern recognition and human music’s personal touch.

Knowing these limits helps us see why human songwriting is special. It shows where AI is best as a helper, not a replacement.

The Absence of Genuine Emotion

AI struggles with emotional depth in AI songs and the real feelings that come from life. When Adele sings about heartbreak or Johnny Cash talks about redemption, they share their true stories. These artists have felt deep emotions that shape their music.

AI can spot patterns in sad songs, but it’s never felt sadness itself. It hasn’t known loss or the complex emotions that make songs last.

People connect with songs because of the story behind them. They want to feel the artist’s real emotions. This connection is hard for AI to create, no matter how good it sounds.

Breaking Rules That Don’t Exist Yet

The debate on human creativity vs AI grows when we talk about new musical ideas. Human songwriters have moments of pure inspiration that break all the rules. They create unique sounds and lyrics that change music forever.

AI works within set rules, combining elements in new ways. But it can’t break the rules like humans do. Humans can intentionally break all the rules and create something new.

Think of punk, hip-hop, and grunge. These genres changed music by rejecting old rules. They created new sounds that were initially seen as wrong but became iconic.

This kind of creativity needs more than just new ideas. It needs cultural awareness, personal belief, and a willingness to take risks. These are things AI can’t do yet.

Missing the Deeper Meaning

AI also struggles with cultural context. Human songwriters understand subtext, current events, and cultural moments in a way AI can’t. They use words and references that carry deep meaning.

A song might seem simple but actually talk about big issues or personal identity. These songs become anthems for generations. The debate on human creativity vs AI often focuses on this ability to add cultural depth.

AI can use words correctly but misses the cultural context. It doesn’t get why certain phrases are emotionally powerful for certain groups. It lacks the cultural immersion that makes songs meaningful.

When artists write protest songs or love letters to their communities, they draw from personal and shared experiences. This cultural understanding lets them create music that speaks to specific moments while staying timeless.

A Closer Look at MelodyCraft.ai

Exploring MelodyCraft.ai gives us a peek into how AI changes music creation. It’s a tool that shows how automated songwriting is used today. By looking at its features and how it’s used, we learn more about AI’s role in making music.

MelodyCraft.ai is more than just a music app. It’s a digital composition tool that’s easy to use but still offers lots of creative options.

What MelodyCraft.ai Brings to the Table

The platform has an easy-to-use interface. It welcomes both new and experienced musicians. You don’t need to know how to code to start making music.

Genre versatility is a key feature. MelodyCraft.ai can create music in many styles:

  • Pop and rock with modern structures
  • Electronic dance music with many sub-genres
  • Ambient and cinematic soundscapes
  • Jazz with complex harmonies
  • Hip-hop beats with customizable rhythms

Users can adjust the mood of their music. Want something upbeat? The platform changes tempo and key to match. Need something sad? It shifts to minor keys and slower beats.

Tempo controls let users set the exact BPM for their projects. This is great for music videos. The platform keeps the music coherent, even with unusual tempos.

Lyric generation is another feature. It suggests phrases that fit the melody. The lyrics match the theme and have consistent rhymes, without sounding robotic.

What sets MelodyCraft.ai apart? It balances automation with user control. Users can tweak and refine their music, blending AI suggestions with their own ideas.

Traditional Methods Meet Digital Innovation

Comparing MelodyCraft.ai to traditional songwriting shows big differences. Traditional songwriting involves playing instruments and experimenting with chords. It’s a trial-and-error process that can take hours or days.

With MelodyCraft.ai, the process is different. Users define parameters first, like genre and mood. Then, the AI generates music options quickly.

Speed is a big advantage. Traditional songwriters might spend hours on one melody. MelodyCraft.ai can offer dozens of options in minutes.

The way we connect with music changes too. Playing an instrument creates a physical bond with music. Some miss this when using the platform.

AI helps with variety. It can suggest new combinations that humans might not think of. This can break creative blocks.

But, the organic evolution of ideas is different. Traditional songwriting often involves happy accidents. The digital process feels more deliberate and less spontaneous.

Real Users Share Their Perspectives

Bedroom producers find MelodyCraft.ai helpful for finishing tracks. One user said it helped complete instrumental sections that were stuck for months. The AI suggestions gave new directions.

Content creators like it for background music. A YouTube producer made dozens of tracks in one afternoon. This would have taken weeks or months to do manually.

