AI-generated music: South African artists Cassper Nyovest and Vusi Nova raise concerns

The rising conversation surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry has suddenly become more personal for South African artists Cassper Nyovest and Vusi Nova, who have both recently discovered they unknowingly engaged with AI-generated songs.
Their reactions follow the recent rise of AI-powered amapiano tracks, including Rea Gopane’s Suka!, which has sparked widespread debate about authenticity, creativity and the future of the industry.

Vusi Nova's experience was a revelation marked by both inspiration and discomfort. He recounted an evening when his friends played a captivating track, prompting him to step outside and inquire about the artist. “I was like, what? So I walk outside and I’m like, ‘Bafetu, who’s this artist?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, some new artist.’ And I’m like… this is brilliant. This is amazing,” interpreted Nova, whose immediate desire to create a similar track was testament to the song’s influence. However, the excitement quickly soured when he learned the truth: it was an AI-generated piece.

“Then they’re like, ‘No, we found out it was A.I. I’m like, what?” Nova expressed his astonishment. “This A.I. thing is a problem, guys. Like, it fooled me. It fooled me,” he said, voicing a concern especially relevant to budding artists. “Now I’m worried... there are dangers in this A.I. thing.”

Nyovest found himself in a comparable situation shortly thereafter. He had enthusiastically shared a song he believed to be from a promising new artist named Rea Gopane, only to be informed later that it was also an AI creation. “I didn’t know. First of all, I didn’t know,” he admitted, stressing that his intent was to open a dialogue about the unfolding scenario rather than defend his actions. “One of the things that is exciting about music is discovering new music and discovering new artists.”

Both Nova and Nyovest acknowledged the realism of AI technology, expressing mutual concern it poses to emerging talents.

“I don’t think it’s a threat to people who are established like me,” Nyovest stated. “But I really see it becoming a problem for up-and-coming and new artists trying to break into the market,” he warned, further noting that AI-generated music may serve the interests of record labels seeking to eliminate the need for traditional artist relationships.

Podcaster Sol Phenduka previously raised the alarm about streaming services potentially being overwhelmed by AI-generated content, leading to a potential overrun of music authentic. “So how will Spotify, Apple Music etc. cope with syndicates that will flood their platforms with AI music?” he asked, highlighting the risk of turning music into a mere profit-driven commodity.

Despite such concerns, Phenduka recognised that AI could level the playing field for vocalists, who have historically been overshadowed by producers. “Vocalists can jump on AI beats and have only their name on the song as opposed to being a featured artist. More bookings for them,” he noted, potentially changing the dynamics of collaborations.

Veteran producer Euphonic echoed these thoughts, “there’s a South African artist sitting on over 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and the songs are AI from start to finish,” he noted, adding that such streaming numbers could generate between R28,000 and R56,000 per month.

Even global heavyweights like Kehlani and SZA have expressed unease about the rise of AI in the music realm. This concern underscores a growing recognition within the music industry that as AI technology evolves, so do the implications for creativity, authorship and artistic expression.

As these debates heat up, it is evident that AI is no longer a concept. It has merged itself into the current music landscape in South Africa and beyond, proactively influencing tastes, creativity, and challenging artistry. 

[email protected]

Saturday Star