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The Beatles will release their ‘last’ record this YEAR – thanks to AI: Paul McCartney reveals how technology was used to extract John Lennon’s voice from an old demo
- Paul McCartney used AI to ‘unravel’ John Lennon’s voice
- He says the new track is ‘just done’ and ‘will be released this year’
It’s been more than 50 years since all four members of The Beatles released music, with their emotional classic ‘The End’.
But despite only two members remaining – Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – the band is preparing for a comeback.
McCartney has revealed that he is using artificial intelligence (AI) to extract John Lennon’s voice from an old demo to create the “last Beatles record.”
Although he hasn’t named the song yet, it’s likely a 1978 Lennon composition called Now And Then, according to the BBC.
Speaking to Radio 4’s Today programme, McCartney explained: ‘We just finished it and it will be released this year.’
It’s been more than 50 years since all four members of The Beatles released music, with their emotional classic ‘The End’. Pictured from left to right: Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison
Now And Then was one of many songs Lennon recorded shortly before his death in 1980.
Two of the other tracks – Free As A Bird and Real Love – were cleaned up by producer Jeff Lynne before being released in 1995 and 1996.
But he struggled to clear Now And Then, and his attempt was deemed ‘bullshit’ by George Harrison, who refused to work on it.
However, AI technology has given McCartney a new way to bring the song back to life.
Speaking to Radio 4’s Martha Kearney, McCartney explained how he turned to director Peter Jackson, who had used AI to create “clean” audio in the Get Back documentary.
‘He [Jackson] was able to extract John’s voice from a pitiful piece of tape,” he explained.
“We had John’s voice and a piano and he could separate them with AI. They tell the machine. “That’s the voice. This is a guitar. Lose the guitar”.
“So when we came in to do the Beatles’ last record, it was a demo that John had [and] we were able to take John’s voice and get it purely through this AI.
‘Then we can mix the record, as you normally would. So it gives you a kind of leeway.’
McCartney (pictured) has revealed he is using artificial intelligence (AI) to extract John Lennon’s voice from an old demo to create the ‘last Beatles record’
It remains unclear when McCartney plans to release the “last Beatles record” this year.
The Beatles aren’t the only band using AI to complete unfinished songs.
Last month, the Pet Shop Boys Lead singer Neil Tennant said AI can “fill in the blanks” when a song is unfinished, such as when the composer is suffering from writer’s block.
Tennant and his bandmate Chris Lowe said they are looking at new technology as they prepare for their ‘Dreamworld’ greatest hits tour in Europe this summer.
“There’s a song we wrote a chorus for in 2003 and we never finished it because I couldn’t think of anything for the verses,” Tennant told the Radio Times.
“But now with AI, you could give it the bits you wrote, hit the button, and let it fill in the blanks.
“You could rewrite it, but it can still be helpful.”