Professional musicians have mixed views. Some use it for brainstorming. One songwriter said it’s like having a collaborator who never gets tired.

Skeptical experimenters often find surprising results. A jazz pianist was skeptical but found the platform’s jazz mode generated good chord progressions.

Independent artists like it for saving money. Studio time and hiring musicians can be expensive. MelodyCraft.ai offers affordable production-ready arrangements.

Not everyone loves it. Some find it better for certain genres but not others. The technology is still evolving, but it has its limits.

The main thing users agree on? MelodyCraft.ai is best used as a creative tool, not a complete replacement for human input. Those who see it as a partner tend to get the best results.

The Role of Human Songwriters

In the changing world of music, human songwriters see AI as a partner, not a rival. AI hasn’t made human creativity less needed. Instead, it has opened new ways to create and work more efficiently.

Songwriters add something special: genuine emotional experience and cultural insight. These are key to making music that touches people deeply.

Working Together: Humans and Technology

Collaborating with AI is a big step forward in music making. Tools like MelodyCraft.ai help songwriters overcome challenges.

Think of AI as a top-notch assistant, not a replacement. It can help when you’re stuck, offering new ideas or chord progressions. It’s like using a photo reference for painting or a thesaurus for writing.

“AI doesn’t replace the songwriter—it gives them a bigger palette to paint with.”

Many songwriters now use AI in their work. They let AI handle routine tasks, freeing them to focus on lyrics and emotions. Others use AI to explore new genres or create variations quickly.

The main benefit is speed and exploration. AI can do in minutes what might take hours. This doesn’t reduce creativity; it increases it by offering more options.

Preserving Your Unique Voice

Many worry that using AI will lose their unique touch. But it’s how you use AI that matters.

Human touch and editing are crucial in the creative process. When using AI, you decide what to keep, modify, and add your own twist to.

Using AI doesn’t mean losing control. It means having more options to choose from and shape as you see fit.

Here’s how to keep your artistic voice while using AI:

  • Use AI outputs as starting points rather than finished products
  • Apply your unique lyrical voice and storytelling approach to AI-generated melodies
  • Treat AI suggestions as you would feedback from a co-writer—consider it, but follow your instincts
  • Focus on the emotional message you want to convey, using AI to support that vision

Your unique touch comes through in your choices and emotional authenticity. Technology offers tools, but you provide the soul.

What Lies Ahead for Music Creators

The future of songwriting will be different, but it’s not bleak. Songwriting has always adapted to new technologies.

When synthesizers came, many thought session musicians would lose their jobs. But new roles emerged, and electronic music thrived. AI in music making is following a similar path.

Some roles might change, but new ones will emerge. Future songwriters might become “AI directors” who excel at crafting prompts and refining outputs. The skill set will expand, not shrink.

“The songwriter who knows how to harness AI while maintaining their human touch will have a significant competitive advantage.”

As AI-generated content grows, authentically human-created music may become more valuable. Listeners often seek the real connection that comes from knowing a person poured their heart into a song.

The job market for songwriters will evolve to include these emerging roles:

  1. AI-assisted songwriters who blend traditional skills with technology proficiency
  2. Prompt engineers specialized in extracting the best results from AI music platforms
  3. Hybrid producers who manage both human and AI contributions in collaborative projects
  4. Authenticity specialists who focus exclusively on handcrafted, human-centered compositions

The collaboration between songwriters and AI will get more advanced. Instead of seeing it as a threat, forward-thinking creators are embracing the blend of technology and artistry.

The future of songwriting belongs to those who adapt while staying true to their vision. The tools may change, but the need for meaningful music remains constant.

Trends in AI-Generated Music

Artificial intelligence has quietly entered many areas of music. It’s not just lab experiments anymore. Real businesses use AI to make music we hear every day.

The AI music field has grown a lot in recent years. What was once just for fun is now used in many ways.

Musical Styles That Work Best with AI

Not all music is easy for AI to make. Some styles are better for machines than others.

Electronic music and ambient compositions are top choices for AI. These styles have patterns that machines can follow. The sounds fit well with how AI works.

Pop music with simple chord progressions also works well. AI can make catchy tunes that sound polished. Many people can’t tell the difference.

But, some genres are hard for AI. Jazz and classical music need creativity and understanding that AI can’t always provide.

Blues and soul music are also tough. They need emotional depth and cultural understanding. AI can’t fully grasp these yet.

