Jason Derulo has praised Australian DJ and producer Josh Fawaz, declaring, “I don’t know that you can have someone better” as an opener for his Australian tour.
Derulo kicked off the Australian leg of his tour in Brisbane last night, with Fawaz joining him as support.
Speaking to Variety Australia ahead of the opening show, the US hitmaker revealed he first discovered Fawaz through his reworkings of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” and Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing.”
“I saw what he did with ‘Like a Prayer’. And then I saw what he did with ‘Sexual Healing’. And I was like, ‘Oh, he got some talent,’” Derulo said. “So I thought it’d be really cool. He’s from this side of the world. So I thought it’d be cool to have him open up since I really like his stuff.
“And I needed someone that I felt could bring some great energy. And I think it’s interesting that he can play songs that people know, but with a fresh twist. So I think he’s a really unique opener.
“I don’t know that you can have someone better, realistically,” he continued. “Because every song that he plays, you’re going to know. And it’s also going to have like a little twist to it. So it’ll be a lot of fun. I’m sure.”
Fawaz’s production techniques – particularly his use of generative AI – has become a major talking point in recent months, especially around his chart-topping cover of “Like a Prayer.” The track’s Spotify credits were updated in July to acknowledge the use of AI-generated vocals and drums following scrutiny over how it was produced. Fawaz later offered a glimpse into his process, demonstrating how he uses generative AI platform Suno to transform his own recorded vocals.
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Asked about Fawaz’s use of the technology and the broader role of AI in music, Derulo was emphatic about embracing it. “I love AI. I love AI in all areas of my life, though. Like I utilise it everywhere,” he said.
“Like when I’m drawing up an email, when I’m curious about an answer to a question, when I’m writing, it’s a part of my life holistically. I’m actually building an entire AI district in Dubai, where the homes are, they come with AI and are going to make people’s lives a lot better. So I’m completely in love with AI and in tune.”
However, he stressed the technology remains a tool rather than a replacement for the skills behind making music. “AI is a tool, right? And if you’re great, it’ll just make you that much more great. If you’re not, you know, you might get lucky, but you can only get lucky so many times, right?” he said.
“Producers that utilise AI, writers that utilise AI, you’re still going to have to compete with the best in the world, right? Because the layperson using AI and the greatest producer in the world using AI is a completely different thing.
“The understanding of music is different. The understanding of layers, the understanding of what makes people tick, what draws emotion is an art, you know? And the people that make the music the best at the end of the day are the people that are going to have the hits.”
Derulo added that he believes AI’s increasing presence in music is inevitable. “There’s no way that we’re going to be able to stop AI. So either you join the party and try to figure it out, or you’re going to get left behind.”
Derulo’s Australian tour continues on to Sydney on Saturday night, followed by Melbourne and Perth. See details here.
Keep an eye on Variety Australia for more from our interview with Jason Derulo.