4 hours ago
Liza Minnelli Defends AI Collaboration on First New Song in 13 Years, Clarifies No Voice Cloning Used
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Liza Minnelli, the 79-year-old EGOT-winning icon known for her role in "Cabaret", has released "Kids Wait Till You Hear This, marking her first new song since 2013's "A Love Letter from the Times"for the TV series "Smash". The track, an EDM dance single since her Pet Shop Boys era collaboration, serves as a teaser for her memoir of the same name, slated for March release.
On January 22, Minnelli posted on Instagram and Facebook to defend the project amid troll accusations of voice cloning. "Hi Kids, I’m happy as a clam, laughing like hell and losing my mind! It’s all goin’ on at the time, she wrote. “Today, my first EDM single since The Pet Shop Boys era, released on @elevenlabsio, a Six Billion Dollar techno behemoth does amazing things. Matthew McConaughey was an early investor. Smart. She clarified: “What I will not allow this great company to do? Create, clone or copy my voice! On this dance track, ‘Kids Wait Till You Hear This’ which is a tease for my book, we used AI arrangements. Not AI vocals. A few trolls didn’t bother to read the truth, check with me or my partners. The shout outs are all mine!
The song deviates from Minnelli's traditional singing, featuring her speaking various phrases over a techno beat. It is one of 13 tracks on ElevenLabs'recent album *The Eleven*, which also includes contributions from Art Garfunkel of Simon & Garfunkel and singer-pianist Michael Feinstein, blending their authentic elements with AI-generated sounds. Minnelli urged fans: “Go listen, enjoy, and shake your pretty buns to the music, as we glide down the runway to send my book into the world and your very own hot hands.
In a January 22 statement to NBC News, Minnelli explained her motivation: “I’ve always believed that music is about connection and emotional truth. What interested me here was the idea of using my voice and new tools in service of expression, not instead of it. I grew up watching my parents create wonderful dreams that were owned by other people. ElevenLabs makes it possible for anyone to be a creator and owner. That matters. This project respects the artist’s voice, the artist’s choices, and the artist’s ownership. She expressed frustration with past documentaries that "didn’t get it right, prompting her memoir.
Minnelli's career has long intersected with LGBTQ+ communities, from her *Cabaret* portrayal of Sally Bowles, an enduring queer cultural touchstone, to her advocacy and performances at pride events. This AI project raises broader questions about technology's role in preserving artistic legacies, particularly for aging performers like Minnelli, whose voice carries historical significance for transgender people and others in the community who revere her authenticity. The emphasis on artist ownership aligns with ongoing discussions in creative industries about AI ethics, where control over one's likeness remains paramount. No specific LGBTQ+ organizational responses to this release were documented in coverage, though the collaboration highlights tools enabling creators to maintain agency. Coverage from outlets like E! News and KATV confirms the event's recency, with Minnelli's statements directly countering misinformation. The track's release on ElevenLabs'platform underscores innovative music distribution amid debates over AI's creative boundaries.
