Kylie Minogue is “producing vocals better than us”, say her producersIs there anything Kylie Minogue can’t do? In a recent interview, the singer-songwriter’s producers have said she is “producing vocals better than them”, hailing her as “the queen of the remote vocals”.

READ MORE: “Pop will be way more minimal sounding” in the future, Charli XCX predicts

As revealed in an interview for Billboard in 2020, Minogue delved into the world of music production during the Covid-19 Pandemic-induced lockdown while making her album, Disco.
Starting with a simple GarageBand setup, later transitioning to Apple Logic Pro and setting up a Brauner VMX microphone, this shift empowered the singer to record remotely and collaborate globally, solidifying her self-sufficiency in vocal production. At the time, she said, “if 11-year-olds can do this in their bedroom, I can figure this out. I got really into [Logic Pro], and I’m annoyed with myself it took this long for me to get a handle on it. It’s good to add new skills to your set.”
Now, ahead of the release of her next album, Tension, regular writer and producer for Minogue, Biff Stannard has said: “Kylie won’t mind me saying this, but when she started it was during [2020 album] Disco it was the most basic GarageBand setup and we had to talk her through it. Next thing we know, she’s mastered it and is producing high-quality vocals! She’s better than me now at producing her vocals. At the end of the day, no-one knows her voice better than she does.”

Another collaborator, Duck Blackwell chips in: “She’s the queen of the remote vocals! A lot of her vocals were recorded in hotel rooms. Because she’s traveling so much it’s been really easy to make changes from wherever she is in the world. I’ll get messages saying, ‘Oh, I think we need a backing vocal in that middle eight’ or ‘I think the second take was better on that line’ or in some cases [she’ll] even rewrite a verse and ping it over and we can just drop it in. Five years ago, she’d have had to travel back, get into a studio or whatever and re-record it. This is such an exciting and easier way of working.”
Kylie Minogue’s new album, Tension, will be available on 22 September. Pre-order via kylie.com.
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Antelope Audio launch Synergy Core Native Antelope's acclaimed hardware modelling plug-ins can now be run natively on Windows and macOS systems without the need for their DSP-equipped interfaces.

Analogue Solutions’ new Ample synthesiser is as analogue as it getsUK synthmaker Analogue Solutions has unveiled Ample, a new desktop monophonic analogue synthesiser that’s said to combine “the best elements” of the brand’s recent releases.

READ MORE: Enjoy 24-hour playback in stereo with the new Sonos Move 2 portable speaker

Within the Ample’s compact body are the sound elements of Fusebox, the jack patch points of Concussor Eurorack, the patch pin matrix of Vostok, the echo from Dr.Strangelove and the sequencer and CV touchpads of Generator.
“It shares all this yet still has its own sound!” The brand describes the synth.
AS also notes that unlike “other so-called analogue synths”, Ample is as analogue as it comes: Aside from the MIDI chip (which has to be digital), everything else is totally analogue using real transistors and op-amps. There are no CPU-stabilised and quantised circuits, no DCOs, no digital LFOs and no digital EGs. Ample’s circuitry is also based on designs dating back to the mid-1970s, which lends the device a “genuine old sound.”
True to its name, the synth boasts three analogue oscillators, a single dedicated LFO with a triangle wave output, a four-pole, 24dB/octave low pass filter, two envelopes with traditional ADSR settings, and a whole lot more. Users can even use Ample as an effects processor.
As AS explains, “We have given this synth a large and diverse number of controls, that along side the patch sockets, will give even the best and experienced synthesist endless possibilities.”
Priced at £1999, Ample is currently available for immediate shipping in an extremely limited run. However, fans can look forward to a wider release “coming to selected dealers soon.”
Check out a walkthrough of the Ample synth below.

Learn more at Analogue Solutions.
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Technics unveils the new-and-improved next-generation SL-1200GR2 turntableTechnics has unveiled the latest addition to its iconic SL-1200 series of direct drive turntables — the SL-1200GR2.

