Amidst the pulsating rhythms and captivating melodies of purpl‘s latest release, “Trippin,” lies a story of resilience, innovation, and unwavering determination. Left with only a Soundcloud MP3 demo after a hard drive failure, purpl embarked on a quest to breathe new life into the dormant composition. Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI), purpl and her collaborator Zeph embarked on a transformative journey to reconstruct “Trippin” from its fragmented remnants. Through the seamless fusion of human creativity and technological innovation, “Trippin” emerges as a testament to the boundless possibilities of modern music production.
Despite the obstacles, their perseverance paid off, resulting in a final version of “Trippin” that exceeded expectations. With each hurdle overcome, “Trippin” emerged as a testament to the transformative power of collaboration and innovation, a beacon of creativity in an ever-evolving musical landscape.
In an industry often characterized by trends and commercial pressures, purpl remains steadfast in her commitment to authenticity and artistic integrity. In a world where viral sensations and algorithms reign supreme, purpl’s unwavering dedication to her craft serves as a guiding light, a reminder that true artistic resonance transcends fleeting fads and superficial trends. As she continues to forge her own path in the music industry, purpl’s unwavering authenticity remains her most potent weapon—a testament to the enduring power of artistic vision and creative expression.
In an industry ripe for transformation, purpl advocates for greater representation and visibility for female artists, urging the industry to empower and uplift one another rather than succumb to divisive competition. Through her music and advocacy, purpl seeks to pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future in music—one where all voices are heard and celebrated.
Talking with us via email, the exciting up-and-comer walked us through the process of resurrecting her latest single “Trippin”, the realities of trying to push through as an indie artist, as well as her goals and dreams for the future.
SheBOPS: Congratulations on the release of “Trippin”! Can you tell us more about the journey of resurrecting this song and the role AI played in its reconstruction?
purpl: Ahh thank you!! So I wrote the song a few years ago with my friend Jamie Haj but then his hard drive got damaged and the original project was lost forever; we only had a Soundcloud MP3 demo version of the song left. We used a website that uses AI to split the song into vocals, drums, bass and synths and then Zeph rebuilt the song around those core elements that make the song what it is today.
Can you share more about the moment you discovered the surviving mp3 of the initial demo of “Trippin”? How did you feel when you realized it wasn’t completely lost?
I’d pretty much accepted that the song would never be released – I thought if we tried remaking it from scratch it would never sound the same or be as good. It felt like an impossible task and we didn’t have any option, until the recent developments in AI. Jamie suggested running it through the AI website and then all of a sudden it became so easy and obvious! We were excited because it opened the door to finishing the track.
What inspired you to pursue the idea of resurrecting “Trippin” despite its initial setback?
“Trippin” was just a track that I kept in my ‘archives’ of old demos that I occasionally show people. It always seemed to be the track that my mates would be like ‘you have to release this one’. My drummer was also telling me time and time again that we needed to do it live, so that all pushed us into trying to figure out how we were going to recreate it.
How did the collaboration with Zeph come about, and what role did they play in the revival of “Trippin”?
So he’s actually my boyfriend and we’ve been together 8 years but have only been collaborating for a few years. We met at university on a production degree and music has always been one of the main parts of our relationship! Alex re-layered the drums due to the quality of the stems being iffy (due to them coming from the SoundCloud MP3). He then added synths, reproduced the bridge section, recreated the intro and mixed and engineered the track!
What were some of the challenges you encountered during the process of revitalizing “Trippin,” particularly considering the use of AI?
The quality of the vocals weren’t great, so we decided to re-record the lead and all the backing vocals – but they ended up sounding so clean and my voice has changed a little over the years so re-recording it made it more cohesive with my recent releases. You could also hear some faint vocals bleeding through on the synth stem, but in the end I think it added a cool layer to the song that really played well into the overall concept and vibe.
How closely did the final version of “Trippin” resemble the original demo, both musically and emotionally?
Musically it’s very similar. The core elements didn’t change. However, we did completely reproduce and rewrite the middle 8 and I’m really happy with how that turned out – I think it adds some depth to the purpose of the song. We also added a lot more backing vocals and cool effects – for example there’s this really cool BV which is zeph saying ‘oh my god’ pitched and slowed down in the chorus.
