- By Sidhi Agarwall
- Thu, 22 May 2025 01:16 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Shankar Mahadevan, the renowned Indian singer, composer and producer has collaborated with Google to create a song using the Lyria AI music generator tool. This innovative project was showcased at Google's annual I/O developer conference in Mountain View, California, where Shankar made a virtual appearance. The collaboration between Shankar Mahadevan and Google demonstrates the evolving role of AI in music composition. By leveraging the Lyria AI music generator tool, the Padma Shri award winner and composer was able to explore new sounds and push the boundaries of his creativity.
Shankar Mahadevan worked with Google’s Music AI Sandbox to craft a song titled ‘Rubaro.’ He was introduced by Google Research Scientist Jason Baldridge during the conference saying, "It is a tool for professionals to explore the possibilities of our generative music model Lyria, in their work. Let's watch a clip starring legendary Grammy-winning singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan putting the music AI sandbox and Lyria to use."
In the behind-the-scenes videos, Shankar Mahadevan is seen working with his team to select the perfect beats, fine tunes for the pitch, and create a unique sound. The composer mentioned that the process involved inputting requirements into the AI tool, which generated a base that he and his team built upon. "Working with Sandbox is great. We inputted our requirements and it gave us a bed. We used that bed and we came up with this song," he explained.
Meanwhile, Shankar also praised the AI tool, saying, "For a musician, it is such an inspiring tool. You open a door and you see there's another room... And then you open another room, and you have another door... That is what AI does." This statement highlights the potential of AI to unlock new creative possibilities in music. The project also showcases the capability for AI to complement human artistic versions, enabling artists to create innovative music.
Shankar Mahadevan’s versatility in music spans Bollywood, devotional music, and classical music. He is known for his work on iconic songs like , Maa, Dil Chahata Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Desi Girl, and Kajra Re among many others. The singer has also been honoured with various awards like IIFA Award for Best Music Director, Padma Shri, Nandi Award for Best Male Playback Singer, GIMA Award for Best Non-Film Song and many more.