Can Quantum Computer create a Hit Song? MOTH x ILĀ

Can a Quantum Computer create a hit song? A new track made using a quantum computer has just been released. It’s an early look at how quantum tech could play a role in the future of music.

Can a Quantum Computer create a Hit Song?

by Bobby Owsinski via Music 3.0

Let me start by saying that I don’t know how I feel about this. It’s either something that’s so far ahead that it’s tough to grasp it, or it’s a huge heaping piece of crap, but you’ll get a chance to judge for yourself later down the page. What I’m referring to is a newly released track called “Recurse” that’s an early example of a collaboration between a human and a quantum computer.

UK-based tech startup Moth released “Recurse” in collaboration with British electronic artist ILĀ that’s billed as the world’s first commercially available song created using “quantum-powered generative AI,” but you also might call it the music that aliens listen to.

ILĀ (who has worked with over 20 Grammy-winning artists, including Alt-J, Imogen Heap, and U2, and is a member of Icelandic band Hrím) wrote a set of sequences and all the samples that became quantum AI models trained by MOTH. These sequence patterns were then run on an IQM Quantum Computer and the company’s Archaeo Quantum Engine, which enables artists to “create new forms of generative content on actual quantum computers.”

Unlike generative AI music tools like Suno or Udio, Archaeo doesn’t create songs from scratch, and it’s not trained on music scraped from the web. It uses small samples from the artist, and then helps to create a new song. 

Have a listen for yourself and see what you think: https://bobbyowsinskiblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ila_Recurse.mp3

Again, I don’t know what to make of it, but I’m trying to keep an open mind.

It would be helpful if we heard the original samples and sequences to better understand the exact role of the quantum computer and software, but apparently that’s not something that’s available.

You can find out more about the process here, or watch the video below for a few more details.

Bobby Owsinski is a producer/engineer, author, podcaster and coach. He has authored 24 books on music production, music, music AI, the music business and social media.