Commercial Applications in Media

AI music is used in many commercial areas. It’s not just a future idea. It’s happening now.

Advertising agencies love AI music tools. They can make custom tracks fast, saving time and money. This is great for small brands.

Independent filmmakers use AI soundtracks too. They can make music for their films without spending a lot. This is a big help for small budgets.

Video game developers find AI soundtracks useful. They can make music that changes with the game. This makes games more immersive.

Podcast creators also use AI music. They use it for themes, transitions, and background sounds. It helps them keep costs down.

Groundbreaking AI Music Projects

Many projects have shown what AI music can do. They show the power of technology in music.

OpenAI’s Jukebox can make music with vocals in many styles. It’s not perfect but shows AI’s potential. It can do more than expected.

AIVA is the first AI composer recognized by a music rights society. It makes orchestral music for commercials, games, and films. It has created thousands of pieces.

Sony CSL’s Flow Machines project works with human artists. They’ve made songs in The Beatles’ style. This shows how humans and machines can work together.

Amper Music (now part of Shutterstock) helps content creators make music. Users can choose mood, style, and length. Many YouTube creators and small businesses use it.

Google’s Magenta project explores AI in music. They’ve made tools for musicians. These tools are open-source, making AI music more accessible.

These projects show AI music is real and useful. It’s changing the entertainment and advertising worlds. The technology keeps getting better as more people use it.

Ethical Considerations

AI-generated music brings up big ethical questions. These issues affect creators, consumers, and the music world. They question fairness, ownership, and what creativity really means.

The music world is facing problems that laws can’t fully address. As AI tools get better, the stakes rise for everyone.

Copyright Challenges in Digital Music Creation

AI music creation starts with a big problem: how these systems learn. They train on huge libraries of songs, often without permission. This raises a big question: should you get paid if an AI uses your music?

When an AI makes a song that sounds too much like another, things get tricky. Who’s to blame if it’s too similar? Is it the AI company, the user, or the AI itself?

Another big issue is whether you can copyright AI music. Countries have different answers. Some say you need a human creator for copyright, which means AI songs might not be protected.

“The current copyright framework was built for human creators. When machines enter the equation, we’re essentially trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.”

Recent cases have shown how unclear these rules are. Courts are figuring out if AI can copy an artist’s style without using their songs. The laws are still changing, with new cases setting precedents.

Here are some key copyright concerns:

  • Training data transparency: Artists often don’t know if their work was used to train AI systems
  • Style replication: AI can learn to mimic an artist’s unique sound without copying specific songs
  • Similarity thresholds: How similar is too similar when AI generates new compositions?
  • International inconsistency: Different countries have vastly different rules about AI-generated content

Who Owns an AI-Created Song?

The debate on ownership goes beyond copyright law. It questions what it means to create something. If an AI writes a song, can it be considered the author?

Most laws say no. They require a human creator for copyright. This creates a gray area that affects everyone in music.

What about songs that mix human and AI creation? If you write the lyrics but AI composes the melody, who owns what? Where is the line between human creativity and machine help?

These questions affect musicians’ lives. Imagine spending years on a unique sound, only to have an AI recreate it legally without paying you. For many, this feels like theft, even if laws don’t see it that way.

The authorship puzzle includes several challenging scenarios:

  1. Full AI generation: Songs created entirely by AI with minimal human input
  2. Collaborative creation: Works where humans and AI both contribute substantially
  3. AI as a tool: Situations where AI assists but humans maintain creative control
  4. Style transfer: When AI applies one artist’s style to another’s work

Some artists worry about AI systems trained on their entire catalogs. The AI learns to replicate their sound, potentially competing with them. Should artists have the right to opt out of training datasets?

“It’s not just about legal rights. It’s about respect for the creative process and the years artists spend developing their craft.”

The AI music industry must balance innovation with fairness. Tech companies say AI training is like how humans learn. Artists say there’s a big difference between human inspiration and machine replication.

Different groups see these issues differently. Tech companies focus on creative democratization and new possibilities. Musicians worry about protecting their work and legacy. Consumers want affordable, accessible music. Legal experts are trying to find a balance.

Many questions don’t have clear answers yet. Society is still figuring out AI’s impact on creativity. What’s certain is that the decisions made now will shape music for generations.

Understanding these ethical complexities helps everyone make better choices. Whether you’re creating, consuming, or building AI tools, these dilemmas affect you. The goal is to recognize the concerns on all sides of this evolving debate.

