The highly anticipated release of the last Beatles song featuring the iconic voice of the late John Lennon is set to hit the airwaves on Thursday. Developed using artificial intelligence, the track titled "Now and Then" will be unveiled as a double A-side single alongside the band's debut UK single "Love Me Do," according to record label Universal Music Group (UMG.AS).
In anticipation of the release, The Beatles' YouTube channel premiered a 12-minute short film titled "Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song." Directed by Oliver Murray, the film offers exclusive footage and commentary from band members, Lennon's son Sean Ono Lennon, and filmmaker Peter Jackson, renowned for his work on the 2021 documentary series "The Beatles: Get Back."
Within the film, Jackson provides insights into the innovative techniques used to bring "Now and Then" to life. Using AI, his team was able to isolate instruments and vocals from recordings, including Lennon's original home demo tape from the late 1970s. The result is a unique collaboration that blends Lennon's distinct voice with contributions from surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as the late George Harrison.
Jackson further elaborates on the groundbreaking technology employed in the creation of the track. "That ultimately led us to develop a technology which allows us to take any soundtrack and split all the different components into separate tracks based on machine learning," he explains within the film. This process enabled the team to extract individual elements from Lennon's demo and seamlessly integrate them with the recordings from the other band members.
The release of "Now and Then" marks a significant moment for Beatles fans worldwide. With John Lennon's voice resurfacing in a brand new song, it serves as a poignant reminder of his enduring musical legacy. The careful curation of the track showcases the endless possibilities that AI offers in the realm of music production and preservation.
As anticipation builds, fans eagerly await the release of this historic double A-side single. The music industry and Beatles enthusiasts alike anxiously anticipate the unveiling of "Now and Then" and the opportunity to experience this remarkable collaboration featuring the iconic voice of John Lennon.