Paul McCartney Teases New Beatles Track Using AI to Reconstruct Lennon’s Voice
In a groundbreaking development that merges nostalgia with cutting-edge technology, Paul McCartney has revealed that a new Beatles song is in the works—featuring the AI-assisted reconstruction of John Lennon’s voice. The iconic musician made the announcement during an interview with BBC Radio, stating that the track will likely be released later this year and marks what he believes will be “the final Beatles record.”
The revelation has sent shockwaves through the music world, offering fans both excitement and curiosity. McCartney explained that the idea took shape after Peter Jackson’s 2021 documentary Get Back, which used artificial intelligence to isolate Lennon’s voice from demo tapes. That same technology, McCartney said, has now been further developed to produce studio-quality vocals for the new track.
“We Were Able to Extract John’s Voice”
Speaking candidly about the project, McCartney noted that a long-forgotten demo recorded by John Lennon in the late 1970s provided the raw material. “We had John’s demo, but his voice was buried under a piano. Normally that would’ve made it unusable,” McCartney said. “But thanks to AI, we were able to clean it up—extract his voice and isolate it in a way that made it sound as if he recorded it yesterday.”
He was quick to clarify that this isn’t a synthetic voice generated by AI, but rather an authentic vocal line that has been enhanced. “We’re not creating new words or melodies with AI. We’re just using it to bring out the best in what’s already there. It’s still John, still real,” McCartney emphasized.
The Song: “Now and Then”
The track is believed to be “Now and Then,” a song Lennon had recorded in rough form at his New York apartment. It was one of several demos given to McCartney by Yoko Ono after Lennon’s death. While attempts were made in the 1990s to complete it during the Anthology sessions, technical limitations halted progress.
“We always wanted to finish it,” McCartney said. “It just never felt right until now.” With today’s advances in AI and audio engineering, the team—including Ringo Starr and producers close to the original Beatles camp—has finally realized that vision.
Ethical and Emotional Weight
The use of AI in music is a hot topic, and McCartney acknowledged the complexity. “There’s a moral aspect, of course. I wouldn’t feel good about creating something that John wouldn’t have wanted. But in this case, we’re simply finishing something he started—and doing it with great care and love.”
He added that surviving bandmate Ringo Starr was deeply moved by the result. “When Ringo heard the cleaned-up version of John’s voice, he said, ‘It’s like he’s here again.’ That’s when I knew we had to do this.”
Fan Reactions and Expectations
While some fans are cautious about the use of artificial intelligence in reviving long-lost voices, the majority of early responses have been overwhelmingly positive. Social media exploded with tributes, excitement, and emotional posts once McCartney’s interview aired. Hashtags like #NewBeatlesSong and #LennonLives trended globally for hours.
Music industry analysts believe the track could be a major cultural moment—not just for Beatles fans, but for the broader conversation about legacy, creativity, and technology.
The Final Note
For McCartney, this release is more than just music. “It’s not about chart numbers or headlines. It’s about giving the world one more moment of the Beatles—something honest and beautiful.”
If released as planned, “Now and Then” will become a historic capstone in the Beatles’ catalog. And thanks to the ethical use of artificial intelligence, it may well ensure that Lennon’s voice continues to echo—clearly, and tr
uthfully—for generations to come.
