LayarHijau – Taiwanese singer Hebe Tien opened up about an unexpectedly emotional moment while recording her latest album, The Land of Maybe. The singer revealed that listening to AI-generated demo vocals made her question her own singing ability to the point that she broke down in tears.
Tien, who is widely known as a member of Taiwanese pop trio S.H.E. as well as for her successful solo career, released her sixth solo studio album, The Land of Maybe, on September 24, marking her first new album in six years. The 10-track album was released digitally in full without a pre-release single.
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The physical edition is scheduled to be released on December 11.
Hebe Tien Was Shocked by AI Vocals
Speaking to the media on October 2, Tien recalled what happened when she was listening to demos while selecting songs for the album.
According to Mirror Media, she was surprised by how effortlessly AI-generated vocals could perform. The AI voice did not appear to need to breathe, could reach high notes with ease, and had a vocal thickness and technique that made Tien feel challenged.
“I felt like, why can’t I sing as well as AI?” she said.
The experience became so overwhelming that Tien ended up crying and calling an executive at her record company.
“I felt like I couldn’t sing anymore,” she told the executive.
The company’s response helped her regain perspective. She was told that she might simply not be accustomed to that particular vocal style.
Tien eventually worked through the frustration and continued adjusting the songs, including the lyrics and arrangements. She said she eventually felt that the finished results turned out well.
Her Father Also Played an AI Song
Tien also revealed that AI-generated music had already caught her attention outside the recording studio.
During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday in Hsinchu, her father played a song he had found on YouTube. Tien immediately recognized that the vocals were AI-generated.
The experience highlighted how convincing AI-generated singing has become, even outside professional music production.
Some Songs Were Difficult Even for Her Fans to Sing
The singer also addressed comments from fans who said some of the new songs were difficult to sing along to.
Tien agreed with them, specifically mentioning The Hoarder and Room to Begin as two tracks that were challenging to sing.
Rather than focusing on whether the songs would be easy for listeners to reproduce, however, Tien said she enjoyed working with musicians she liked and following her own feelings and musical preferences.
The Land of Maybe represents a new chapter in Tien’s career after six years without a new studio album. The album’s English title is also connected to the Faroe Islands, where she filmed visuals for the project.
For Tien, the album has been described as a reflection of her current stage of life and a musical journey shaped by uncertainty about where the road ahead might lead.
The new album is now available digitally, while the physical edition is set to arrive on December 11.