READ MORE: Experimental composer Leonardo Barbadoro conducts the world’s largest all-robot orchestra in upcoming LP ‘Musica Automata’

The new model boasts several upgrades from its predecessor, including a new drive control technique for smooth, accurate rotational stability and a new multi-stage silent power supply for an exceptionally low noise floor.
The all-new Delta-Sigma-Drive and coreless direct-drive motor, in particular, allows for higher accuracy and improved electromagnetic conversion accuracy, making for a seamless listening experience. In addition, the newly added, 3mm die-cast aluminium cartridge spacers help ensure greater cartridge compatibility.
Design wise, the record player retains its sleek exterior, though all parts have now been colour-matched for a cleaner look.
Credit: Technics
The GR2 also retains most of the mechanical design of the original model, which includes the dual layer bottom chassis made of aluminium and BMC (Bulk Moulding Compound), the two layered platter made of aluminium and dampened by heavy-weight rubber, a high-sensitivity S-shaped aluminium tonearm as well as insulator feet.
Available in silver (SL-1200GR2) and black (SL-1210GR2), the new model will be available at authorised Technics retailers this coming December for $2,199.99.
In related news, the Japanese audio giant has also recently teamed up with streetwear brand Supreme on a snazzy-looking limited edition SL-1200MK7 turntable arriving later this year.
Decked out in Supreme’s iconic red-white colours, the turntable was revealed as part of a preview of Supreme’s highly anticipated Fall/Winter 2023 collection.
For £199, users will get a coreless direct drive motor, vibration damping platter, 78RPM speed with wider pitch adjustment, and reverse play function, though you will have to get your own cartridge.
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Fake Drake and The Weeknd song created with AI submitted for Grammy considerationA track which uses AI to emulate the vocals of Drake and The Weeknd has been submitted for consideration by The Grammy Awards.
The song, titled Heart On My Sleeve, was created by anonymous producer Ghostwriter. It reached a mighty 13 million views on TikTok alone when it began circulating earlier this year, and was eventually banned by Universal Music Group.

READ MORE: Hozier would “absolutely” strike over the threat of AI on the music industry

As reported by The New York Times, a representative for Ghostwriter has confirmed that the track has been submitted for Grammy consideration in two categories: Best Rap Song and Song Of The Year.
Both awards in these categories go to the writer of a song, not the performer. However, one of the requirements for submission is that the track must be “available nationwide via brick-and-mortar stores, third-party online retailers and/or streaming services”, meaning the ban imposed by UMG could potentially derail the submission.

hi im ghostwriter. #drake #aivoice #theweeknd #ai #aidrake #theweekndai pic.twitter.com/lUUAHC1Xw8
— ghostwriter977 (@imghostwrit3r) April 16, 2023

On the other hand, the Recording Academy’s chief executive, Harvey Mason Jr., argues that “It’s absolutely eligible because it was written by a human.”
He later adds in his interview with publication, “Ghostwriter really has played an important role here to bring awareness and attention. We know AI is going to play a role in our business. We can’t pretend to turn our back on it and try to ban it.
“I’m not scared of AI, but I do believe work needs to be done to make sure that things are in place so that the creative community is protected.”
Earlier this year in April, UMG asked “which side of history all stakeholders in the music ecosystem want to be on: the side of artists, fans and human creative expression, or on the side of deep fakes, fraud and denying artists their due compensation” after it also had an AI-generated ‘fake Drake’ cover of Ice Spice’s Munch banned from streaming services.
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Acon Digital unveil Remix plug-in Acon Digital's latest plug-in is capable of separating tracks into five stems (vocals, piano, drums, bass and other) in real time. 

JPMorgan moves into deposit tokens for settlements: ReportJPMorgan is reportedly developing the infrastructure to run a new deposit token, allowing settlements between banks for corporate clients.

Cruise nears approval to mass-produce robotaxis with no steering wheel, pedalsCruise CEO Kyle Vogt said Thursday at an investor conference that the company is “just days away” from getting the green light to begin mass production of its purpose-built autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) told TechCrunch that no decision to grant or deny GM’s petition […]

Wasserman Music Signs KehlaniWasserman Music has signed two-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated multi-platinum artist Kehlani for worldwide representation. 

