Digital avatars are all the rage these days, from AI models to digital influencers and even AI actors, but Xania Monet is the first AI artist to really give us humans a challenge in the music scene. On November 1st, the AI singer hit No. 30 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, securing a $3 million record deal in the process, and once again sparking controversy around the rise of AI.
Whispered into existence by Mississippi-based poet and songwriter Telisha “Nikki” Jones, Xania Monet brings her creator’s lyrics to life to the beats of R&B with the help of Suno, a popular AI music-generating platform. Jones considers Xania an extension of herself, adding that Xania helps her bring her lyrics and poems inspired by life experiences to the world.
“How Was I Supposed to Know” initially went viral on TikTok before gradually spreading to other platforms and entering the Billboard R&B chart. This is only Xania’s latest hit, as she has been keeping very busy in the four months since making her musical debut. She has released 44 songs on Spotify and has gained around 1.2 million followers on the music service, as well as almost 800,000 others on various social media platforms.