Future Prospects for AI and Songwriting

Trying to predict the future of songwriting is like catching lightning in a bottle. Yet, we can see patterns when we look at AI’s growth in music. This technology is changing fast, bringing both excitement and questions about what’s next. Understanding these changes helps artists, industry pros, and music fans get ready for what’s coming.

AI and human creativity are coming together in new ways. Instead of one clear future, we have several possible paths. Each path brings its own chances and challenges for music makers.

Where the Music Industry Is Heading

The future of songwriting might see a market split. AI could handle certain tasks, like background music for videos. But human songwriters will keep creating music that touches our hearts.

Premium, personal music will always be made by humans. Fans love artists for their real stories and unique views. AI can analyze many songs, but it can’t truly feel or share personal experiences.

AI tools will soon be as common as digital audio workstations. Songwriters will use AI for specific tasks while keeping control. This could help independent artists who can’t afford big teams.

The best predictions about technology are usually wrong in the details but right in the direction.

Streaming platforms could integrate AI in exciting ways. Imagine getting songs made just for you, based on your mood or activity. This could change how we listen to music.

Tools like MelodyCraft.ai will get better, adding emotional depth and melodic complexity. They might even mimic famous artists’ styles, opening new ways for musicians to earn money.

Music education will also change. Future songwriters will need to know how to use AI tools. Schools are starting to teach both tech skills and traditional music theory.

Innovations That Could Change Everything

Real-time collaboration between AI and musicians is very exciting. Imagine jamming with an AI that responds to your playing. This could spark new creativity.

AI in music will go beyond just mixing existing patterns. It might understand and create music in ways it wasn’t trained for. This could help artists explore new styles and genres.

The creation of new genres is another exciting possibility. AI could find new ways to mix rhythm, melody, and harmony. This could expand our idea of what music can be.

Multimodal AI will mix different art forms together. Imagine music that matches a color palette and emotional story. This could open up new creative possibilities.

Voice synthesis is getting better fast. Soon, AI voices might sound just like real singers. But will they feel as real and relatable as human voices?

AI tools will soon predict what sounds might hit it big. This could help artists make smart choices. But it also raises worries about music becoming too formulaic.

Despite the excitement, challenges lie ahead. Maintaining diversity, protecting artist rights, and making AI tools accessible are key. The future of songwriting depends on how we use and regulate these tools.

The future isn’t about AI replacing humans but about what’s possible when they work together. Some predictions will be right, others wrong. What’s sure is that AI and music will keep evolving, bringing both chances and questions for all music lovers.

Conclusion: Coexistence or Replacement?

Can an AI song generator replace human songwriters? The answer is not simple. It’s more complex than just yes or no.

In some cases, AI is already making music. It creates background tracks for stores, simple jingles, and temporary music. This shows AI’s strength in making functional music.

Balancing Technology and Talent

The music world is facing a unique challenge. Tools like MelodyCraft.ai make music creation faster and easier. They open doors for new musicians and speed up the production process.

But, the debate between human creativity and AI shows a key point. Music that touches our hearts needs human feelings and experiences. Songs that mark cultural moments come from real human views.

Collaborating with AI is the likely future direction. Some artists will fully use these tools. Others will stay away. Most will find a balance that fits their creative style.

The Future of Music Creation

The future is bright for music makers at every level. Technology has broken down old barriers. You no longer need expensive studios and equipment to make music.

Our desire for real human emotions in music won’t fade. Listeners still want stories and feelings that only humans can share. Technology changes our tools, but not our need to connect through music.

Your role in shaping this future is important. Support the music you love. Decide how you’ll use these tools. The future is for those who mix innovation with artistry in meaningful ways.

FAQ

What exactly is an AI song generator?

An AI song generator is software that uses machine learning to create music. It analyzes thousands of songs to learn patterns in melody, harmony, and rhythm. Users can input preferences like genre and style to get original music quickly.

Can AI-generated music sound as good as human-created songs?

AI can make music that sounds polished, especially in genres like electronic and pop. However, it often lacks the emotional depth and cultural resonance of human songs. AI-generated music might be pleasant but lacks the authenticity of human creations.

Will AI song generators put human songwriters out of work?

AI won’t replace human songwriters entirely. It’s already handling tasks like background music. Human songwriters are needed for music that requires emotional depth and creativity. AI will likely be used as a tool to aid in the creative process.

