Vidya Vox has spoken about artificial intelligence, the future of music and Chennai’s indie scene, saying she initially viewed AI as a useful tool but now worries about its impact on human artistes.
Singer and music creator Vidya Vox recently made a special appearance as the showstopper at the inaugural Chennai Times Fashion Week, where she performed one of the songs from her upcoming album.
The Chennai-born artiste described the experience as different from the fashion shows she has previously attended, saying the audience seemed particularly engaged with the performance.
In a conversation following the event, Vidya opened up about her new album Tamil Disco, the changing music culture in Chennai, the potential of Indian-language music on the global stage and the growing use of artificial intelligence in music.
Vidya Vox Calls Tamil Disco Her ‘Least Serious Album’
Vidya described Tamil Disco as a departure from some of her earlier work and said she was initially nervous about performing a completely new song at the Chennai fashion event.
The song had not been publicly released before the performance, making the reaction from the audience particularly meaningful for her.
“I was nervous performing a brand-new song at the show — it basically went from my hard drive straight to the stage, without ever being out in the world. But the feedback was great,” she said.
Vidya, who grew up in Chennai, also said she enjoyed seeing how receptive audiences in the city have become to different forms of music.
She described Tamil Disco as her “least serious” album, explaining that it explores childhood innocence and the idea of rediscovering girlhood as an adult woman.
Although the project draws inspiration from disco, Vidya said it still incorporates Indian instrumentation and some of the musical elements associated with her work.
‘A Tanglish Song Can Fully Work Globally’
Vidya does not believe music needs to fit into rigid genre or language categories.
She said she would be interested in experimenting with genres including country, punk and rock, arguing that different influences can work together if an artiste finds the right creative balance.
“Music is music,” she said, adding that she would not dismiss a combination simply because the genres or cultural influences appear different on paper.
The singer also believes Indian-language music has considerable potential beyond India.
According to Vidya, even a Tanglish song — combining Tamil and English — can connect with international audiences. She pointed to the worldwide reach of K-pop and Latin music as examples of how music can cross language barriers.
She also believes songs performed entirely in Indian languages can find audiences globally.
Vidya Vox Says Chennai Audiences Are ‘Remarkably Open-Minded’
Chennai has a strong association with Carnatic music, but Vidya believes the city’s contemporary audience is increasingly receptive to different sounds and artistic influences.
“I think audiences are smarter than people give them credit for,” she said.
Vidya attributed some of this change to social media and the increasing globalisation of Indian and South Asian culture. She noted that people can now encounter music, art and ideas from around the world without necessarily travelling themselves.
For her, the challenge for artistes is finding ways to absorb those influences while expressing them authentically through their own work.
Vidya Vox on AI: ‘I Honestly Don’t Support It’
Artificial intelligence was another major subject Vidya addressed during the conversation.
She said her initial view of AI was more positive, describing it as a technological tool. However, she now has serious reservations about the way AI is being used in creative industries.
“When AI first came out, it felt like a tool. But the way it’s going now, I honestly don’t support it,” Vidya said.
She drew a distinction between technology that assists an artiste and technology that could potentially replace human creativity.
Vidya pointed out that musicians already use computers and digital technology to create music, just as earlier generations worked with different forms of recording equipment.
For her, the concern begins when technology moves from being a creative aid to replacing the human artiste.
“Music takes practice and discipline — I’m not saying this to gatekeep; we all make music on computers now instead of tape, and that’s fine because it’s a tool, not a replacement for art. But AI is stealing from actual human artistes and then replacing them,” she said.
‘Art Comes From Lived Experience, Memory and Emotion’
Vidya also questioned whether artificial intelligence can reproduce the human experiences that inspire creative work.
“Everything is derivative of human experience. AI isn’t sentient, as far as we know. Art comes from lived experience, memory and emotion, and I don’t think AI can replicate that — or that we should support it trying to,” she said.
Her comments reflect a wider debate within the creative industries about the use of AI-generated music, images and other forms of content, particularly around questions of authorship, training data, consent and the role of human creators.
Vidya’s position is that technological tools can have a place in music-making, but they should not come at the expense of the artistes whose work and experiences provide the foundation for creative culture.
Vidya Vox on Ed Sheeran and Artistes Speaking Out
Vidya also spoke about the relationship between music and wider social and political issues.
Discussing Ed Sheeran, whom she described herself as a fan of, she said she was disappointed that he did not use an opportunity to make a stronger public statement during a difficult period in global politics.
“I don’t think artistes should be held 100% responsible for what happens in the world, but they do have the opportunity to shift tides by speaking out against injustice,” she said.
Her comments reflect her personal view that prominent artistes can use their visibility to draw attention to issues beyond their own work.
Vidya Vox Warns About Celebrity Obsession
The singer also discussed the increasingly intense relationship audiences can develop with celebrities through social media.
Vidya said celebrity obsession can become unhealthy, particularly when social-media access creates the impression of a genuine personal relationship.
She referred to parasocial relationships, in which audiences can feel connected to public figures despite there being no reciprocal relationship.
According to Vidya, regularly seeing a celebrity’s posts and glimpses of their personal life can make followers feel as though they know that person personally, even though the relationship remains one-sided.
‘Chennai Has One of the Most Vibrant Indie Music Scenes’
Vidya also praised the city’s independent music community.
She compared Los Angeles and Chennai, saying both cities have artistes who are willing to experiment with new sounds and ideas.
According to her, Chennai’s indie music scene currently includes a large number of musicians experimenting with different forms of expression.
She also credited social media with helping independent artistes discover one another and build creative communities.
“I think Chennai has one of the most vibrant indie music scenes right now — it’s amazing,” she said.
Why Chennai Still Feels Like Home to Vidya Vox
Despite having lived in different cities and countries, Vidya continues to have a strong connection with Chennai.
She was born and raised in the city before moving to Mumbai and later the United States. Much of her childhood was spent in Chennai, and she still has family there.
“A large part of my childhood happened here, so it always feels like home; my paati still lives here,” she said.
Vidya added that returning to Chennai does not feel like visiting another city.
For the singer, the connection goes beyond family and childhood memories. She also values what she describes as a supportive community that gives artistes the freedom to experiment.
For Vidya Vox, Chennai therefore remains both a personal home and an important part of her artistic identity — a city where traditional musical roots and an increasingly experimental independent scene can exist side by side.
