AI Enka Singer to Debut With Neo Kobushi
Japan's oldest record company is turning to artificial intelligence to reshape one of the country's most traditional musical genres, unveiling an AI-generated enka singer as part of a new label combining the technology with the distinctive vocal style of Japanese ballads. (News On Japan)
Japan's oldest record company, Nippon Columbia, has launched a new label called Neo Kobushi to blend artificial intelligence with traditional Japanese enka music. The centerpiece of this initiative is an AI-generated enka singer named Kodama Hikari, who possesses both a synthetic voice and visual appearance. Her performances capture the authentic vocal style and melodic ornamentation known as kobushi, integral to enka music.
Nippon Columbia announced on September 19 that the Neo Kobushi label would pioneer the fusion of AI and enka, stepping beyond the creation of performers to incorporate AI in lyric-writing and composition. The company's producer stated that enka should embrace experimentation with new ideas and technology to ensure its survival for another century.
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