How does MelodyCraft.ai compare to other AI music generators?

MelodyCraft.ai offers a user-friendly platform with customization options. It generates music quickly, but different tools have different strengths. Consider factors like output quality, customization, and ease of use when choosing an AI music generator.

What are the copyright implications of using AI-generated music?

Copyright issues with AI-generated music are still being sorted out. Questions include who owns the music and if it infringes on copyrights. It’s important to understand the terms of service for your chosen platform.

Can AI understand the emotional context needed for meaningful songwriting?

AI can recognize and replicate emotional patterns in music. However, it doesn’t experience emotions itself. This limits its ability to create music with the same emotional depth as human songs.

How are musicians currently using AI in their creative process?

Musicians are using AI as a tool, not a replacement. They use it to generate ideas, overcome blocks, and explore new directions. The final product is often refined and curated by the musician.

What genres does AI handle best and worst?

AI excels in electronic, ambient, and pop music. It struggles with genres that require improvisation, cultural specificity, and emotional nuance. AI finds it hard to break conventions and convey specific cultural moments.

Is music created with AI assistance less valuable or authentic?

The value and authenticity of AI-assisted music depend on context and execution. If AI generates a song with minimal human input, it might be seen as less valuable. However, if a songwriter uses AI as a tool, the result can be just as valuable and authentic.

What skills will future songwriters need in an AI-integrated music industry?

Future songwriters will need traditional musical skills and technical competencies. They should understand AI, music production, and audio engineering. Adaptability and maintaining a unique artistic voice will also be crucial.

Are there successful examples of AI-generated music in mainstream media?

AI-generated music is appearing in various commercial applications. It’s used in advertising, film scores, and video game soundtracks. While it’s not yet a mainstream chart-topper, it’s gaining attention for its novelty.

How can independent artists benefit from AI songwriting tools?

AI tools offer cost-effective music production for independent artists. They can generate tracks quickly and experiment with different arrangements. This democratizes music creation, allowing talented artists to produce quality music without breaking the bank.

What’s the difference between AI assistance and AI replacement in songwriting?

AI assistance means using AI as a tool in a human-directed process. The human remains in creative control, using AI for ideas and technical tasks. AI replacement means AI handles the entire process with minimal human involvement.

Will AI ever be able to create truly innovative music that starts new genres?

This is an open question about AI in music. AI can combine existing elements in new ways, but true innovation requires human creativity and cultural context. While AI might surprise us with new combinations, groundbreaking innovation remains a human capability.

Rosalía Announces New Album ‘LUX’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Rosalía Announces New Album ‘LUX’

Rosalía is back with news of her next album. The follow-up to 2022’s Motomami is called LUX, and it comes out November 7 via Columbia. The Catalan pop star teased the record in billboards and posters around the world before confirming it in a TikTok livestream. No tracklist has yet been revealed, but you can check out the cover art below.

Last September, Rosalía teamed up with Spanish artist Ralphie Choo for the single ‘Omega’. Around the same time, she gave an update on her next album, telling High Snobiety, “It’s been a process. I’ve changed a lot, but at the same time, I’m still wrapping my head around the same things. It’s like I still have the same questions and the same desire to answer them. I still have the same love for the past and the same curiosity for the future.”

 

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LUX Cover Artwork:

Rosalia-Lux

Book Review: Russell Smith, ‘Self Care’

Sam Franzini
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Book Review: Russell Smith, ‘Self Care’

At the beginning of this summer, some friends and I took a beach trip to Charleston, South Carolina, where one night we went to a bar that simultaneously hosted a wedding afterparty and was partially walled off to anyone not invited. We squeezed in between southerners and the man I was sitting next to started flirting with my friend, who promptly asked who he voted for. “Donald J. Trump,” he replied, and my friend immediately started arguing with him. He turned to me, and I said, “I’m sorry, I don’t really want to talk to you.” He went back to arguing. 

I said what I said mostly because I wanted my night to go a certain way, and my plan didn’t involve arguing about politics (unless my friends wanted to). I was having a good time, and I wanted to talk to people from Charleston who I’d get along with, like a different man next to me in a Kacey Musgraves shirt who was quizzing me about Bon Iver and Saya Gray. But I didn’t mean I never wanted to talk to the Trump voter — I feared that by shutting him down completely, I played into his stereotypes of an opponent: close-minded, only wanting to stay in my information bubble. Plus, I can admit it was sort of rude to literally turn in my seat so that he couldn’t speak to me. I had severed this line of communication and widened the gap between our politics by refusing to engage in a conversation that had a (minor) possibility of understanding each other. But then again, he and my friend argued for a long time after that, and neither of them, I could tell, changed each other’s minds.

