Shalmali Kholgade: AI is just another band member today

Bollywood singer Shalmali Kholgade, known for chartbusters like Pareshaan, Daaru Desi, Lat Lag Gayee, and Balam Pichkari, shared her thoughts on the role of AI in modern music creation.
“Using AI as a ‘tool’—that’s the keyword,” she said. “I have watched my friends create music using AI, and I have been quite amazed at the capabilities of what is then created—something that perhaps could not have been done single-mindedly in your own bedroom, in front of a computer. Because essentially, that is what music creation has boiled down to. We no longer go to jam rooms, jam with a guitarist, drummer, and bass player to create a song. We are in front of our computers, and that is how we are making music. So I feel here is another band member today, and that is AI.”
The singer, who completes 13 years in the Hindi film music industry this year, enthralled her fans last week at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF), performing at Cross Maidan. With her signature energy and powerful vocals, Shalmali ensured a visually and sonically captivating evening, as her backup dancers swayed to the pulsating beats.
As AI continues to evolve in the music industry, voices like Shalmali’s offer insight into how artistes are embracing technology—not as a replacement but as an enabler of creativity.