Charlotte de Witte Features AI Vocalist NAVA on Forthcoming Azadi EP

Belgian techno producer Charlotte de Witte has announced her forthcoming three-track EP, Azadi, which features NAVA, an AI-generated Persian vocalist created by British-Iranian digital artist Farbod Mehr. Also known as Nava Null, the virtual artist combines music, fashion and cultural storytelling through an online persona, with approximately 775,000 Instagram followers and 32,800 YouTube subscribers. De Witte previewed “Tales Of The Desert” on Instagram on October 20, pairing NAVA’s vocals with visuals featuring the producer and virtual singer. According to Resident Advisor, all three tracks feature NAVA, with the release expected in November through de Witte’s KNTXT label. The project’s title means “freedom” in Persian, and Mehr has presented NAVA as a symbolic voice for Iranian women restricted from singing publicly.

That framing has prompted questions about choosing a synthetic vocalist to represent people whose own voices face restrictions. Reactions to the Instagram post by Charlotte have been mixed, including objections that the collaboration could instead have featured a human Iranian singer. The AI program and other production details behind NAVA’s voice, its training recordings and any associated vocal licensing arrangements have not yet been disclosed.