In what ways do you believe the use of AI for this track might influence your approach to music-making in the future?
I would like to only use AI in a collaborative sense – I’m very aware of how AI could influence the music industry negatively, and that is something I’m strongly against. We need to keep music human at the core, AI can just be a fun tool to use occasionally. I’d like to play around with AI to make some album artwork sometime but probably just as a draft to pass on to a real creator!
How do you envision the fusion of technology and creativity evolving in the music industry, particularly in light of your experience with “Trippin”?
I think technology can give us the tools to push creative boundaries, and I think that can be applied not only in making music, but in live shows and videography. However, I do believe if we aren’t careful, we could lose the music industry, especially if labels see it as a way out of contractual and financial obligations to artists, PR and artist development.
As an artist, how do you stay connected to your authenticity and artistic integrity in an industry often driven by trends and commercial pressures?
What I’ve learnt is the people you surround yourself with and your team are really important. You need to be around people who understand you and who will push you in the right direction. I don’t have a label pressuring me to ‘go viral’ and I manage myself. I’ve learnt over the years how to follow my gut, even if it will make my life harder, in the long run it will pay off. I’ve also got a really healthy relationship with social media, I should probably be on it more to be honest, but it’s a fine line when protecting your mental health. My number one priority is the music I make, and if that means I make less TikToks then so be it.
How do you think perceptions of women in music have evolved over the years, and what progress do you hope to see in the future?
I think women have always been underestimated, which personally drives me, and I think that’s what we are seeing in the industry right now. There’s so many badass female artists killing it right now. I would like us to keep empowering each other rather than competing with each other, because it can often feel like that. There’s room for all of us, but I think the industry has made us feel like there isn’t. More female producers would be really cool too.
In your opinion, what are some of the most pressing issues facing women in the music industry today, and what steps can be taken to address them?
So I actually think being a woman in the industry isn’t the most pressing issue at this current moment in time. I think the financial divide and how little music is valued is a bigger issue. If you’re rich or have immediate connections (nepotism) it’s much easier to get a step up into the industry. Being a small indie artist with a full time job makes it near impossible to get heard through the noise, especially when there’s really no return financially even if your music does decent numbers, which makes it very difficult to invest in yourself if you can’t afford to take the hit. Something needs to change, artists and songwriters need to get paid fairly, labels need to invest in talent instead of virality and platforms need to do more to promote unsigned artists.
As a woman in music, do you feel there are certain stereotypes or expectations that you’ve had to contend with and how have you challenged or embraced them?
Definitely. Still women are over sexualised in the industry, and yes it can be an effective tool to grab someone’s attention, but for me personally, I don’t feel comfortable with presenting myself that way and it puts me at a disadvantage, but maybe that’s just how the world works? Fortunately I think it’s improving, more and more artists are being themselves and owning it and if being sexual is themselves, I’m all for that too.
Representation and visibility are crucial in promoting gender diversity in music. How do you think the industry can better support and amplify the voices of women artists?
More opportunities for learning alternative skills alongside being an artist – production workshops, industry workshops, even networking events. Opportunities to give us room to grow and gain confidence alongside other like minded women. That would be really cool, and what a great way to inspire each other and grow together.
The #MeToo movement has shed light on issues of sexual harassment and misconduct within the music industry. How do you think the industry can create safer and more inclusive spaces for women, both on and off stage?
I think there needs to be clear pathways to report harassment and similar incidents within the industry specifically. A centralised HR system/database that can’t enforce the law, but collects reports of harassment – that way if an offender starts to gain a bad reputation, it’s easily seen and they can be avoided/blacklisted.
If we create an environment where there are accessible consequences then I believe we will start to see improvements in women’s safety.
Lastly, what else can we expect from purpl in 2024 and beyond?
Expect lots of really cool music!! My next single ‘Salad’ off my sophomore EP will be out in April through Salthouse Records, and I will be playing a couple of shows at The Alternative Escape, Brighton in May. As far as the future goes I’m planning on winning lots of awards for my music and taking over the industry so watch this space 🙂