Harry Yeff (Reeps100): The Future of the Voice—Human, Machine, & Otherwise | #33

Nov 20, 2024

Harry Yeff, also known as Reeps100, is a London-born neurodivergent artist and technologist with a focus on voice and AI. He shares his journey from beatboxing to pioneering voice technology, exploring the intersection of human creativity and AI. The conversation delves into vocal mastery, the evolution of beatboxing influenced by technology, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI in art. Yeff also highlights the significance of sensory perception in artistic expression and the profound impacts of voice on personal identity and emotional narratives.

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Intro

00:00 • 5min

Voices in Chess and Beatboxing

04:48 • 12min

The Evolution of Beatboxing and Technology

16:47 • 29min

Navigating Art and AI

45:18 • 25min

The Art and Science of Vocal Mastery

01:10:24 • 26min

The Interplay of Sensory Perception in Artistic Expression

01:36:43 • 3min

The Complexity of Voice

01:39:39 • 18min

Reflections on Grief and New Perspectives

01:57:51 • 3min

Exploring the Intersection of Art, Technology, and Knowledge Sharing

02:00:26 • 3min

What is the future of voice? Where does AI fit in? Listen on!

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My guest this week is Harry Yeff, aka Reeps100.

Harry Yeff, aka Reeps100, is a London-born neurodivergent artist and technologist specializing in voice, AI, and tech-based performance art. Yeff emerged from a working-class background, dedicating his life to art and concept. He has been visualizing the voice for 15 years and is globally celebrated as a leader in a new wave of voice technology-focused experimentation despite a very nontraditional pathway into fine art and new media. He continues to build on his skillset by utilizing an almost inhuman vocal range to drive his works. Yeff rose to fame in the early 2010s as a beatboxer. His inhuman-natured vocal ability opened up a slew of voice, technology and academic collaborations, leading him to amass a global following, rendering over 100 million views online. Notable academic partnerships include three separate Harvard residencies, the last of which was followed quickly by a collaboration with Leipzig Opera House in Germany, where Yeff produced and directed the world's first-ever AI ballet.

What I so appreciate about Harry's practice is how he’s asking us to return to perhaps our most basic technology: our voices. Oftentimes when folks invoke the voice it’s in service of language or meaning. What Harry highlights is the voice itself—its raw capabilities, how precious each individual voice is. Every time I speak to Harry, I’m left with a renewed excitement for the possibilities of voice—and I’m sure you’ll feel the same.

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