AI Music Creation
The intersection of artificial intelligence and music represents one of the most exciting frontiers in creative technology. I'm fascinated by how AI can augment human creativity, generate new musical ideas, and push the boundaries of what's possible in composition and sound design.
The Day The Music Died
I realise that this topic is contentious, especially for the professional âbig businessâ side of things. And there is perhaps some merit to the argument that AI music is going to have serious implications for the industry, but I donât think the major changes that this brings about are going to manifest where we think they are. Musicians are not going to be replaced, and our airways are not going to be completely replaced by AI music. Instead, I think that people are just going to listen to more of their âownâ music instead of mainstream popular music.
My Musical Journey
I got into music quite late in life, comparatively. My parents both had very particular tastes in music (almost exclusively Cliff Richard and Pavarotti), so I was never exposed to much modern music, and I never really understood or listened to much music. When I went to boarding school at 13, I got my first radio and tape player. My sister used to make me âmix tapesâ of what all the cool kids were listening to to, and I was surrounded by friends who listened to music, and I was exposed to a whole new world. This was no doubt fed by my teenage angst and unrequited puppy crushes and I would play depressing love ballads from Air Supply and Michael W Smith in my head phones whilst I went to sleep (donât judge me).
I began tinkering on the guitar and a few years later, a position opened up in the school orchestra and jazz band for a bassist. I lied a little and quickly learnt the basics, enough to nab the spot. From there my life took a new direction. I immersed myself in making music and playing in bands, singing in choirs, and listening to all sorts of wonderfully fabulous music. Although I admit have never really been able to get into R&B or metal.
The last few years have been âdryâ. Family and work life have inevitably left little room for the frivolity of rock and roll dreams. Itâs been a pity, and I miss it.
Finding SUNO
I came across Suno a few years ago, and it was not great. The sound was tinny and hollow and flat. But I checked in again a couple of months ago and was BLOWN AWAY! The quality is exceptional, and millions of really great songs are being churned out. Most of it is âAI slopâ, but some is quite simply exceptional. It was just the inspiration I needed to get back into making music.
Featured Project: "Everything Is Over" Album
My latest AI-assisted album takes the genius of lyrics written by Daniel Friedman and reinterprets them. I think itâs pretty neat!
Tools & Technologies
AI Music Platforms
- SUNO: AI tool for creating original music. Itâs worth paying for a subscription.
- Audacity: Easy to use sound file editing software
Creative and Technical Process
- Lyrics: I donât have enough of that teenage angst left in me to write any lyrics that I personally judge as good, but I think thatâs not uncommon with many creative pursuits. You can ask AI to write lyrics for you but these too are generally flat and boring. I have just been using other peopleâs lyrics that I like.
- Arrangement: SUNO works by adding meatags to your lyrics and then defining the song style with a prompt. I am still mastering this but there are some good resources online
- Human Touch: Crafting your prompts to add emotional depth and personal expression is where the fun really lies
- Repetition: You usually need to press the âcreateâ button a few times before you get something usable.
The Creative Philosophy
AI in music isnât going to replace human creativity, so donât stress. Itâs just another âinstrumentâ really. The most interesting results come from the collaboration between human emotion and AI capability - using AI to explore ideas I might never have discovered on my own, with my own limited skills, then adding the human elements of intention, emotion, and meaning.
Future Directions
Upcoming Projects
- SUNO Prompting Guide: Iâve learnt a lot and want to document my techniques
- Collaborative Albums: Working with other AI music creators
- Live Performance: Incorporating AI generation into live shows
- Educational Content: Sharing techniques and discoveries
Technology Evolution
The field of AI music is evolving rapidly, with new tools and techniques emerging regularly. I'm excited to explore:
- Real-time AI collaboration tools, like where you can sing or play something and the AI will create live accompaniments as you go
- Cross-modal AI (music + visuals + text). Like live, realtime music videos
Community & Sharing
Music is meant to be shared, and the AI music community is incredibly supportive and innovative. I love connecting with other creators, sharing techniques, and discovering new approaches to AI-assisted composition.
Whether you're a musician curious about AI or a technologist interested in creative applications, the world of AI music offers endless possibilities for exploration and expression. Do it!
Listen to more of my AI music experiments on SUNO and SoundCloud and feel free to reach out if you'd like to collaborate or discuss AI music techniques!