AI + Beethoven + Beats
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing music production. But can it deliver real soul? From algorithmic sampling to the question of true creativity and emotion.
If Strauss were alive today – would he be making beats? Or writing lyrics that flow over drill instrumentals? Maybe he’d be inspired by 808s and loops. But an even more intriguing question is: do we even need a new Strauss today if AI systems are starting to compose music themselves?
What is AI capable of today?
Artificial intelligence has already made its way into music production. Tools like AVIA, Amper Music, or Google’s MusicLM can now independently compose melodies – sometimes even in the style of classical composers. At the same time, they can generate HipHop beats that sound like they were produced by seasoned professionals.
But what happens when these worlds collide? Strauss as a sample source, interpreted by a machine – it sounds far-fetched, but it’s already happening. AI can now take classical motifs and rework them into modern structures: loops, hooks, breaks. A Baroque melody becomes a trap hit.
Creativity at the push of a button
Sampling has always been a creative process – digging through records, discovering sounds, building something new from them. But what happens when machines take over? AI models not only analyze entire music libraries, they also “understand” structure, harmony, and rhythm. They can recognize which Beethoven piece pairs well with a particular beat and offer multiple variations.
This doesn’t just change how we make music – it changes who makes it. Do you still need to know music theory if a machine gives you suggestions? Or are we witnessing the rise of a new kind of artist – less about traditional composition, more about curation?
Critics argue: AI can imitate, but not feel. No algorithm has ever experienced heartbreak or felt protest in the streets. But is that really necessary to create a good track? Or is it enough if the output sounds emotional?
The truth probably lies somewhere in between. AI isn’t the new Strauss – but it might be a new tool for artists who want to connect classical music and HipHop without limiting themselves to genre boundaries.
That exact bridge is what we consciously build with the HipHop Ball.
As part of our urban waltz project, we commissioned classical composers from Vienna – Buchmann & Kasper – to create a completely new composition. Gejza Jurt went above and beyond, drawing inspiration from Johann Strauss’ “The Blue Danube”, yet carried by contemporary HipHop beats. The result will premiere live at the HipHop Ball, performed by the Deutsche Sinfonietta Berlin. A moment we’re already incredibly proud of. No AI here – just people who deeply appreciate both worlds: driven by craft, conviction, and a hunger for the new.