Should you befriend a Nazi? That’s at the question of Russell Smith’s provocative new novel, Self Care, where a digital writer named Gloria chats with a boy she sees at an anti-immigration rally under the guise of an interview for her column. Not to say that the Trump supporter I talked to was a Nazi, but Gloria’s Daryn might be — he’s with his misogynist buddies, wearing a badge that signifies his involvement within the movement. Gloria is convinced: this dude hates women. “That’s not what it means,” Daryn pleads, “That’s not what it’s about. We respect women.”

Despite their conversations, and the fact that they eventually have sex, Gloria is cynical that he isn’t, deep down, a bad person. He’s lurking on the forums and complains that women don’t pay him any attention: “If you have a small dick like me,” he’s written, “you are just never going to be confident enough to be able to approach a girl, which is hilarious, because you know she can’t see it, but you’re always aware of it.” Who knows if this is the product of intense manosphere podcasts or a debilitating self-esteem, but Gloria is curious about where these ideas started. She’s not without her knee-jerk reactions: she calls him a loser when he calls her beautiful. Their conversations are an exercise in excising a deep hurt in the heart of the contemporary man, and often radiate with an intense honesty. After a while, Gloria enjoys spending time with him, abandoning her article. She antagonizes him, teases that if he gets a girlfriend he’ll be kicked out of his misogyny group.

Even more curious is how he submits to Gloria when they’re having sex — he does what he’s told and he likes it that way, but refuses to talk about why that might be the case, lest his masculinity gets called into question. On top of that, it’s a far cry from what he’s posted online: “We are naturally dominant, and so it’s unnatural that women should be artificially given so much power over us and unnatural that we have to feminize our values and the values of the whole society.” What would the misogynists think if they knew one of their own was getting tied up and ordered around?

I’ve often wondered what pushes extremists towards their breaking point, at what time the fracturing of contemporary thought becomes such that we are pushed to hate women, hate men, hate minorities, murder people we don’t agree with. Self Care doesn’t have the answer, but at least it engages in a (yes, fictitious) dialogue with one of these men. Daryn is a person as well as a possible woman-hater. Smith says getting to know both of these separate personalities to see what’s underneath might be worth a shot.

Self Care is out now.

Pokémon GO Reveals New Details for the Enchanted Hollow Event

Prince Addams
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0
Pokémon GO Reveals New Details for the Enchanted Hollow Event

Pokémon GO has just shared the full details for the upcoming Enchanted Hollow event. This latest offering is part of Niantic’s effort to keep the game fun. In particular, the new event will add two new characters. There are also many things to do in the game.

New Pokémon GO Debuts

According to Niantic, the event brings in two new Pokémon in the popular title— Tarountula and Spidops. It will be their first appearance in the AR mobile game. The former is a String Ball Pokémon, while the latter is a Trap Pokémon. Players can also use 50 Tarountula Candy to change Tarountula into Spidops. Likewise, the addition of these two gives trainers new entries for their Pokédex.

Wild and Mossy Lure Encounters

Based on the official announcement, all players can get the chance to see event-themed Pokémon in the wild. The possible finds include Nickit, Paras, Stantler, and even Tarountula.

In the same way, the creators improve gameplay by boosting Mossy Lure encounters. Many characters will show up more often in Mossy Lure Modules. Specifically, these are Cottonee, Karrablast, Paras, Petilil, Shelmet, Stantler, and Tarountula.

For both Wild and Mossy Lure encounters, every player has the chance to see a shiny one. 

PokéStops and Event Bonuses

Along with the debuts and encounters, PokéStops will be decorated, said the team. Particularly, these locations are going to have event-themed forestry patches.

At the same time, joining the event lets players get bonuses. The rewards are as follows:  

  • Double XP for spinning PokéStops
  • Longer Lure Module time
  • Higher chance of finding Shiny Paras and Shiny Stantler

Raids, Field Research, and Collection Challenges

Niantic also said that raids are part of the Enchanted Hollow. In detail, players can face many Pokémon during these battles.

