Ghana’s Brenya on exploring AI in music

Beyond their adept fusion of genres, the collective has now also embarked on a pioneering path at the nexus of art and technology, embracing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), as seen in the music video for their single ‘Son of the Spirits’.

The song serves as a prelude to their forthcoming album Songs From B.A, due next month. Frontman Brenya tells Music In Africa that the band’s latest AI undertaking, directed and edited by BR Films, encompasses image-to-video and video-to-video tools, with the bulk of the creative process unfolding during post-production.

“The concept stemmed from a desire to depict a journey touching on both our African history and our emergence as a band,” Brenya, perhaps best known for 2020’s ‘Forgete,’ explains. He says the incorporation of historical landmarks like the Great Sphinx, the Pyramids of Giza and Mali Empire monuments combined with vivid artistic motifs epitomises the band’s unique African identity and story.

“Drawing upon my background in computer science, I’ve always been captivated by emerging technologies, particularly AI,” Brenya says. “The creative potential of these tools is boundless, offering a spectrum of options to enhance storytelling. The swiftness and versatility of AI-driven tools are truly mind-boggling.”

Responding to my question about the importance of incorporating elements of African history into their music and visuals, he is quick to add that his band’s identity as a highlife and Afrobeat act “hinges on originality. It’s imperative that our music and visuals serve as a vivid reflection of our African heritage.” This cultural embodiment, he says, is pivotal to their creative ethos.

Its artistic dimensions aside, Brenya notes that the use of AI for the music video carries a deeper message. “While the ‘Son of the Spirits’ video is undoubtedly visually captivating, its greater purpose lies in sparking curiosity about AI among both current and future generations of Africans. I believe in the transformative power of AI to enrich various facets of our lives.”

Brenya acknowledges that bringing the project to life was not without hurdles. “Apart from the inherent challenges of being an independent artist, the uncertainty of realising our envisioned outcome was a formidable obstacle. We envisioned a particular look and feel, but the realisation was a leap of faith. We embraced this challenge with conviction and followed our instincts.”

My next question pertains to the role of music videos in enhancing the listener’s experience. “Music is a vessel for storytelling and every song carries a unique narrative. Music videos provide a visual canvas to complement these stories, heightening the auditory experience for our fans,” he says.

Do they plan to use more AI tools for future projects? “Absolutely. The intent is to extend the spectrum of inspiration beyond music alone. I aspire to explore AI tools further, weaving them into our projects to draw more attention to these transformative technologies.”

Brenya says the response to the video has been overwhelming, “leaving most viewers intrigued by the creative synergy between music and technology.”

He says Songs From B.A holds a powerful musical journey for music enthusiasts, likening the project to a musical odyssey that traverses time. “The visual representation is poised to be just as enthralling, offering a complete and immersive experience for music lovers,” Brenya says.