The fast-rising contemporary singer/songwriter’s recent world tour supporting 2022’s Blue Water Road (Atlantic Records), was a global smash, including a series of sold-out two-night stands at NYC’s Radio City Music Hall, L.A.’s YouTube Theater, and London’s O2 Academy Brixton, a hugely successful run across Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and a triumphant sold-out hometown show at the Oakland Arena.

Since releasing her first mixtape in 2014, Kehlani has earned over 20 Gold and Platinum RIAA certifications, tallied 5 billion streams, and garnered a pair of GRAMMY® Award nominations for “Best Urban Contemporary Album” for the Gold-certified mixtape You Should Be Here and “Best R&B Performance” for the 2016 Platinum single “Distraction,” along with unforgettable festival performances at Outside Lands, Pharrell’s Something in the Water Festival, J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival, Lollapalooza South America, PLUS63 Festival (Philippines), Summer Sonic Festival (Tokyo), and many others worldwide.

Kehlani is represented worldwide by Wasserman Music agents Brent Smith and Eli Gelernter.

Photo credit: MÍA ANDRÉ

Responsibility for AI copyright infringement rests with platforms, and 3 other things we learned from Robert Kyncl’s Goldman Sachs interviewWarner Music Group's CEO participated in a Q&A session on Wednesday (September 6) at Goldman Sachs’ Communacopia + Technology Conference in San Francisco
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JP Morgan says Universal’s ‘artist-centric’ model will bring a 9% revenue increase to major labels. No wonder it’s just increased its price target for UMG.Deezer this week revealed it has struck an agreement to start paying UMG's artists via an 'artist centric' model
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It’s official: Language app Duolingo to launch music course Duolingo, the popular language learning app, will officially be launching a music course later this year following rumours that began to circulate back in March this year (2023).
The app confirms that its music lessons will be free, as well as “fun and effective”, and will teach users to both read and play music.

READ MORE: YouTube is testing a search by hum feature on Android devices

The course will launch alongside maths lessons on 11 October 2023, and will feature “hundreds” of interactive lessons, utilising over 200 well-known songs.
As we reported earlier this year, DuoLingo was advertising a new job role for a Learning Scientist For Music. On the job listing, it read, “Duolingo is venturing into teaching music!
“Our strengths lie in building educational apps that are grounded in learning science and keep learners motivated – come join us to help build a new Duolingo music app that promotes learning and is fun to use!”
The soon-to-arrive course aims to make learning music more accessible, as the brand shared a study in its press release that states 3.6 million students in the US alone don’t have access to music education, with private tutoring costing up to $400 per lesson.

DuoLingo also says that a recent study showed that music engages areas of the brain that are involved with paying attention, making predictions, and updating events in our memory. Learning music can also help with reading, verbal, listening, and maths skills.
Further to that, learning to play music can also combat the cognitive decline associated with ageing, and is proven to increase confidence and overall self-esteem.
“We know maths and music, like language, transcend cultures and connect people,” says Severin Hacker, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Duolingo. “Soon you will be able to learn maths and music in the same Duolingo experience – all with the same fun, engaging, and effective experience you know from learning languages with us.”
Find out more about DuoLingo, and sign up to the app for free, via its website.
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Todd Edwards worked in customer service after Daft Punk collaborationTodd Edwards has revealed that, after working with Daft Punk on their 2001 hit Face To Face, he stepped away from music for two years to work in customer service.

READ MORE: Todd Edwards unpacks the floppy disk containing all 70 samples for Daft Punk’s Face To Face

Speaking as part of Daft Punk’s new Memory Tapes series of mini-documentaries, the New Jersey-born producer and singer/songwriter, who also sang on the duo’s Fragments of Time in 2013, tells viewers about the impact Daft Punk had on his life.
“They’ve actually been there in the integral parts of my life, almost like the universe handing you a helping hand.” He says.
“After working on Face To Face, the industry changed in the early 2000s because music became something that people were able to get for free; record labels went out of business, you know.

“I was still getting work coming in here and there, but it wasn’t a lot. Tomas and Guy-Man actually did reach out to me to come see their first performance of the Live tour and Coachella but at the time, I mean, I was in such a bad place. It’s like I can’t go and fly out to be part of something like this when I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow, you know what I mean?
“So, what happened was I took a two-year hiatus and did customer service, and I lost touch for a bit because of that, you know, working a customer service job and dying a little inside each day. It wore on me. So at the height of the American recession, I decided to quit the job and chose music, and started working again.”

