AI-Powered Cross-Cultural Study of Emotions in Music Lyrics

Discovering the Universal Language of Music

Music, often referred to as the universal language transcends geographical, cultural, and linguistic barriers. My fascination with music and lyrics began early in life, fueled by a voracious appetite for books, novels, and stories that nurtured my vivid imagination. This passion for storytelling gradually intertwined with my creative pursuits, leading me to write books, compose music, and learn to play the guitar, uncovering a unique talent.

I can still vividly recall the thrill of hearing my first guitar riffs resonating from my bedroom speakers as a young child. At that moment, a lifelong passion for music was ignited within me. From devouring the lyrics of my favourite songs to crafting my storytelling through rhymes, music became a beautiful escape into a world of vivid imagination with creative expression. Growing up, I spent countless hours in front of the TV, flipping between channels like MTVbase, Trace, and Soundcity, to discover new music. I was engulfed in a world of R&B, Rap, Pop, Country, Reggae, and Afrobeats, long before Afrobeats captured the global spotlight. I dreamed of one day performing my music for audiences around the world.

Over the years, my interests broadened to encompass science and technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). I envisioned countless ways to blend my love for music with my fascination for AI, exploring how technology could enhance musical expression and understanding.

It recently struck me how interconnected music truly is. Different cultures may have unique musical expressions, but emotions conveyed through music exhibit a universality that transcends genre and cultural divides, revealing striking similarities across many musical landscapes. These observations and feelings that surged through me while listening to various musical pieces or exploring their lyrics laid the foundation for my PhD research. Fueled by a simple yet profound question — how do different cultures express emotions through music? — I began a journey that not only sparked my curiosity but also set the stage for an in-depth exploration of the emotional dynamics in global music through AI and Deep Learning.

Why Cross-Cultural Musical Elements?

Nigeria as a Case Study

Growing up in a multicultural environment, I was always fascinated by how music formed an integral part of community celebrations, personal moments, and everyday life, varying significantly from one culture to another. My home country, Nigeria, home to more than 300 tribes and cultures is often credited as the home of Afrobeats Music. It is safe to say that each tribe has their unique musical style and infusions that make them interesting. Common indigenous music genres in Nigeria include: Apala, Aurrebbe music, Rara music, Were music, Ogene, Fuji, Jùjú, Afrobeats, Igbo highlife, Afro-juju, Waka, Igbo rap, Gospel, and Yo-pop. Often, the music lyrics are largely influenced by the ways of life of the people.

For instance, Apala, traditionally associated with the Yoruba people, was once used to wake worshippers after fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. It has evolved to feature more secular themes but retains its deeply spiritual rhythmic undertones. Fuji music, born from the improvisational Wéré music, has roots in Islamic Yoruba music and often involves spirited call-and-response singing, making it a favourite during celebrations and festivals. Igbo highlife, a fusion of traditional Igbo music and highlife, reflects the Igbo philosophy and their everyday social realities in its lyrics.

These genres do more than provide musical accompaniment; they are tools for social cohesion, cultural education, and emotional expression. For example, many Nigerian songs use storytelling to preserve history, settle moral debates, or rebuke societal vices. The music often serves as a repository for collective memory and wisdom. Nigerian music frequently captures and expresses complex emotions, from joy to sorrow, hope to despair. It plays a key role in therapeutic practices, offering solace and a sense of community.

The Role of Afrobeats and Western Music Genres

The influence of Nigerian music, particularly Afrobeats, now extends far beyond its borders, greatly shaping global music trends. Originating from West Africa, Afrobeats has surged in popularity on the international stage, captivating artists and listeners worldwide with its energetic beats, melodic intricacies, and rich cultural depth. Pioneered by legendary figures like Fela Kuti and brought into the modern limelight by stars such as Davido, Tiwa Savage, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, and Burna Boy, Afrobeats has become a global phenomenon. This vibrant genre is not only enjoyed globally but also frequently merges with other musical styles to create innovative Afro-fusion sounds.

Afrobeats artists often collaborate with international stars, introducing distinctive African sounds to global audiences and paving the way for cross-cultural musical fusion. These collaborations have opened up new avenues for cultural exchange and have significantly influenced the music industry worldwide.

In contrast, Western music genres such as Pop, Rap, Country, and R&B, each with their unique expressions, have also played a crucial role in these cultural exchanges. Historically, these genres have both influenced and been influenced by other music traditions, demonstrating a dynamic interplay that has impacted global music. This mutual influence highlights the power of music as a universal language that can bridge diverse cultures and foster shared understanding.

Objectives of My Research

During my Masters studies in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, I was introduced to the power of AI and its potential to decode complex patterns. This experience led me to explore how AI can bridge the understanding gap between different musical traditions and expressions. My research aims to analyze and understand the emotional and genre-specific characteristics that define and differentiate musical styles, focusing exclusively on analyzing lyrics — a vital component that often encapsulates the emotional and cultural essence of music, focusing primarily on Afrobeats and various Western music genres like Pop, Rap, Country, and R&B.

Lyrics, as the narrative backbone of music, provide interesting insights into the themes and emotions that go beyond cultural boundaries, including those that are deeply rooted within them. Lyrics hold the power to reflect the values, struggles, and aspirations of a culture.

My research will train deep learning models on vast lyrical datasets, emotion-annotated by a select group of music listeners and enthusiasts, to uncover the underlying patterns that reveal how different cultures articulate emotions, aspirations, and life experiences through the poetic narratives of their songs. This analysis, leveraging natural language processing and deep learning, will reveal how different cultures articulate emotions and narrate stories through music, providing a map of lyrical commonalities and variances.

What I Hope to Achieve

One of the practical applications of my research is to enhance music recommendation systems. Current systems often rely heavily on behavioural and acoustic data, which can overlook the cultural and emotional nuances conveyed through lyrics. This research also has the potential to aid songwriters in crafting lyrics that connect more deeply with their audiences, further enhancing the listener’s experience and emotional engagement. It can also play a crucial role in music therapy, where understanding the emotional and cultural context of lyrics can better facilitate therapeutic outcomes, using music as a tool for emotional healing and connection.

Integrating AI with music analysis can pave the way for a new era of musical creation and consumption that respects and reflects the diversity of its listeners.