Image Credit: LifeScore

Announced on October 6th, LifeScore has launched its own record label, Kaleidoscope, powered by AI and original music compositions.

LifeScore Music is an artificial intelligence music technology company co-founded by Tom Gruber, one of the inventors of Siri.

Kaleidoscope and AI music creation

Kaleidoscope seeks to release music that blends original music compositions from artists and expand them in a 3D space using LifeScore’s generative AI technology. The intended result is an immersive, surround sound listening experience, taking our favourite tracks and putting them in a 3D space.

Ultimately, the label wants to publish music that offers listeners a fresh experience by incorporating elements of AI-generated soundscapes into original compositions.

Kaleidoscope collaborates with sound designers and sound professionals across the globe, curating ambisonic recordings that capture the essence of different environments, thus attempting to create a sense of time and place when blended with recorded music.

These ambisonic recordings are interwoven with the different elements of recorded music, thus creating a listening experience transcending traditional music formats.

Kaleidoscope’s ambisonic listening experience…

Mary Lockwood, Chief Audio Officer at LifeScore, emphasized that Kaleidoscope’s mission is to enhance music rather than overshadow it. Lockwood stated, “The technology is simply there to bring in a surprise factor at the end – to create an experience that’s still uniquely that artist’s music but coloured by something new and delightful.”

Kaleidoscope is set to introduce a series of immersive albums, with the first releases tailored for wellness activities. These include “Riverside Flow” for yoga sessions, “Skywalk” offering a rainforest journey, “Castles In The Sand” delivering a serene beach soundscape, “Alpenglow” taking listeners on a mountain adventure, and an 8-hour sleep experience titled “Twilight Jungle.”

Furthermore, Kaleidoscope plans to collaborate with established artists on reimagined versions of their works. For instance, one collaboration includes an extended sleep album based on Sleeping At Last’s “Atlas: Space” compilation.

Kaleidoscope’s launch marks a significant step for LifeScore Music, which has been a pioneer in the integration of AI technology with music composition. The label will continue to release new music every Friday throughout October, starting with “Riverside Flow.”

LifeScore’s generative technology serves as the backbone of Kaleidoscope. Taking raw materials from world-renowned studios and master recordings provided by artists, the technology transforms them through patented algorithms into remixes and variations that extend the original compositions.

Tom Gruber, LifeScore’s Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Siri, emphasized that the role of AI is to augment, not automate, human creativity.

LifeScore Music’s technology has garnered significant attention and support, with Warner Music Group participating in LifeScore’s £11 million series A funding round last year.

Is spatial music the future?

While this does demonstrate the industry’s interest in AI-powered music technologies, I think it raises some questions. For example, is an ambisonic listening experience what music consumers and creators want? Dolby’s surround sound technology has set precedent after precedent in film sound, and spatial audio is undoubtedly cool while watching films, television, or playing video games.

With all that said, is thinking of more ways to enjoy commercial music in spatial audio formats where the industry should be focussing? I’m not convinced, although I can’t speak for a global audience. Hey, maybe ambisonic and spatial audio is the future of music… all I know is that I’m happy making and enjoying music where left, right and centre images reign supreme.

Nevertheless, Kaleidoscope aims to deliver a unique musical experience that leverages the power of AI while staying true to the artistic integrity of original compositions. Right now, I think this is a pretty ambitious vision, despite the popularity of Apple’s spatial audio.