An extra pair of hands, who wouldn’t want it? She created DJ Reinier Zonneveld in the form of an AI clone of herself, with which he will perform at Reinier Zonneveld Presents: R2 Festival. It is also a statement about AI in music.
Keyboards, mix tables, a kind of cell in which Zonnevelds will be shown and a jumble of cords and cables. A lot of cords and cables. This is how the studio room of Zonneveld in Amsterdam looks like, a week before he organizes his festival R2 for the second year in a row in Spaarnwoude.
During the interview, the DJ proudly shows what his system can do. “Besides that I have an extra pair of hands with this, so I can do things that are normally not possible, it also looks very cool. Almost Star Wars -like,” he tells NU.nl.
But what exactly did the DJ have made? The R2 is a machine that must be able to build on the beats and synthesizer sounds that the DJ produces. “It is a very cool way to get inspiration, because you never know what will come out.” As soon as you can hear what the AI version makes, his hologram lights up, so that visitors know which Zonneveld they are listening to at that moment.
Zonneveld trained the AI model with only its own music. “Normally that doesn’t work, because you need a lot for it. I also loaded all the recordings, including the one I made for fun when I was small. In total it is 85 days of recordings. But 99.99 percent of that is not good. So we also had to give the AI which music was made in which phase, how old I was and how seriously made music.”
In the music world, concerns about the unlawful use of music by AI. The makers are not asked for permission. “I am tough against that. In fact, you just steal other people’s work.” The DJ traveled with Bumastemra – a interest group for music makers – to Brussels to discuss copyright issues around AI. “The European Parliament is quite willing to come to a solution, but all those tech companies are American and they are completely inherent.”
‘I never know when the AI will do anything’
To make the system run well during the festival on Saturday 16 August, heavy computers are dragged to Spaarnwoude. Only an internet connection is not enough, because if it falls away, the show is completely stopped.
The DJ does not have to worry about a large part of the technology on his own, because he has gathered a team around him. The evening before the interview, Zonneveld will experience how much stress such a challenging project can entail. “I was working and then the whole system suddenly stopped. So I spent until 2 o’clock in the morning, together with a friend who does coding, to get everything working again.”
Zonneveld never makes it easy for itself. In 2023 he already recorded a Guinness world record with the longest live set of electronic music. He then turned eleven hours and eleven minutes. The set he does with his AI clone is the end of a ten-hour performance, where he also runs with other DJs. “That is actually very stupid,” he says laughing. “I have to be very alert, because the AI can play at any time and I never know when it will do something. That will be intense. I am really looking forward to it, but it is an extreme project.”
‘You have to like damn it to keep it up’
In recent years there has been much discussion about the high workload in the world of electronic music. “It’s intense,” confirms Zonneveld. “You have to like it damn it to keep it up. If that were no longer the case with me, I would stop immediately. I have heard a DJ say that he does not like his own music at all, but that he does it because he earns a lot of money with it. I have respect for that. Then you are on a podium with music that you don’t like you.”
Does it ever stand still for Zonneveld? “I usually take a few weeks off in January, but I am not at my creativeest, so I don’t make my best music. In the summer more comes out.” So for the DJ is mainly making music in his own studio? “Yes, I like that the most. I am happy as a small child if I can sit here for a day. I have always dreamed of being able to do that in my own studio.”
An extra pair of hands, who wouldnn’t because that? DJ Reinier Zonneveld created them in the form of an ai clone of himself, with which he will perform at Reinier Zonneveld presents: R2 Festival. It is also a statement about ai in music.
Keyboards, Mixing Consoles, A Kind of Cell in which Zonneveld’s Hologram Will Be Visible and A Tangle of Cords and Cables. Lots and Lots of Cords and Cables. This is what Zonneveld’s Studio in Amsterdam Looks Like, a Week Before he organizes HIS R2 Festival in Spaarnwoude for the Second Year in A Row.
Duration the interview, The DJ Proudly shows what his system can do. “Besides the fact that I have an extra pair of hands with this, which allows me to do things are normally not possible, it just looks really cool. Almost star wars -like,” he tells nu.nl.
But what exactly did the dj have made? The R2 is a machine that should be able to build on the beats and synthesizer sounds that the DJ produces. “It’s a very cool way to get inspiration, because you never know what’s going to come out.” As soon as you can hear what the ai version is making, his hologram lights up, so that visitors know which sunveld they are listening to that moment.
Zonneveld trained the ai model with only his own music. “Normally that doessn’t work, because you need a lot for it. I uploaded all the recordings, including the ones I made for fun when I was little. In total it is 85 days of recordings. But 99.99 percent of that is not the mace we had toy, too, to Tell, Tell, Tell, Tell, too, Tell, too, to Tell Tell, too, Tell. How Serious I was about making music at the time. “
In the music world there are groups about the unauthorized use of music by ai. The Makers are not asked for permission. “I am Strongly Against That. You are basically just stealing Someone Else’s Work.” The DJ Traveled to Brussels with Bumastemra – An Interest Group for Musicians – to discuss copyright issues surrounding AI. “The European Parliament is QUITE WILLING TO COME TO A SOUTION, But All Those Tech Companies Are American And They Don’t Care At All.”
‘I never know when the ai is going to do something’
To Ensure That The System Runs Smoothly Duration the Festival on Saturday, August 16, Heavy Computers Are Being Dragged to Spaarnwoude. An Internet Connection Alone is not Enough, because it is drops out, the show will come to a complete standstill.
The DJ Doesn’t Have To Worry about a Large Part of the Technology on His Own, because he has a team around him for that. The Evening Before The Interview, Zonneveld is Still Experiencing How Much Stress Such A Challenging Project Can Bring. “I was working and then the whole system Suddenly stopped. So I spent Until 2 AM, Together with a friend who does the coding, to get everything up and running again.”
Zonneveld Never Makes It Easy For Himself Anyway. In 2023 he already recorded a Guinness World record with the longest live set of electronic music. He Played for Eleven Hours and Eleven Minutes. The set he does with his ai clone is the end of a ten-gour performance, in which he also plays with other djs. “That’s actual very stupid,” he says laughing. “I have to be very alert, because the ai can start playing at any moment and I never know when it’s going to do something. That will be intense. I’M REAXLY Looking Forward to It, but It’s an Extreme project.”
‘You Have To Really Enjoy Persevering’
There has been a lot of discussion in recent years about the high workload in the world of electronic music. “It’s Intense,” Confirms Zonneveld. “You have to really enjoy persevering. If that were no longer the case for me, I would stop immediately. I Once heartd a dj say that he doesn’t like his own music at all, but that he does it. You’re with Music That You Don’t Like, For All The People who Aren’t Your People.
Does it ever stop for Zonneveld? “I usultally take a few week off in January, but I’m not at my most creative then, so i don’t make my best music then. More come out in the summer.” So a Vacation for the DJ is Mainly Making Music in His Own Studio? “Yes, that’s what I like Best. I’ll as happy as a little kid when I can sit here for a day. I’ve always dreamed of Being able to do that in my own studio.”