Jason Derulo has backed the growing use of AI in music while throwing his support behind Australian DJ and producer Josh Fawaz, who is opening for the pop star on his current Australian tour.
In a new interview with Variety Australia ahead of the tour, Derulo said Fawaz first caught his attention through his reworkings of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” and Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing”.
“And I was like, ‘Oh, he got some talent,’” Derulo said. “So I thought it’d be really cool. He’s from this side of the world. So I thought it’d be cool to have him open up since I really like his stuff.
“And I needed someone that I felt could bring some great energy. And I think it’s interesting that he can play songs that people know, but with a fresh twist. So I think he’s a really unique opener. I don’t know that you can have someone better, realistically,” he continued. “Because every song that he plays, you’re going to know. And it’s also going to have like a little twist to it. So it’ll be a lot of fun. I’m sure.”
Fawaz has attracted attention in recent months for the role generative AI plays in his production process. His chart-topping cover of “Like a Prayer” came under scrutiny over how it was made, with the track’s Spotify credits updated in July to acknowledge the use of AI-generated vocals and drums. Fawaz subsequently demonstrated part of his process, showing how he uses generative AI platform Suno to transform vocals he records himself.
Speaking to Variety Australia about Fawaz and the wider debate around AI in music, Derulo said he has embraced the technology across both his professional and personal life. However, AI does not remove the importance of the person using it, he argued.
“AI is a tool, right? And if you’re great, it’ll just make you that much more great. If you’re not, you know, you might get lucky, but you can only get lucky so many times, right?” he said. “Producers that utilise AI, writers that utilise AI, you’re still going to have to compete with the best in the world, right? Because the layperson using AI and the greatest producer in the world using AI is a completely different thing.
Love Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
“The understanding of music is different. The understanding of layers, the understanding of what makes people tick, what draws emotion is an art, you know? And the people that make the music the best at the end of the day are the people that are going to have the hits.”
Derulo also argued that the music industry will increasingly have to reckon with the technology rather than attempt to resist it altogether. “There’s no way that we’re going to be able to stop AI. So either you join the party and try to figure it out, or you’re going to get left behind.”
Derulo’s Australian tour continues in Sydney on Saturday night before heading to Melbourne and Perth. See here for details.