One-Star Raids

  • Paras
  • Stantler
  • Tarountula

Three-Star Raids

  • Drampa
  • Leavanny
  • Scolipede

Similarly, there will be Field Research tasks with encounters waiting in the end.

  • Cottonee
  • Drampa
  • Karrablast
  • Paras
  • Petilil
  • Stantler
  • Shelmet

On top of that, collection challenges are coming. Anyone who completes them will receive XP and Tarountula encounters.

Paid Time Research

As part of the latest event, trainers can try an exclusive Timed Research for $1.99. This task also has several rewards upon completion.

Availability and Important Reminder

Pokémon GO’s Enchanted Hollow event runs from Tuesday, November 4 (10 AM) until Sunday, November 9 (8 PM) local time. In just a couple of weeks, trainers will experience the week-long celebration to hunt Tarountula or grind for XP.

Meanwhile, all players are reminded to stay safe and follow rules for a smooth gaming experience.

Paris Fashion Week: 5 Highlights Off The Runway

Vera Adamidou
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Paris Fashion Week: 5 Highlights Off The Runway

From plant-based feathers to seven-year-olds playing the violin to the most controversial creative debuts, Paris Fashion Week SS26 was yet another reminder that France and fashion will always share the same capital. Not just because of the city’s craftsmanship but also because of its creatives’ approach to the art surrounding it. After merging these two, here are our top 5 highlights.

 

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Best Show Opening

Do you dare enter, the house of Dior? Written in a giant screen pyramid in the middle of the runway, this was the first thought we absorbed in Jonathan Anderson’s debut for Dior. The creative teamed-up with filmmaker Adam Curtis to open with a video that revisited the house’s highlights, including Christian Dior himself. Anderson celebrated the ones who came before and took the courage to claim his own place in a storied house seconds later.

 

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Best Set Design

For his first ready-to-wear collection under the Maison Margiela name, Glenn Martens placed an off-key orchestra of sixty-one children, aged seven to fifteen, on the runway. The raw unrefined sound of Beethoven, surprisingly echoed the house’s character of imperfection and tradition of finding beauty in harshness.

 

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Best Dressed Celebrity

The most surprising appearance of the week was also the most polished. Meghan Markle attended the Balenciaga show, once again wearing a custom Pierpaolo Piccioli piece. The Duchess chose to make an all-white entrance with a bold ground-touching cape layered over a white oversized button-down shirt and wide-leg trousers, which she paired with black pointed heels and a black clutch in hand.

 

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Best Invitation

Pierpaolo Piccioli made a walkman and a cassette player his weapon of choice for his debut at Balenciaga. Guests were eagerly unboxing the invitation, searching for clues about the house’s new collection, “The Heartbeat”, only to hear a literal heartbeat. The sounds of the tape merged with the quickened pulse of the guest list, building a rhythm of suspense.

 

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Best Beauty

At Maison Margiela’s catwalk, Glenn Martens made sure the show’s beauty wasn’t about makeup. Models walked the runway with surreal mouthpieces, an avant-garde reference to the brand’s four stitch logo, creating the impression of walking puppets. A conversation between past and future, inviting us into Margiela’s story.

Muhseen Abdullahi and the Poetics of Illumination

Abbie Wilson
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Muhseen Abdullahi and the Poetics of Illumination

Muhseen Abdullahi has an underlying true confidence. It is the confidence of the fact that light is more than light. A designer by profession, he has discovered a design of life which possesses a different relation to things between use and beauty. The consciousness of the essence of light in all its developments is at a high point of fruition; the expression is organic, something more than light, some factor, some revolution of a substance, some feeling manifested by the quality of time and space in the perception of it. It is the awareness of the fact and therefore the method of his expression that makes his exhibition what it is.

To Abdullahi, light is never a mere phase of process technique. It is the substance in which to describe it. It is through light that sympathetic distribution and form are given to air, the substance in which the importance of the meaning is expressed. His work is a manifestation of pity and attitude of sympathy in that the process technique indicates the artistic perception. It does not forcibly impress itself. It patiently awaits. It is worth remembering after its departure because it does not compel remembrance — it commands it.

When a phase of light is presented to him, as has been exhibited in a deep feeling in his first expression of Christmas village lighting in Abuja, designed for the Transcorp Hilton, it gave a commonplace look to a public space a transubstantiation into something sentimentally evanescent. Incandescent light bulbs were hung and the forms gently glowed above the crowd heads and changed the air into something vital. The expression did not only decorate the space there — it was a new expression of it. It taught people to feel the thing. That particular expression made Abdullahi realise that light is not something to be seen at — it is something to be perceived.

