GabyWarner Music made history as the first major record label to sign an AI singer. The virtual pop star Noonoouri isn’t like other virtual acts — she exists solely as a digital persona on the internet. She’s free from human limits such as aging, fatigue, and sleep, and she has a strong Instagram following.
Virtual Singer with an AI-Generated Voice
On September 1, 2023, the metaverse avatar debuted on the music scene with the track “Dominoes,” which has already amassed over 60,000 views on YouTube. The debut single is a collaboration with 38-year-old German DJ Alle Farben, marking the beginning of Noonoouri’s artistic journey.
In an Instagram post, she said music has played a big role in her life from the start, setting the mood and inspiring the ideas she wants to bring to life. She wrote that Warner Music has recorded many of her favorite artists, and she’s proud to join them and be part of a world where music is the rhythm of life.
Frank Zappa and The Mothers
What sets Noonoouri apart is that her singing voice is generated by artificial intelligence. It can sound somewhat raspy because of AI processing, but it demonstrates progress in the technology.
Noonoouri’s voice was created using generative AI — a technology that uses existing data and transforms it into something new. The process began by recording a human singer, and that recording was then altered to give the digital singer her unique voice. Songwriters, vocalists, and musicians who contributed to the creation of “Dominoes” receive royalties and publishing shares, similar to traditional music production.
A Digital Singer as an Embodiment of Freedom and the Fashion World
According to Designboom, Noonoouri was brought to life by Munich graphic designer Jörg Zuber. The virtual singer began her career at age 19 and stormed the fashion world with over 200,000 Instagram followers and collaborations with leading brands.
Mr. Zuber introduced Noonoouri to the public in late 2017, which led to partnerships with brands like Marc Jacobs, Dior, and Versace. Noonoouri was also featured in Kim Kardashian’s makeup line commercials and connected with supermodels such as Naomi Campbell. Noonoouri’s persona goes beyond music: she promotes veganism, sustainable fashion, and campaigns against the use of fur in the fashion industry.
For Jörg Zuber, Noonoouri embodies a lifelong dream rooted in his passion for fashion, which began when he bought his first fashion magazine at age five. The graphic designer views fashion as a symbol of freedom, and Noonoouri reflects that vision. That is why he chose to create the AI singer as a stylized character rather than aiming for a hyper-realistic appearance. Mr. Zuber’s decision highlights Noonoouri’s uniqueness.
