Let me ask a question that has been bugging my mind lately. Can I or anyone who calls themselves, “purist” really accept AI in music? Let Vincent Projects’ newest album, “Lumang Gitara,” make a case for that.
Vincent Projects is an indie music producer from San Jose, California, but was born in the Philippines. This album is his take on Kundiman/Soul, that is made with AI. I’m not sure how much AI was put into this album, but we can always keep an open mind to it. Join me as I discuss “Lumang Gitara” in detail.
The first song of the album, titled “Lihin ng Bituin”, started with this melancholic guitar lick that gave off an early 2010s acoustic feel. The melodical progression of the track resembled somewhat a song that Jay-R Siaboc would be singing because of its strong and swayful vocal texture alongside the chorus hook.
“Habang May Buhay,” which is the second track of this album, has a strong Yeng Constantino influence in it because of the vocal and melodical progression. The song talks about resilience in the face of adversity. It’s evident in phrases like / Sa ilalim ng ulan, ako’y naglalakad / May bitbit na pangarap, di magwawakas / Habang may buhay, may pag-ibig / Habang may liwanag, may daang tatahakin / just to name a few.
I specifically like the melodic guitar riff in the intro for “Paghinga ng Mundo”, it perfectly captures that OPM sound. That “beating around the bush” type of guitar riff is what made it OPM. This track is about finding peace in the middle of life’s chaos. Phrases like / Sandali ng kapayapaan, Dito ko natagpuan / Kahit saan magtungo, Ikaw ang tahanan ko / captured the main theme of the track perfectly.
By the fourth track, “Huni ng Alaala,” I can already sense that most of the tracks in this album have the same song structure progression and the same melodical chorus hook formula. It’s an emerging pattern that created an identity and character in how Vincent Projects produces his songs.
The fifth track of this album, titled “Sa Guhit ng Aking Palad”, took a different turn and talked about being patriotic about one’s country regardless of life’s challenges. Phrases like / Sa guhit ng aking palad, Nakasulat ang bukas / Kahit saan dalhin ng hangin, Babalik pa rin sa ’yo, Inang Bayan ko / perfectly set the mood for this melancholic but hopeful love for one’s country.
I specifically like the chorus hook on the sixth track of the album titled “Laro ng Araw at Ulan.” It has this teleserye soundtrack feel to it. The hook is catchy. If I were to produce this album, I would make this song the carrier single.
“Sandali ng Kapayapaan” tells us that in the midst of chaos, you have to rest and remember that you have someone or something that you can call home. Phrases like / Sandali ng kapayapaan, Dito ko natagpuan / Kahit saan magtungo, Ikaw ang tahanan ko / captured that exact feeling.
And to end the album, we have “Yakap ng Katahimikan” that weighs heavily on peace and healing, which is evident in phrases like / Yakap ng katahimikan, Dito ko natagpuan / Dinuduyan ang damdamin sa payapang landas/.
Vincent Projects’ Lumang Gitara weighs heavily on artistic expression versus human connection. It connected with me on a personal level because of the melodical progressions and the influence it’s rooted in. I can’t diminish the idea that it was purely created in AI because the thought process, writing style, and lyrics cannot have life without an idea first. It’s an open topic that has divided a lot of artists, but for me, change is inevitable, and we need to adapt to change. A soul is still a soul.
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About the Author
He has been in the music industry for two and a half decades. Currently, he plays bass guitar for a rock-reggae band called EnjointPh and a funk-fusion trio called Banky. He also hosts a podcast titled Usapang Musiko with Ervin Besana, which explores topics such as music, arts, and philosophy.