In Great Britain this idea grew. Abdullahi, at Castle Park Arts Centre in Cheshire, designed light where the light related to art and did not overshadow it. Exact track lights and linear battens gave texture and tone in subtlety, allowing tranquillity to exist by nature. The result was stillness, but not sterility. This was gaining growing confidence and that maturity which tells one to act with restraint. It was elegant, minimal, and intentional. It was quietness of brilliance.

His Sensory Architecture: Light and Sound Interaction installation pursued that ethos. Created during his study at Istanbul Bilgi University, it considered geometric forms, sound, and light as modifiers of perception. It consisted of triangular modules, illuminated by LEDs, which in virtue of their being invited people to conceive space as something breathing, reactive, alive. It was, but not noisy. It was precise yet emotional, analytical and poetical. It demonstrated Abdullahi’s rare sensitivity to produce something naturally technical which was deeply human.

This proves also on a grand scale in the Nasarawa Technology Village Project in Nigeria. Here, as Chief Lighting Designer, Abdullahi has evolved a lighting masterplan on a new estate. This was not pure function, but identity. The feeling and practical were fused in the design, where a harmonious lift of visual rhythm was set forth to interlink street, house, and public fenestration. This was light as infrastructure — yet again, language. The project was national in its congratulations and worth commendation for its balance of sustainability, its emotion, and its vision.

Other creations, like the City Gate EU Day Installation in Abuja and London offices on Ganton Street and Southwark Street, still propound that same search of subtlety. They show consideration of proportion, softness, and human presence. Abdullahi finds tranquillity in purely functional spaces. Unity is produced where most would prefer utility. Abdullahi’s light is sculptured, not placed thus. He designs for human habitation internally, not externally observed.

Abdullahi’s technical mastery of the tools — Dialux Evo, Relux — generates precision, but that is concurrently as fundamental for emotional purposes. It is never cold. Structure in the interest thereof of soul. Light hence becomes an instrument of composition of atmosphere, a little mathematics of comfort. Not relying on extravagance or difference, he finds the appropriate temperature, the relevant tone, tone, and rhythm. His work is regulated, honest, emotionally true. Hence, in the place of novelties, the adequacies are celebrated. That which gives his method its justification is its honesty. Fame and spectacle are not striven for. Limitation, humility, and real concentration.

What he is concerned with is how light in virtue may not be natural but considered sympathetic. All his projects, great or small, are conceived by starting with that premise: how can light connote a link between spaces and people? This is the question which enables the consistency of his work. Hence every experiment bears of itself the physical coherence of being a part of a sounding board of a larger discussion — that between art and architecture, structure and soul. Abdullahi’s conception is simple, but profound. He does not make illumination merely in order to reveal form, but illumination which gives form. His work does not imitate grandeur; it, on the other hand, sustains it.

H&M X Glenn Martens: What To Know

Vera Adamidou
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0
H&M X Glenn Martens: What To Know

Fast Fashion’s Swedish leader H&M has announced Glenn Martens, former creative director of Diesel and Y/Project and recently of Maison Margiela, as its new guest designer. While this unexpected collection drops on the 30th of the month, we already took a peek and there’s a lot to say.

H&M has shown its dedication to blending high-fashion with accessible style before with countless creative partnerships, but bringing Martens on board means bringing his unique perspectives that challenge fast-fashion alongside. This time the collection goes beyond creating wearable pieces. It’s all about offering a glimpse of innovation that is usually reserved for the runway. We like to look at it as proof that H&M is positioning itself as a label that is willing to offer its audience a taste of bold, elevated streetwear design, at a price point that is inclusive and approachable.

Photo credit: H&M
Photo credit: H&M

With a nod to his Y/Project heritage, Martens delivers deconstructed silhouettes, Gen Z approved patterns, oversized tailoring, broken down knitwear, giant slouchy boots and an everything-denim philosophy. The collection mixes muted tones with hints of popping color, exploring the contrast between structured suiting and fluid fabrics, layered in unforeseen combinations that feel intentionally refined.

After going through the H&M archive and putting Martens’ signature on it, this collaboration makes us look beyond the hanger. We see it as a statement of the evolving role of fast-fashion and a reminder that this can be exciting again. This is your open call to experiment, engage and rethink what approachable design can look like.

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