Randy Travis has released his first new song in over a decade, ‘Where That Came From’, as he prepares to celebrate his 65th birthday.
Following a stroke in 2013 that left his with aphasia, Travis hasn’t been able to use the legendary voice he’s known for. For ‘Where That Came From’, Travis has teamed up with producer Kyle Lehning to create the song using artificial intelligence.
‘Where That Came From’ is a song originally recorded – but not released – by James Dupre. The lilting ballad was written by Scotty Emerick and John Scott Sherrill. Lehning and Travis spent months working with Travis’ vocals and putting a human touch on them while utilising the advances in A.I.
“Eleven years ago I never thought I would be able to have a hand in music production of any kind,” shared Travis. “But by God’s grace and the support of family, friends, fellow artists, and fans, I’m able to create the music I so dearly love. Working with Kyle Lehning and Warner Music Nashville again has been so special and nostalgic, and I’m so excited to share my new song “Where That Came From” with you today. Many thanks to my wonderful team and the best fans in the world for putting me back in the saddle again! I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.”
The creation of ‘Where That Came From’ is an example of how the music industry can rewrite the rules of technology-use within the creative community and harness the power of AI in a positive, fair and honest way.
“The motivation behind a musical recording is specific to each individual artist,” explains Warner Music Nashville Co-Chair & Co-President, Cris Lacy. “The genesis of this particular track came from a visceral desire to restore what was taken away from someone we know and love – Randy Travis. It was inspired by his courage to continue as a vital contributor to the music community. In working with him to make new recordings, the byproduct is a gift that goes straight to our hearts. AI may have been a tool that helped us along, but it was a group of dedicated and passionate humans, including Randy himself, that brought this beautiful song to life.”
You can listen to the track towards the top of this article.