Also in the clip, Edwards goes on to say that he “wasn’t shocked” at Daft Punk’s split in 2021, saying “they weren’t on the same page anymore anyway”. He goes on to add, “If anything, it should inspire people to be more creative and take chances and stop doing the same thing.”
The latter quote echoes what the producer said in March on Zane Lowe’s podcast: “The amount of people that yearn for Daft Punk to get back together to lead the way for music shows how much the world needs more Daft Punks out there to lead the world in music,” he said.
Watch the other Memory Tapes episodes via YouTube.
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“Everything they do is based on the curiosity to learn”: Todd Edwards on Daft Punk’s Give Life Back To MusicProducer and DJ Todd Edwards has reflected on his experience of working with Daft Punk for the latest episode of the Memory Tapes on the duo’s YouTube channel.
The series features a range of interviews from collaborators who worked on Daft Punk’s 2013 album Random Access Memories, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

READ MORE: “We left the studio without saying anything, like the whole thing was natural”: DJ Falcon on the making of Daft Punk’s Contact

Edwards also worked with the duo on their 2001 album, Discovery. On Sample-heavy track Face To Face, over 70 samples were used from his very own sample library.
However, on Random Access Memories, one memory that stands out for Edwards is the first track they played him whilst making the album. That song was Give Life Back To Music.

In episode five of the YouTube series, Edwards recalls how “the air just got sucked out of the room” when Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo shared the track, and that he knew it would become a “masterpiece”.
“What they were trying to accomplish was… the Daft Punk ideas they’d get in sampling kind of found their way into more organic forms without the sampling, basically [sic].
“Thomas and Guy-Manuel hired amazing musicians that had worked on legendary songs and albums before,” he remembers. “Which, even that blew my mind because I guess I’m more small-minded with it but like ‘what made you think to ask, you know, Nathan East to come play?’, [they were] like ‘you know, I’m just curious’. Everything that they do is based on the fascination and the curiosity to learn.”
You can watch the full episode below:

A 10th anniversary edition of Random Access Memories is out now, including 35 minutes of unreleased music. Find out more on the official Daft Punk website.
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Experimental composer Leonardo Barbadoro conducts the world’s largest all-robot orchestra in upcoming LP ‘Musica Automata’Experimental composer and musician Leonardo Barbadoro has announced the upcoming release of Musica Automata, an LP featuring music performed by the world’s largest all-robot orchestra

READ MORE: Deadmau5-backed Pixelynx launches BeatKOR AI music collection in partnership with Beatport

The ensemble of musical robots that is Musica Automata features numerous classical instruments (percussion, woodwind, brass, organ) and many unconventional instruments, and is said to be the largest orchestra of robots in existence.
Fans can preview the album via the single Bomi, which will be released on 22 September via Helical records. Featuring a highly eclectic array of sounds, the song was programmed entirely by Leonardo and performed without the touch of a human. In addition to the main instruments like the pipe organs, piano and bells, many other parameters (dynamics, sound envelope and more) were also programmed into the song, adding subtle ‘human’ nuances to what’s supposedly a robotic performance.
Of the album, Leonardo says: “Musica Automata represents a turning point in my compositional and instrumental research. It is music that brings together two dimensions often perceived as incompatible, even antithetical: the boundless expressive possibilities of electronics implemented by an acoustic instrumental body in a sensory reality, beating, vibrating, and blowing.”
Leonardo began his musical career at a young age, playing synthesizers and guitar in local bands, before developing an interest in composition and electronic music. He studied at the Cherubini Conservatory in Florence, where he obtained a degree in “Music and New Technologies”. After which, the artist began composing music for an orchestra of automated instruments controlled entirely by digital impulses, an experience that marked the birth of Musica Automatta.
In 2018 Leonardo launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the composition and recording of an entire album with the robotic orchestra. The project was successfully founded later that year, which culminated in a live performance of the installation at 2019’s Tomorrowland festival in Belgium.
Musica Automatta is set to arrive on 3 November 2023. For more info, head to Leonardo Barbadoro’s YouTube channel.
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