Grammy-Winning Indian Music Icon Shankar Mahadevan Explores New Frontiers with Google's Music AI Sandbox

In our latest Lab Session, we collaborated with Grammy Award-winning Indian music icon Shankar Mahadevan to explore the innovative intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and India's rich musical heritage. India's music scene is a vibrant powerhouse of artistic influence, well-known for its captivating Bollywood scores and thriving regional film industries. It encompasses a wide array of traditions, including Carnatic, Hindustani, folk, dance, and devotional genres, making it an ideal canvas for AI-driven musical experimentation. The Music AI Sandbox, developed by Google DeepMind in partnership with YouTube and informed by insights from music industry professionals like Shankar, is a suite of experimental tools designed to assist musicians in transforming existing pieces, creating new instrumental or vocal parts, and discovering fresh directions for their work. Over the course of more than 30 hours in Shankar's Mumbai studio, we immersed ourselves in his creative process alongside his producer, lyricist, and sound engineer. Our goal was to see how the Music AI Sandbox could enhance the creation of film soundtracks. Shankar, known for his versatility and mastery across various genres, was eager to integrate these AI tools into his workflow. The session began with a thorough introduction to the capabilities of the Music AI Sandbox, highlighting its ability to analyze musical patterns, suggest harmonies, and generate new melodies. We then dove into practical applications, using some of Shankar's existing compositions as a starting point. One of the highlights was the tool's capability to create new instrumental parts that complemented Shankar's original tunes. By inputting a basic melody, the AI could suggest intricate accompaniments that resonated with the traditional elements of Indian music. This not only saved time but also injected novel ideas into his compositions, allowing him to explore previously uncharted musical territories. Another significant feature was the AI's ability to generate new vocal lines. Shankar's producer found this particularly useful in crafting harmonies and backing vocals that enhanced the overall texture of the songs. This feature proved especially valuable when working on devotional and folk music, where the subtlety and emotional depth of the vocals are crucial. During the session, we also experimented with the AI's capacity to remix and reimagine entire tracks. Shankar and his team used this to blend traditional and modern elements, creating a unique sound that could captivate both contemporary and traditional audiences. The results were impressive, demonstrating the potential of AI to bridge different musical styles and eras. Overall, the lab session with Shankar Mahadevan was a testament to the symbiotic relationship between human creativity and technological innovation. While the AI provided powerful tools for transformation and creation, Shankar's expertise and artistic vision remained central to the process. The outcome was a series of tracks that not only showcased the cutting-edge capabilities of the Music AI Sandbox but also honored the rich cultural heritage of Indian music. This collaboration underscores the potential for AI to enrich and expand the boundaries of musical creation, offering a promising future for artists in the digital age.