Liza Minnelli is standing by her decision to use an AI voice-cloning company on her first new song in 13 years.
This week, the celebrated artist announced the release of her first EDM single since her days with The Pet Shop Boys. In a Facebook post, she shared her excitement about the track being launched on ElevenLabs, a powerhouse in the techno music scene known for its groundbreaking innovations.
ElevenLabs, as outlined on their website, brings together a curated group of trailblazing artists who are embracing new technology to evolve their sound. The platform allows users to create entire songs rapidly through artificial intelligence, while also giving public figures the opportunity to license AI-generated versions of their voices.
At 79, the EGOT winner clarified that while her latest dance track, “Kids Wait Till You Hear This,” utilizes AI for its arrangements, her voice remains authentic. “We used AI for the arrangements, not the vocals,” she stated. “A few critics didn’t take the time to get the facts straight, check with me, or my collaborators. The shoutouts in the track are purely mine!”
The single features Minnelli’s distinctive voice delivering various phrases over a pulsating techno beat. It is one of the 13 songs on ElevenLabs’ newly released collection, The Eleven Album. This compilation showcases an array of artists, including Art Garfunkel, who are integrating their unique styles with AI-driven elements and arrangements.
In a conversation with NBC News, Minnelli defended her collaboration with ElevenLabs, expressing her interest in leveraging both her voice and cutting-edge tools to enhance her artistic expression, rather than replace it.
In a statement to NBC News, Minnelli further defended her decision to work with the company, saying she was interested in “using my voice and new tools in service of expression, not instead of it.”
“This project respects the artist’s voice, the artist’s choices, and the artist’s ownership,” she added.
