AI maestro unveils his single guideline for crafting melodies with artificial intelligence during SXSW London gathering
Getting Real with ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus: AI Ain't Replacing the Human Touch
Legendary musician Björn Ulvaeus, co-founder of the famous band ABBA, has embraced the technological revolution, but he believes there's no foolin' AI when it comes to songwriting craftsmanship. At the SXSW London event in Shoreditch, Ulvaeus boldly stated that while he uses AI to fuel his creativity, a sense of "inner direction" is essential to produce quality tunes.
The ABBA mastermind has been vocal about AI-generated music and the exploitation of original human compositions. Joining forces with the International Confederation of Songwriters and Composers, Ulvaeus is leading an effort to safeguard musicians and their creative rights.
Ulvaeus sees AI as a fantastic creative companion, likening it to "having another songwriter in the room with a gigantic reference library." He admits that AI can help him navigate creative roadblocks and suggests new paths to explore. However, he declares that AI falls short with the art of wordsmithing - it's lousy at writing whole songs and stumbles at penning captivating lyrics.
Never one to shy away from hard work, Ulvaeus emphasizes that human talent, combined with AI tools, will create a powerful combination. He maintains that if a person has the elusive talent for songwriting, everything else becomes challenging labor. "It's unbelievable to bounce back and forth with a machine that offers ideas to travel different directions," he explains, adding that AI is "super-awful at writing lyrics, but it can provide inspiration."
Ulvaeus has played a crucial role in the success of the ABBA Voyage spectacle, which has proven immensely profitable in London with its hologram-powered performances. Reflecting on his days crafting hit singles with ABBA, he reveals that the band often discarded 95% of their ideas, and he doubts that others have produced as much quality content. "I hear folks say they wrote 200 songs this year, but I don't think they genuinely did," he muses. "Perhaps only 10% of that massive output is worth keeping."
Speaking on the dedication required to churn out high-quality material in today's AI-driven landscape, Ulvaeus maintains that settling for "good enough" isn't enough. "Quite a few folks stroll away, but that ain't sufficient," he says. "You've gotta go the extra mile."
The SXSW festival, first launched in Austin, Texas, in 1987 as an ideas festival, unleashed its London event this year, attracting hundreds of talks, workshops, masterclasses, and live music events with thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives. With London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, in attendance, he championed the city as a global hub for AI innovation. The event winds down in Shoreditch until June 7th.
Technology serves as a creative companion for Björn Ulvaeus, offering ideas and reference materials, but he acknowledges that AI falls short in writing lyrics and crafting captivating songs, emphasizing the crucial role of human wordsmithing and craftsmanship in entertainment, especially within the music industry.
Ulvaeus, a proponent of human creativity, believes that the powerful combination of AI tools and human talent will continue to dominate the entertainment landscape, with a dedication to producing quality content rather than settling for mediocrity.
